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Fuse Theatre Inc

EIN 81-1036253 · San Leandro, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Fuse Creates meaningful theater experiences to foster civic engagement See Schedule O, Statement 3

Income
$32,842
Spending
$55,871
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Highest pay
$5,900, operations and ignite artists coordinator

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 70% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 (7)
  1. $11,375 spent. Tomás and the Library Lady Tour - After a challenging start, Fuse was able to have a short tour in the fall of 2024. TLL was the very first production for Fuse in 2016! This marks the return of our touring programming.
  2. $2,500 spent. Bloom Development - Elana Hershman and the NYC team developed Fuse's first piece of Theatre for the Very Young. Bee, Squirrel, Ant and Bird explore each part of the tree that they call home. Participants dance, sing, and work as a team to get their tree to BLOOM!
  3. Lodi Fresh Ink Fest - Partnering with Changing Faces Theater Company in Lodi, CA, Fuse launched a 10minute play festival for young playwrights. .Writing mentorship began in August 2024. Submission were due November 1, 2024.
  4. $2,534 spent. Theatre For Trees Workshops and events - Our Theatre for Trees program, despite not securing funding for a fully produced project, provided community workshops - a staff development day with Planting Justice and two workshops at the Sports Basement in Berkeley. Fuse also participated in tree planting with Biological Reserve Cerro Hermoso. Workshops and events will continue until the project is fully funded.
  5. $623 spent. Online Content - Sahar Muhsin-Laufman continued to curate online programming for Fuse's YouTube channel. Artist interviews, workshops and creative dialogues round out this year's content
  6. $6,492 spent. Community Events - Fuse continued to offer Cabaret Nights, Game Nights and a new Sing-along! These events are important in developing community and participant engagement.
  7. $4,905 spent. Ignite Artists - This program fosters artistic collaborations and supports the development of new plays at Fuse. Fuse develops new works in several ways: we support artists from within Fuse as they write and develop new projects, support playwrights from outside of Fuse by producing their original unpublished works, and collaborate with artistic partners to create new works.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 May 2016.

    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.