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Dallas Childrens Theater Inc

EIN 75-1967052 · Dallas, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF DALLAS CHILDREN'S THEATER IS TO INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE TO CREATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES THROUGH THE ART OF THEATER.TO GIVE RISE TO INSPIRING THEATER, DALLAS CHILDREN'S THEATER:- CREATES AND PRODUCES INNOVATIVE PROFESSIONAL THEATER FOR A MULTI-GENERATIONAL AUDIENCE THROUGH ORIGINAL WORKS, WORLD PREMIERES, LITERARY CLASSICS, FOLK AND FAIRY TALES, AND CONTEMPORARY DRAMA;- EMPLOYS AND COLLABORATES WITH ACCLAIMED PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS;- DEVELOPS DYNAMIC PROGRAMS THAT INTEGRATE ARTS INTO CURRICULAENRICHING LANGUAGE SKILLS, LEARNING PROCESSES, AND PROMOTING AN EARLY APPRECIATION FOR THE ARTS BY BRINGING LITERATURE TO LIFE;- BUILDS BRIDGES OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN GENERATIONS AND CULTURES THROUGH THE TIMELESS AND UNIVERSAL VOICE AND LANGUAGE OF THEATER'S MULTISENSORY APPROACH.

Income
$4.5 million
Spending
$4.5 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
155
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$159,385, executive artistic director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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

    35 of 35 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 August 31, 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. $2.4 million spent. DCT'S THEATER PRODUCTION SEASON OFFERS PLAYS FOR FAMILY AUDIENCES ON A WIDE ARRAY OF TOPICS AND THEMES, FROM FAVORITE CLASSICS TO WORKS BASED ON POPULAR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE TO RELEVANT, EDGY TEEN ISSUES AND CURRENT CONVERSATIONS RELATING TO SOCIAL ISSUES. DCT OFFERS MUSICALS, DRAMAS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN TO DELIGHT AND INSPIRE ALL AGES. DCT ANNUALLY REACHES AN AVERAGE OF OVER 90,000 PERSONS THROUGH THIS OFFERING; MOST SIGNIFICANT ARE STUDENT MATINEE PERFORMANCES WHEREBY STUDENT SPONSORS (DISTRICTS OR PTAS) RECEIVE DISCOUNTED TICKETS AND FREE STUDY GUIDES ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR CURRICULUM-RELATED ACTIVITIES. DCT ALSO OFFERS FREE OR DEEPLY DISCOUNTED TICKETS TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT DO NOT NATURALLY THINK OF THEATER AS A TOP FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT FOR VARIOUS REASONS INCLUDING HISTORIC RACIAL DISPARITIES, AND FOR TITLE 1 SCHOOLS. PRODUCTIONS ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN WITH SENSORY SENSITIVITIES CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF THE SEASON AS WELL. PROFESSIONAL ACTORS AND TEACHING ARTISTS GO INTO LIBRARIES AND OTHER COMMUNITY VENUES AS A WAY OF BOTH INTRODUCING THE CONCEPT OF THEATER TO SOME AUDIENCES AND CREATING A DEEPER CONNECTION BETWEEN DCT AND OTHERS. PRESENTATIONS CAN INCLUDE PERFORMANCES, HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS, EARLY SCRIPT READINGS, PLAY FOCUS GROUPS AND MUCH MORE.
  2. $869,138 spent. DCT'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE DCT ACADEMY WHICH OFFERS YEAR-ROUND CLASSES TO MORE THAN 1,100 CHILDREN, AGES 3-18. IN-PERSON CLASSES ARE OFFERED IN BEGINNING TO ADVANCED THEATER ARTS AND TAUGHT BY DEGREED THEATER PROFESSIONALS WITH FOCUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMAGINATION, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND PERFORMANCE TECHNIQUES. DCT ALSO HAS DEDICATED SENSORY-FRIENDLY CLASSES. ADDITIONALLY, AFTER SCHOOL DRAMA CLASSES ARE CREATED AND ADMINISTERED BY DCT TO BENEFIT YOUTH THROUGH AFTER SCHOOL SATELLITE THEATER ARTS PROGRAMS. THE CURTAINS UP ON READING PROGRAM IS AN IN-SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAM INTEGRATING DRAMA, LITERATURE, LANGUAGE ARTS, SOCIAL STUDIES, AND HISTORY. DCT ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE COLLABORATE WITH EDUCATORS IN DALLAS AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO INCORPORATE THE ARTS INTO THE CORE CURRICULUM FOR OVER 2,300 STUDENTS. SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE OFFERED SO THAT DCT CLASS OFFERINGS ARE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1989.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.