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Performing Arts Houston

EIN 74-6077505 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE CONNECT AUDIENCES WITH EXCEPTIONAL ARTISTS THROUGH DIVERSE PERFORMANCES AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES. WE IGNITE AND CULTIVATE PASSION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS TO CREATE COMMUNITY, INSPIRE DIALOGUE AND ENRICH OUR WORLD.

Income
$7.2 million
Spending
$6.8 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
9.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 60%
Employees
17
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$325,372, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    47 of 47 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 (2)
  1. $5.0 million spent. PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON OFFERS CULTURALLY DIVERSE PROGRAMMING RANGING FROM WORLD-RENOWED MUSIC, DANCE, THEATER, SPEAKERS AND A VARIETY OF OF OTHER PERFORMANCE-BASED EVENTS THAT ENGAGE A WIDE RANGE OF AUDIENCE DEMOGRAPHICS. PROGRAMMING IS PARTIALLY UNDERWRITTEN BY FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS, AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF MAKING THESE WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCES AFFORDABLE FOR ALL AUDIENCES. OUR 2024-2025 SEASON SHOWCASED 32 DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS IN 63 PERFORMANCES, COMPLEMENTED BY NUMEROUS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. FROM THE LIVELY KODO DRUMMERS FROM JAPAN TO THE STUNNING BALLET FOLKLORICO DE MEXICO TO FAMILY FAVORITE BLUEY'S BIG PLAY, THE SEASON HAD SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AND REFLECTED THE RICH DIVERSITY AND INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITY. A SPECIAL HIGHLIGHT OF THE SEASON WAS PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON'S PARTNERSHIP WITH SOLANGE KNOWLES AND HER COLLECTIVE SAINT HERON WHICH PRESENTED ELDORADO BALLROOM HOUSTON, A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PERFORMANCE SERIES CELEBRATING THE CULTURAL LEGACY OF HOUSTON'S THIRD WARD AND ITS HISTORIC ELDORADO BALLROOM. THE SERIES DREW MORE THAN 5,200 ATTENDEES ACROSS FIVE PERFORMANCES FEATURING CLASSICAL, JAZZ AND GOSPEL MUSIC AS WELL AS FILM AND INTERDISCIPLINARY ART IN JONES HALL, ELDORADO BALLROOM AND THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON.
  2. $487,399 spent. PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON'S EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS LEVERAGE THE DIVERSE TALENTS OF THE REMARKABLE ARTISTS WE PRESENT ON OUR STAGES THROUGH A MULTITUDE OF SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT PROMOTE ACCESS, DISCOVERY, AND CREATIVITY IN THE PERFORMING ARTS. IN OUR 2024-2025 SEASON, OUR ECE INITIATIVES IMPACTED CLOSE TO 70,000 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH A DYNAMIC RANGE OF PROGRAMS BOTH TIED DIRECTLY TO OUR MAINSTAGE PRESENTATIONS AS WELL AS STANDALONE COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL-BASED INITIATIVES THAT EXTEND BEYOND THE STAGE. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED OUR COLLABORATIVE ARTS PROJECT WHICH BROUGHT 10-WEEK VISUAL ART AND DANCE RESIDENCIES DIRECTLY INTO HOUSTON CLASSROOMS AND OUR 27TH ANNUAL STUDENT ART CONTEST, A FREE PROGRAM OPEN TO K-12 STUDENTS, WHICH RECEIVED 572 SUBMISSIONS FROM ACROSS OUR REGION WITH THE ARTWORK OF WINNING STUDENTS BEING DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT HOUSTON IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES. ECE PROGRAMMING CONNECTED TO MAINSTAGE PRESENTATIONS INCLUDED OUR HEB PERFORMANCE PRELUDE PROGRAM, WHICH SHOWCASED 21 LOCAL ARTISTIC ENSEMBLES IN PERFORMANCES IN THE LOBBY AREAS OF OUR THEATERS BEFORE MAINSTAGE SHOWS. OUR MASTERCLASSES AND WORKSHOPS AS WELL AS OPEN REHEARSALS ALLOWED FOR STUDENT AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO TRAIN WITH PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS, ALLOWING ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE TO HAVE A LASTING IMPACT ON HOUSTON COMMUNITIES. OUR COMMITMENT FOR SUPPORTING THE EXTRAORDINARY ARTISTS OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY CONTINUED THROUGH OUR NEW/NOW: THE HOUSTON ARTIST COMMISSIONING PROJECT WITH COMMISSION SUPPORT AWARDED TO THREE HOUSTON ARTISTS FOR THE CREATION AND PRESENTATION OF NEW, ORIGINAL WORK WHICH WE PROUDLY PREMIERED AT TWO NIGHTS OF PERFORMANCES AT THE WORTHAM CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.

    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 November 1966.

    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 November 4, 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.