Prologue Theatre
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Prologue Theatre's vision is to use theatre as the catalyst for, and to then sustain, open and inclusive community discussion and discourse. Its mission is to present theatre performances and educational programs that start public conversations about important world issues, challenging the community to examine and discuss their views of the world and those around them.
- Income
- $310,952
- Spending
- $327,593
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 7
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 70% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 256 of 6 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.
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 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 (1)
- $255,658 spent. In 2024, Prologue Theatre produced two full length productions. Marjorie Prime at the Atlas Performing Arts Center in Washington, D.C. and The Horse and Carriage at Prologue's office and rehearsal space in Arlington, VA. Full-length productions require sets, costumes, props, lights, and sound as well as the theatre artists (actors, director, designers, stage manager, and over-hire staff) to create the piece in addition to advertising and marketing for each play and lobby materials for the audience. In addition, for our New Works Program, foreword, we brought together a group of artists to devise and adapt Emil and the Detectives. After conducting the first week of development at Prologue in February, the piece was workshopped at The Kennedy Center for a week in June as a part of their Local Theatre Residency Program and was asked to come back in August for the Local Theatre Festival to present a reading of the piece to an audience. Artist time in June and August as well as puppets and props created for the piece were funded by The Kennedy Center grants. This will likely be a one-time only experience as the programs were discontinued in 2025. Prologue Theatre has continued to experience challenges of filling seats for performances. Although the potential audience size was less, producing on a smaller scale in Arlington in December gave us full control over our own ticket sales as well as realizing the full value of tickets sold less fees (something we do not have when we rent space at Atlas; they control ticket sales and take 10% of the ticket value as part of the rental). Despite it being among our largest costs, we have continued to prioritize maintaining the space we rent in Arlington, VA as appropriate and available commercial space for theatre usage remains virtually nonexistent in our area. Other small theatres recognize the potential we offer in the community and supported us this year with marketing swaps and donations, in addition to grants received from The SHARE Fund, The Lange Foundation, Morgan Stanley GIFT, and Schwab Charitable.
Source: Form 990 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 November 6, 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 March 2019.
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 November 4, 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.