Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Bright Lights Theatre

EIN 83-4295733 · Dallas, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BRIGHT LIGHTS THEATRE EXISTS TO TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION AS MASTERFUL STORYTELLERS WHO SHARE THE LIGHT OF CHRIST. OUR ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED IN 2019 TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE, HIGH-QUALITY, CHRIST-HONORING THEATRE EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO DALLAS TEXAS AREA YOUTH.

Income
$205,508
Spending
$210,613
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
7.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
2
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$17,750, president and exec dir

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 (5)
  1. $78,444 spent. BLT PRODUCED 4 PRODUCTIONS DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, GIVING STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM WELL-KNOWN, CHALLENGING MUSICALS, WHILE ALSO TEACHING THEM TO SEE ELEMENTS OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IN EVERY STORY.
  2. $2,051 spent. BLT OFFERED 2 ELEMENTARY LEVEL BASIC MUSICAL THEATRE MASTER CLASSES DURING THE YEAR. THESE CLASSES ARE INTENDED TO GROW CONFIDENCE ON STAGE, TEACH NECESSARY BASIC MUSICAL THEATRE SKILLS, AND GIVE EVERY STUDENT A MOMENT TO STEP INTO THE SPOTLIGHT. THEY PERFORM A SHOWCASE AT THE END OF A 10-WEEK CLASS THAT IS OPEN TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
  3. $13,623 spent. BLT OFFERED SUMMER CAMPS THAT ARE A WEEK-LONG PROCESS OF PRODUCING A 45-MINUTE ORIGINAL MUSICAL. IN JUST ONE WEEK, STUDENTS WILL AUDITION, BE CAST, REHEARSE AND PERFORM THIS MUSICAL FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THEY WILL ALSO ASSIST IN THE TECHNICAL ELEMENTS OF THE SHOW, CREATING PROPS AND PORTIONS OF THE SET AND DESIGNING THEIR OWN COSTUMES. THEY WILL MAKE NEW FRIENDS AND LEARN HOW THIS SHOW POINTS US BACK TO GODS BIG STORY IN THE BIBLE.
  4. $86,132 spent. OTHER PROGRAM EXPENSES TO SUPPORT MISSION
  5. OTHER PROGRAM EXPENSES TO SUPPORT MISSION 86132. 0. 0.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, 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 July 2025.

    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 April 2019.

    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.