Performing Arts Fort Worth Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO SERVE AS A PERMANENT HOME TO MAJOR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS OF FORT WORTH AND AS A PREMIER VENUE FOR TOURING ATTRACTIONS AND TO PROMULGATE ARTS EDUCATION.
- Income
- $25.0 million
- Spending
- $25.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 10.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 76%
- Employees
- 191
- Volunteers
- 421
- Highest pay
- $702,420, president & ceo
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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2532 of 35 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $21.5 million spent. LINE 4A - PRODUCTIONS AND PERFORMANCES: PERFORMING ARTS FORT WORTH OWNS AND OPERATES BASS PERFORMANCE HALL AND THE MADDOX-MUSE CENTER, WHICH INCLUDES THE VAN CLIBURN RECITAL HALL AND THE MCDAVID STUDIO. MORE THAN 300,000 INDIVIDUALS VISIT PAFW VENUES ANNUALLY, ENJOYING A HOST OF SUPERIOR QUALITY PERFORMING ARTS OFFERINGS: I. BASS PERFORMANCE HALL SERVES AS THE PERMANENT HOME FOR FOUR RESIDENT COMPANIES: FORT WORTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, TEXAS BALLET THEATER, FORT WORTH OPERA AND THE CLIBURN CONCERTS AND THE QUADRENNIAL VAN CLIBURN INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION. SPECIAL THEATER LICENSE AGREEMENTS WITH EACH COMPANY WERE INITIALLY CONTRACTED FOR FIVE THEATER SEASONS WITH AUTOMATIC ONE YEAR EXTENSIONS AFTER THE FIRST FIVE SEASONS, PROVIDING NEITHER PARTY CHOOSES TO TERMINATE THE RELATIONSHIP. IN 2017 THE AGREEMENTS WERE UPDATED WITH A TWO-YEAR TERM, THEREAFTER, AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED AND EXTENDED FOR TWO-YEAR TERMS UNLESS EITHER PARTY PROVIDES NOTICE OF ITS DESIRE NOT TO RENEW. THE AGREEMENTS PROVIDE RESIDENT COMPANIES THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO SCHEDULE EACH PREVIOUSLY EXISTING SUBSCRIPTION SERIES AT SPECIFICALLY AGREED UPON RATES. II. PAFW HAS ALSO DEVELOPED ITS OWN PROGRAMMING SERIES, PRESENTING TOURING ATTRACTIONS IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS: BROADWAY AT THE BASS SERIES|A FAMILY SERIES|POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT SERIES| AND BROADWAY OFF BASS SERIES PRESENT THE MOST POPULAR, AWARD WINNING PRODUCTIONS OF TODAY, THE MCDAVID STUDIO CONCERT SERIES PRESENTS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ARTISTS PERFORMING MUSIC FROM VARIOUS GENRES IN AN INTIMATE VENUE WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART ACOUSTICS AND SPECIAL LIGHTING FEATURES. III. PAFW PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO RENT SPACE AT THE HALL FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS AND EVENTS (E.G., WEDDINGS AND COMPANY PARTIES) THAT REQUIRE AN INCOMPARABLE SETTING FOR ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCES. RENTAL SPACES INCLUDE THE FOUNDER'S CONCERT THEATER, GRAND LOBBY, MEZZANINE LOBBY, GREEN ROOM AND RICHARDSON ROOM, MCDAVID STUDIO AND VAN CLIBURN RECITAL HALL. LINE 4B - EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES: PERFORMING ARTS FORT WORTH ESTABLISHED ITS CHILDREN'S EDUCATION PROGRAM (CEP) TO PROMULGATE ARTS EDUCATION, ONE OF THE CORNERSTONES OF THE PAFW MISSION. BASS PERFORMANCE HALL IS AT THE CENTER OF THE PROGRAM, SERVING AS A CLASSROOM AND OFFERING A VARIETY OF PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OF SUPERIOR QUALITY AND FREE OF CHARGE FOR ALL STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS. THE CEP DEVELOPS AND PRESENTS PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS THAT ARE ENGAGING AND AGE-APPROPRIATE, DESIGNED TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE, AS WELL AS, CULTIVATE ARTS PATRONS AND ARTISTS OF TOMORROW. EACH YEAR, MORE THAN 70,000 CHILDREN ATTEND AND ARE ENRICHED BY EXEMPLARY CEP PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTATIONS, WHICH ARE MANDATED BY THE FORT WORTH INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FIRST THROUGH FIFTH GRADES AND PERFORMED PRIMARILY BY OUR RESIDENT COMPANIES; MASTER CLASSES AND TEACHERS' INSTITUTES CONDUCTED BY NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ARTISTS AND CLINICIANS; DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS THAT REACH OUTLYING RURAL COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS ACROSS THE NATION; AND THE SUMMER MUSIC CAMPS FEATURING PROMINENT CLINICIANS WHO GUIDE ASPIRING YOUNG VOCALISTS AND MUSICIANS FROM UNDERSERVED AREA SCHOOLS. THE CEP IS SUPPORTED BY FUNDING FROM INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS.
