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Bob Baker Marionette Theater

EIN 83-0977614 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE, EDUCATE, AND INNOVATE AT THE INTERSECTION OF PUPPETRY AND THE ALLIED ARTS.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
55
Volunteers
82
Highest pay
$108,998, co-executive director

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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 74% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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)
  1. $1.5 million spent. IN HOUSE PERFORMANCES: BOB BAKER MARIONETTE THEATER IS AN ICONIC LOS ANGELES INSTITUTION THAT HAS PROVIDED CREATIVITY, JOY, AND IMAGINATION TO OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1963. OUR NONPROFIT THEATER SERVES AN INTERGENERATIONAL AUDIENCE OF OVER 125,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY THROUGH OUR CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND IMPACTFUL, IMMERSIVE PERFORMANCES. BBMT'S WORK AND COMMUNITY IS CENTERED AT OUR HIGHLAND PARK THEATER-OUR HOME SINCE RELOCATING IN 2019-WHERE WE HOST A ROTATING SERIES OF FIVE ANNUAL SHOWS, FIELD TRIPS (FOR MAJORITY TITLE 1 SCHOOLS), WORKSHOPS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS IN COLLABORATION WITH A VARIETY OF LOS ANGELES-BASED ARTISTS AND CULTURAL CREATORS.
  2. $76,234 spent. ARTS EDUCATION: BBMT'S ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS CONSIST OF REGULAR MORNING AND AFTERNOON FIELD TRIPS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK WHICH INCLUDE AN IN-THEATER PERFORMANCE WHICH IS OFTEN A STUDENT'S FIRST LIVE THEATER EXPERIENCE, FOLLOWED BY A HANDS-ON WORKSHOP DEMONSTRATING ARTISTIC PRACTICES RELATED TO THE PERFORMANCE. BBMT'S FIELD TRIPS ARE AIMED AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGED YOUTH. WE PROVIDE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WITH CURRICULUM AND LESSON PLANS WHICH CAN BE USED FOR PRE- AND POST-FIELD TRIP IN-CLASSROOM LEARNING AND ARE CORE-STANDARD ALIGNED. BBMT ENRICHES THE LIVES OF PEOPLE YOUNG AND OLD THROUGH EXPOSURE TO OUR MULTIDIMENSIONAL PERFORMANCES WHICH ARE ENTRY POINTS FOR EXPLORATION OF ART, MUSIC, DANCE, AND STORYTELLING.
  3. $285,877 spent. COMMUNITY TRAVELING SHOWS: THE EXEMPT ORGANIZATION PERFORMS ACROSS THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES WITH ITS TOURING COMPANY INCLUDING AT VENUES SUCH AS THE FORD, HOLLYHOCK HOUSE AND PICO UNION PROJECT. AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, THE EXEMPT ORGANIZATION INTRODUCES THE ART OF PUPPETRY TO THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ANNUALLY THROUGH TRAVELING SHOWS AT SCHOOLS AND PARKS IN UNDERSERVED AND VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE CHILDREN ARE LESS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS OF VISITING THE THEATER. BY PROVIDING MOBILE PERFORMANCES, THE EXEMPT ORGANIZATION HAS EXPANDED ITS AUDIENCE FROM 40,000 IN-HOUSE ATTENDEES TO MORE THAN 120,000 MEMBERS OF ITS BROADER COMMUNITY.

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

  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 November 6, 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 December 2018.

    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 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.