Portland Youth Theater
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Portland Youth Theater's primary exempt purpose is to unlock self-discovery in young people through the transformative power of theater. Our programs reach hundreds of kids each week in our venue and in schools throughout our community, providing a safe, nurturing and happy environment in which kids can create theater while learning about themselves and the world around them.
- Income
- $193,180
- Spending
- $190,259
- Reserves
- -1.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 91%
- Highest pay
- $26,228, programming director
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: 17 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 182% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% 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 (3)
- $136,846 spent. INSTRUCTIONAL CLASSES AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES - Kids of all ages, abilities, and experience levels participated in a full season of all-student, public performances of musicals and plays. In 2024 we piloted new educational theater programs with intentionally designed curricula branded specifically to our organization.
- $4,068 spent. IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES - Teaching artists develop and deliver customized performing arts programming to take place in public schools, independent schools, and homeschool programs. We continued to expand our in-school programs to include partnerships with new organizations and schools in 2024, with a focus on bringing our educational programs to after-care programs - a particular need in our community.
- $7,161 spent. PRIVATE MUSIC INSTRUCTION: After a pilot test in 2022-2023, STAGES rolled out a Private Music Instruction studio to deliver high-quality piano and voice instruction to young people ages 7-17 in 2024. Individual music instruction at STAGES was designed with the same foundation of our other educational programs - meeting kids where they are at with a non-competitive instruction model that balances quality music instruction with a low-pressure, non-recital-based format, providing our best possible scenario for developing skills and cultivating a life-long appreciation and love of music.
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
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 December 2024.
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 July 2016.
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.