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Denver Center for the Performing Arts

EIN 84-0407760 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE DCPA ENGAGES AND INSPIRES NEARLY 950,000 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR THROUGH BROADWAY TOURS, LOCALLY PRODUCED THEATRE, INTIMATE CABARET, IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES, THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AGES. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.IT IS A COLLECTION OF PASSIONATE ARTISTS WHO SHARE THE WORLD'S GREATEST STORIES WITH CAPTIVATED AUDIENCES. BOLD IN ITS VISION AND UNIVERSAL IN ITS APPEAL, THE DCPA'S WORK SPANS A BROAD CONTINUUM AND REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF ITS VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

Income
$89.3 million
Spending
$90.4 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 80%
Employees
846
Volunteers
420
Highest pay
$445,031, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 June 30, 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. $48.6 million spent. DCPA BROADWAY PRESENTS NATIONAL TOURING PRODUCTIONS ON DENVER'S BIGGEST STAGES WHILE DCPA CABARET ENTERTAINS AUDIENCES WITH COMEDY, IMPROV AND MUSICALS IN THE INTIMATE GARNER GALLERIA THEATRE. IN FY25, DCPA BROADWAY PRESENTED 245 PERFORMANCES FROM 18 PRODUCTIONS, WITH ATTENDANCE OF 579,166 PATRONS INCLUDING 20,047 SUBSCRIBERS, WHILE DCPA CABARET PRESENTED 234 PERFORMANCES OF 5 SHOWS FOR A TOTAL OF 35,550 PATRON EXPERIENCES.
  2. $17.9 million spent. DENVER CENTER THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCES HANDCRAFTED CLASSICS, WORLD PREMIERES, AND MODERN MASTERPIECES IN EACH OF ITS THREE VENUES. PLUS, ITS NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM HAS INTRODUCED NEARLY 215 PLAYS INTO THE AMERICAN THEATRE CANON. IN FY25, THE THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCED 324 PERFORMANCES ACROSS 8 PLAYS AND FOUR READINGS, WELCOMED 4,506 SUBSCRIBERS, AND OFFERED 123,547 GUEST EXPERIENCES.
  3. $6.4 million spent. DCPA OFF-CENTER CREATES UNEXPECTED THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES THAT PLACE THE AUDIENCE AT THE CENTER OF THE STORY. IN FY25, OFF-CENTER PRESENTED THREE PRODUCTIONS, WHICH WELCOMED 60,412 INDIVIDUALS TO OFF-SITE VENUES IN DENVER.
  4. $4.0 million spent. DCPA EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT NURTURES A LOVE OF THEATRE THROUGH PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE REGION. ITS EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS REACHED 156,526 STUDENTS OF WHICH 141,046 WERE YOUTH. THESE OFFERINGS SPAN CLASSES, IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, FIELDTRIP OPPORTUNITIES, TOURS AND ITS ANNUAL THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES PRODUCTION. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO CONNECTS WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ON- AND OFF-SITE EVENTS.
  5. $952,869 spent. DCPA EVENT SERVICES PRODUCES AWE-INSPIRING EVENTS IN DRAMATIC VENUES FOR BOTH EXTERNAL CLIENTS AND DCPA EVENTS. IT ENCOMPASSES THE SEAWELL BALLROOM, DIRECTORS ROOM, AND VARIOUS LOBBIES AND THEATRE SPACES. IN FY25, IT HOSTED 86 EXTERNAL EVENTS AND GREETED 40,080 GUESTS TO EVENTS RANGING FROM NON-PROFIT FUNDRAISERS AND CORPORATE EVENTS TO WEDDINGS AND PRODUCT LAUNCHES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 October 13, 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 June 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 March 1955.

    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 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.