Ztp
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
zAmya Theater Project uses the powerful combination of lived experience(s) and artistic expression to inspire our communities to work for housing justice for all.
- Income
- $395,104
- Spending
- $396,736
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 3.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 52%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 28
- Highest pay
- $67,015, executive artistic director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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, 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 (4)
- $115,715 spent. "Creative Expression Sessions": Weekly creative workshops in partnership with Hennepin County Library at the Minneapolis Central Library, a favored daytime hangout for people experiencing homelessness. Objective: to build community for those experiencing homelessness and create an access point for joining zAmya. zAmya's performance "Living in America: The Waiting List is Full" was created at the library in 2024 was remounted in 2025 and toured to 6 venues in Minneapolis and St. Paul including Minneapolis Central Library, 825 Arts, Emma Norton's Restoring Waters and Marvela Senior Homes, Perpich Arts High School, and Westminster Presbyterian Church. Participant and Audience Total: 968
- $58,965 spent. zAmya continues to use our workshops and performances to build relationships between homeless and housed individuals in St. Paul. Catholic Charities' St. Paul Opportunity Center and Listening House hosted pilot workshops by zAmya to recruit participants for a performance focused on the theme of community safety at 825 Arts on University Ave. "Safe 2 Say" was performed as part of the 825 Art-B-Q in May 2025. This event kickstarted an ongoing partnership between zAmya and 825 Arts. Additionally, zAmya performed "A Challenge to Change", our performance about residents of Catholic Charities' Dorothy Day Campus in Downtown St. Paul, at Securian Financial Center as part of their Care Campaign. Participant and Audience Total: 320
- $54,835 spent. zAmya, North Loop Neighborhood Association and Avivo joined forces to create the project, Neighbors Being Neighbors In the North Loop, which aims to establish a shared vision in the North Loop of what needs to happen for all community members to feel safe, have shelter, and ensure support for the most vulnerable. In 2025, zAmya, Avivo, and North Loop Neighborhood Association (NLNA) rehearsed "DisPlace: A North Loop Fantasy Quest" over the winter. We held four performances March 13-16 for 400 people at Luminary Arts Center in North Loop neighborhood. Playwright Elle Thoni drew inspiration from the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons to explore an alternate reality where basic housing needs are met and fulfilled. The show had 25 performers, many of whom came from Avivo Village emergency shelter. Social service organizations tabled at each show, sharing resources, including Street Voices of Change, Aliveness Project, Native American Community Clinic, and others. Live intermission music provided by Brass Solidarity elevated the sense of radical, community based activism.Each show was nearly sold out with diverse crowds including individuals who had the lived experience of homelessness, people in social services, North Loopers, and activist-artists. zAmya Troupe Member Jada Windom shared, "My heart is so full of gratitude to have worked alongside everyone to educate and bring awareness. Every single day of this production was a blessing to me." Audience members left raving. One quote as an example: "Bravo to all involved. I love the joyful sense of community. Thank you all for that gift." Participant and Audience Total: 400
- $93,586 spent. Other programs include: General mission activities including troupe meetings and "ZLABs"- zAmya's venue for troupe member new work development. Also in 2025, zAmya brought a performance to the Minnesota Coaltion for the Homeless Annual Conference and created 4 monologues for a fundraiser at the Lighthouse in Owatonna.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2021.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.