The Catastrophic Theatre Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Catastrophic Theatre is an ensemble-based theatre company dedicated to creating a meaningful exchange between artists and audiences through the creation and performance of new works of all sorts.
- Income
- $818,000
- Spending
- $715,593
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 9.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 96
- Highest pay
- $93,836, co-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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (1)
- $517,211 spent. See Schedule O The Catastrophic Theatre produced five plays during our 32nd season in 2024/2025, including 4 new works from such eclectic creators as emerging playwright Candice D'Meza (Miss LaRaj's House of Dystopian Futures) to a finalist for The Pulitzer Prize in Drama, Lisa D'Amour (Frozen Section). From experimental dance-theatre artist Brian Jucha (Love Bomb) to Houston's all-original musical-making machine, Catastrophic Theatre's very own Tamarie Cooper (Another Ding Dang Tamarie Show). We also we revisited our rich repertory with a return to Catastrophic's favorite and most produced playwright, Mickle Maher's Spirits to Enforce. Catastrophic reached over 5,300 people and employed more than 150 artists. We also worked with local high schools, community colleges, and university undergraduate and graduate programs to provide master classes and on-site lectures, personal and professional mentorships, and targeted post show question and answer sessions with student groups.Catastrophic Theatre also celebrated 15 years of our Pay-What-You-Can ticketing model, which removes financial barriers allowing more people to attend theatrical productions. The Catastrophic Theatre is Houston's first and only avant-garde theatre with a 30-year record of successful risk-taking. The Houston Chronicle recently identified us to be "Houston's Boldest Theatre".
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
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 October 13, 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 August 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 December 2007.
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 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.