Skip to the page content
Passes our checks

Emerald Coast Theatre Company

EIN 80-0858285 · Miramar Beach, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair60 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ECTC OPERATES AS A NON-PROFIT, 501(C)3 SERVING OKALOOSA, WALTON AND BAY COUNTIES IN FLORIDA WITH A MISSION TO ENRICH AND ENTERTAIN THE EMERALD COAST COMMUNITY THROUGH PROFESSIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL THEATRE.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
10
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$112,354, producing artistic directo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 July 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 (3)
  1. $1.7 million spent. EMERALD COAST THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCED SEVEN PROFESSIONAL THEATRE PRODUCTIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, INCLUDING MUSICALS, COMEDIES, AND DRAMAS. PRODUCTIONS EMPLOYED PROFESSIONAL ACTORS, DIRECTORS, DESIGNERS, AND TECHNICIANS, PROVIDING PAID OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS WHILE DELIVERING HIGH-QUALITY LIVE THEATRE TO THE COMMUNITY. PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMMING SERVED APPROXIMATELY 16,365 ATTENDEES, WITH 30% TRAVELING FROM OUTSIDE THE LOCAL MARKET. PRODUCTIONS TOOK PLACE AT THE ORGANIZATION'S 17,600 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY AT GRAND BOULEVARD IN MIRAMAR BEACH, FLORIDA. THE ORGANIZATION IS THE ONLY YEAR-ROUND PROFESSIONAL THEATRE IN THE TRI-COUNTY REGION OF WALTON, OKALOOSA, AND BAY COUNTIES.
  2. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED YEAR-ROUND THEATRE EDUCATION PROGRAMMING SERVING OVER 850 STUDENT REGISTRANTS AGES 5-18. PROGRAMS INCLUDED AFTER-SCHOOL CLASSES, WEEKEND WORKSHOPS, SUMMER CAMPS, AND YOUTH PRODUCTIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE SKILL LEVELS: MINI PLAYERS (AGES 5-7), LITTLE AND BIG PLAYERS (ELEMENTARY), TEEN PLAYERS (MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL), AND A PRE-PROFESSIONAL JUNIOR COMPANY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES JUNIOR THESPIAN TROUPE #89447, WHICH COMPETES AT THE STATE LEVEL. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING DEVELOPS CONFIDENCE, LITERACY, COLLABORATION, AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION SKILLS IN YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGHOUT NORTHWEST FLORIDA.
  3. THE ORGANIZATION PRODUCED LITERATURE-BASED THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES (TYA) PRODUCTIONS DESIGNED FOR SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS AND FAMILY AUDIENCES, REACHING APPROXIMATELY 2,400 ATTENDEES ANNUALLY. TYA ATTENDEES WERE STUDENTS ATTENDING ON SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS FROM OVER 25 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE REGION. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE TICKETS TO TITLE I SCHOOLS TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY. TYA PROGRAMMING EXTENDS ARTS EDUCATION ACCESS TO STUDENTS IN WALTON, OKALOOSA, BAY, AND HOLMES COUNTIES. COMMUNITY OUTREACH EXTENDED ACROSS THE COUNTY WITH OVER 20 FREE PERFORMANCES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, 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 July 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 November 2013.

    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.