- $1.3 million spent. LINE 4A - PRODUCTIONS AND PERFORMANCES: PERFORMING ARTS FORT WORTH OWNS AND OPERATES BASS PERFORMANCE HALL AND THE MADDOX-MUSE CENTER, WHICH INCLUDES THE VAN CLIBURN RECITAL HALL AND THE MCDAVID STUDIO. MORE THAN 300,000 INDIVIDUALS VISIT PAFW VENUES ANNUALLY, ENJOYING A HOST OF SUPERIOR QUALITY PERFORMING ARTS OFFERINGS: I. BASS PERFORMANCE HALL SERVES AS THE PERMANENT HOME FOR FOUR RESIDENT COMPANIES: FORT WORTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, TEXAS BALLET THEATER, FORT WORTH OPERA AND THE CLIBURN CONCERTS AND THE QUADRENNIAL VAN CLIBURN INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION. SPECIAL THEATER LICENSE AGREEMENTS WITH EACH COMPANY WERE INITIALLY CONTRACTED FOR FIVE THEATER SEASONS WITH AUTOMATIC ONE YEAR EXTENSIONS AFTER THE FIRST FIVE SEASONS, PROVIDING NEITHER PARTY CHOOSES TO TERMINATE THE RELATIONSHIP. IN 2017 THE AGREEMENTS WERE UPDATED WITH A TWO-YEAR TERM, THEREAFTER, AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED AND EXTENDED FOR TWO-YEAR TERMS UNLESS EITHER PARTY PROVIDES NOTICE OF ITS DESIRE NOT TO RENEW. THE AGREEMENTS PROVIDE RESIDENT COMPANIES THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO SCHEDULE EACH PREVIOUSLY EXISTING SUBSCRIPTION SERIES AT SPECIFICALLY AGREED UPON RATES. II. PAFW HAS ALSO DEVELOPED ITS OWN PROGRAMMING SERIES, PRESENTING TOURING ATTRACTIONS IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS: BROADWAY AT THE BASS SERIES|A FAMILY SERIES|POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT SERIES| AND BROADWAY OFF BASS SERIES PRESENT THE MOST POPULAR, AWARD WINNING PRODUCTIONS OF TODAY, THE MCDAVID STUDIO CONCERT SERIES PRESENTS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ARTISTS PERFORMING MUSIC FROM VARIOUS GENRES IN AN INTIMATE VENUE WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART ACOUSTICS AND SPECIAL LIGHTING FEATURES. III. PAFW PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO RENT SPACE AT THE HALL FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS AND EVENTS (E.G., WEDDINGS AND COMPANY PARTIES) THAT REQUIRE AN INCOMPARABLE SETTING FOR ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCES. RENTAL SPACES INCLUDE THE FOUNDER'S CONCERT THEATER, GRAND LOBBY, MEZZANINE LOBBY, GREEN ROOM AND RICHARDSON ROOM, MCDAVID STUDIO AND VAN CLIBURN RECITAL HALL. LINE 4B - EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES: PERFORMING ARTS FORT WORTH ESTABLISHED ITS CHILDREN'S EDUCATION PROGRAM (CEP) TO PROMULGATE ARTS EDUCATION, ONE OF THE CORNERSTONES OF THE PAFW MISSION. BASS PERFORMANCE HALL IS AT THE CENTER OF THE PROGRAM, SERVING AS A CLASSROOM AND OFFERING A VARIETY OF PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OF SUPERIOR QUALITY AND FREE OF CHARGE FOR ALL STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS. THE CEP DEVELOPS AND PRESENTS PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS THAT ARE ENGAGING AND AGE-APPROPRIATE, DESIGNED TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE, AS WELL AS, CULTIVATE ARTS PATRONS AND ARTISTS OF TOMORROW. EACH YEAR, MORE THAN 70,000 CHILDREN ATTEND AND ARE ENRICHED BY EXEMPLARY CEP PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTATIONS, WHICH ARE MANDATED BY THE FORT WORTH INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FIRST THROUGH FIFTH GRADES AND PERFORMED PRIMARILY BY OUR RESIDENT COMPANIES; MASTER CLASSES AND TEACHERS' INSTITUTES CONDUCTED BY NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ARTISTS AND CLINICIANS; DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS THAT REACH OUTLYING RURAL COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS ACROSS THE NATION; AND THE SUMMER MUSIC CAMPS FEATURING PROMINENT CLINICIANS WHO GUIDE ASPIRING YOUNG VOCALISTS AND MUSICIANS FROM UNDERSERVED AREA SCHOOLS. THE CEP IS SUPPORTED BY FUNDING FROM INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1993.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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