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Golden Thread Productions

EIN 75-3009451 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Golden Thread Productions mission is to produce passionate and provocative playsfrom or about the Middle East including its global diaspora - that celebrate themultiplicity of its perspectives and identities while serving as a developmentalcatalyst and vibrant artistic home to artists at various stages of their career.Golden Thread brings the Middle East to the American stage, creating treasuredcultural experiences for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Income
$374,921
Spending
$645,955
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
5.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
15
Highest pay
$72,000, exec artist dir

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

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 72% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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 (4)
  1. $340,518 spent. FULL-LENGTH PLAYS AND NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT (Mainstage and New Threads) In addition to the production of full-length plays, Golden Thread ensures the discovery and development of new playwrights and plays through commissions and development programs such as readings and workshops. New Threads is an annual staged reading and workshop series that engages its audience in the process of playmaking and allows writers of Middle Eastern and non-Middle Eastern descent an authentic and supportive space to develop work about the Middle East. Many of the New Threads plays continue on to receive main stage productions.
  2. $73,197 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS (Womens Day, General Artistic, Fiscal Sponsorship) Golden Thread celebrates International Womens Day each year with What Do the Women Say?, a curated evening highlighting the works of Middle Eastern women artists. We also provide fiscal sponsorship and occasional artistic support for small projects to Middle Eastern artists.
  3. $3,453 spent. REORIENT FESTIVAL AND FORUM (ReOrient) The ReOrient Festival of Short Plays was inaugurated in 1999 to present alternative perspectives of the Middle East and to showcase the multiplicity of stories, voices and styles from the region and has since becomes Golden Threads most recognized and celebrated program. This ambitious festival, now presented biennially, turns San Francisco into a Mecca for innovative, spirited, and thought-provoking theatre from and about the Middle East. Alongside Middle Eastern voices, ReOrient also features the work of non-Middle Eastern playwrights. In 2009, in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the festival, Golden Thread has organized the ReOrient Forum, a weekend-long convening in San Francisco aimed at expanding the dialogue on theatre, the Middle East, and current hot topics that illuminate the regions relationship with the US.
  4. $1,811 spent. YOUTH OUTREACH (Fairytale Players) A portion of Golden Threads programming engages and educates youth and family audiences about the Middle East. Golden Thread Fairytale Players create and tour original productions based on Middle Eastern fables and childrens stories. Inspired by popular performance traditions in the Middle East, the performances employ epic storytelling, physical theatre and circus arts techniques and tour schools, libraries, and festivals around the Bay Area.

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 2002.

    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.