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Salvage Vanguard Theater

EIN 74-2759503 · Austin, TX

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Salvage Vanguard Theater (SVT) serves as a hub for Austin artists, audiences, and arts organizations. SVT produces transformative, high-quality artistic experiences that foster experimentation and conversation.

Income
$108,196
Spending
$105,719
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 58%
Employees
1
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$30,500, artistic director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $71,365 spent. IN 2024 SVT HOSTED TWO MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS, CO-PRODUCED A VARIETY SHOW & GALLERY FOR AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR, AND TWO COMMUNITY GATHERINGS ACROSS THREE VENUES. IN MAY, WE PRESENTED UK ARTIST, RACHEL MARS OLDER BETTER LETTERS AT CRASHBOX, PARTNERING WITH UT AUSTIN PERFORMANCE PHILOSOPHY BIENNIAL CONFERENCE. WE SHARED ADDITIONAL INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE AS WE WORKED WITH GUEST PRAGUE-BASED ARTIST ALYSSA DILLARD ON THREE DIFFERENT EVENTS ALONGSIDE DIALOGUE AND PLANNING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. HER WORK EXPLORES IDENTITY, SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS, AND EVOLVING PERSONHOOD. IN AUGUST WE SHARED A SUMMER SAUNA: GARDEN PARTY EDITION WHICH FEATURED LOCAL ARTISTS ALONGSIDE DILLARD AND SERVED AS A PRIMER FOR THE AUSTIN DECEMBER PREMIERE OF HER WORK. IN NOVEMBER WE PARTNERED WITH THEE GAY AGENDA FOR AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR FOR NO BODY PASSES, AN ODE TO TRANS AND GENDER-EXPANSIVE EXPRESSION WHICH CELEBRATES OTHERNESS THROUGH TOGETHERNESS VIA A GALLERY AND VARIETY SHOW AT ROGGE RANCH HOUSE. IN DECEMBER WE HELD A LISTENING PARTY FEATURING LIVE MUSIC FROM DILLARD AND LOCAL MUSICIAN HENNA CHOU AT FUTURE FRONT HOUSE IN DECEMBER BEFORE THE MAINSTAGE SHOW OPENED. WE CLOSED THE YEAR WITH AN IMMERSIVE US PREMIERE PRODUCTION OF DILLARDS MARIE ANTOINETTE WALKS DOWN AN ELEGANT HALLWAY KNOWING EVERYONE HATES HER, OUR FINAL PERFORMANCE AT ROGGE RANCH HOUSE, OUR VENUE SINCE 2019.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1996.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.