Burnon Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To share the power and joy of live theatre through the creation, production, and presentation of innovative works for local and national audiences; and through high-quality education and enrichment programs.
- Income
- $3.9 million
- Spending
- $3.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- -11.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 87
- Volunteers
- 208
- Highest pay
- $157,839, producing artistic director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 68% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 2513 of 14 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 September 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)
- $2.8 million spent. As part of the annual MainStage series, Rubicon presents classic and contemporary dramas and comedies, including world premieres, for the entertainment and enrichment of residents and visitors to the region. In this fiscal year, the season, entitled Dare to Dream, consisted of the musical Once, the world premiere theatrical concert Cowboy Lullaby, August Wilson's drama Two Trains Running in partnership with The Acting Company of New York - TAC, Constellations, the world premiere Crazy Mama, a story about a young girl longing to reconnect with the mother she lost to mental illness, and the American premiere of a new version of the Tony nominated musical Bonnie & Clyde. Two Trains Running ran during Rubiocon's WinterFest in repertory with August Wilson's autobiographical How I Learned What I Learned and The Comedy of Errors (the latter also with TAC). The organization also further expanded the Ventura LIVE! series of 30 events in 30 days, which included concerts, comedy and other variety performances to expand and build audiences and to make the theatre more of a community hub.
- $72,113 spent. Rubicon expanded the company's educational offerings during this season. A record number of participants engaged in Rubicon's summer education camps and intensives. The four programs for students ages 6 - 22 included the Stinky Feet Theatre Project, Middle School Musical Theatre, Fearless Shakespeare and Young Adult Musical Theatre. Student matinees at the theatre continued with Two Trains Running, Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors, Crazy Mama, Constellations and Bonnie & Clyde. Rubicon continued its commitment to developing new works with the company's Plays-in-Progress program.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2000.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.