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Stage West Theatre

EIN 75-2495487 · Fort Worth, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRODUCE THEATRE THAT ENTERTAINS, ENRICHES AND INSPIRES.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
11.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
68
Volunteers
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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

    17 of 17 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.

  • 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 September 30, 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. $1.1 million spent. MAINSTAGE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. DURING FY2023-2024, STAGE WEST PRODUCED A FULL MAINSTAGE SEASON INCLUDING A CO-PRODUCTION OF THE MUSICAL ONCE UPON A MATTRESS WITH THEATRE TCU WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY THE PLAYS POOR CLARE, MARJORIE PRIME, POTUS, SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE ADVENTURE OF THE ELUSIVE EAR, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. TO MEET DEMAND AND MAXIMIZING REVENUE, WE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL WEEK TO THE RUN OF POTUS. SHERLOCK AND EARNEST BOTH DREW STRONG WORD-OF-MOUTH, AND SOLD OUT HOUSES. EDUCATION & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. THE YEAR FEATURED THE SUMMER CONSERVATORY WORLD PREMIERE OF THE INCIDENT AT PANTHER HILLS: BIGFOOT RETURNS, DEVISED BY STUDENTS, AND THE EXPANSION OF OUR DESIGN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM (DAP), IN-SCHOOL PLAYWRITING WORKSHOPS, AND YOUTH AND ADULT PERFORMANCE CLASSES. THE EMERGING VOICES PIPELINE-NEIGHBORHOOD PLAY CONTEST CULMINATING IN FESTIVAL OF THE KID-BROUGHT DOZENS OF NEW WRITERS TO THE STAGE. A WINTER OPEN HOUSE ACTIVATED NEW ENROLLMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. OUR MONTHLY FIRST TUESDAYS SERIES OFFERED ACCESSIBLE, HIGH-PARTICIPATION EVENTS (E.G., GARDEN DESIGN, CHAMBER MUSIC COLLABORATIONS, ARTS WORKSHOPS), TYPICALLY DRAWING SEVERAL DOZEN TO 100+ ATTENDEES AND WELCOMING MANY FIRST-TIME VISITORS.DEVELOPMENT & FUNDRAISING. STAGE WEST ADVANCED ITS ANNUAL FUND WITH STRONG INDIVIDUAL GIVING, A SUCCESSFUL NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY CAMPAIGN, AND A SPRING GALA, ALONGSIDE ONGOING FOUNDATION AND GOVERNMENT SUPPORT. WE EXCEEDED OUR ANNUAL INDIVIDUAL GIVING TARGET AND BROADENED THE BASE OF SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING AN INCREASE IN $1,000+ PATRONS.FACILITIES, OPERATIONS & GOVERNANCE. WE COMPLETED NEEDED FACADE TUCKPOINTING AND CONTINUED INVESTMENTS IN TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT. A SHORT-TERM RESIDENCY EXPERIMENT WITH FOUR DAY WEEKEND HELPED ACTIVATE THE BUILDING AND TEST ADDITIONAL EARNED REVENUE FROM BAR/CONCESSIONS, WITH SOUND-MITIGATION STRATEGIES IN PLACE TO PRESERVE THE PATRON EXPERIENCE. WE STANDARDIZED THE CORPORATE NAME USAGE (RETIRING AN OLDER DBA REFERENCE), INITIATED A BYLAWS REVIEW, AND HIRED SEVEN NEW EMPLOYEES ACROSS PRODUCTION, DEVELOPMENT, FINANCE, AND MARKETING, FLESHING OUT DEPARTMENTS WITH REFINEMENTS TO SOPS AND CROSS-TEAM COORDINATION.ADDITIONAL EXPLANATIONS (FORM 990). THIS NARRATIVE SUPPLEMENTS PARTS I-III AND VI OF FORM 990 BY DESCRIBING MISSION, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL MATTERS UNDERTAKEN DURING THE YEAR. NO CHANGE TO THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE OCCURRED DURING THE PERIOD. FINANCIAL DETAILS SUPPORTING THESE NARRATIVES APPEAR IN THE CORE RETURN AND AUDITED STATEMENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 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 September 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 October 1993.

    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.