Tara Institute of the Performing Arts Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATIONS PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE A RIGOROUS ACADEMIC HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE PERFORMING ARTS, TRAVEL AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $2.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- -8.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 66%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 38
- Highest pay
- $72,659, business manager
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 87% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 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
0 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 July 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 (2)
- $131,100 spent. TARA CONTINUES TO SUCCESSFULLY OPERATE THE NOMAD PLAYHOUSE PURCHASE MARCH 20, 2015. THIS ALLOWS THE SCHOOL TO HAVE A HOME VENUE FOR ITS NUMEROUS PRODUCTIONS, WHICH ARE CENTROL IT ITS CURRICULUM. THE NOMAD ALSO RENTS ITS PLAYHOUSE TO LOCAL TROUPES AND TOURING ARTISTS OF VARIOUS GENRES, FILM SCREENINGS, CONCERTS, LECTURES, AND OTHER INSPIRING EVENTS THAT ALIGHT WITH TARAS MISSION.
- $1.9 million spent. TARA HAS AN AVERAGE TOTAL ENROLLMENT OF 42 STUDENTS IN GRADES NINE THROUGH TWELVE. DURING EACH FULL YEAR OF ENROLLMENT, EACH STUDENT PARTICIPATES IN SEVERAL PERFORMING ARTS PRODUCTIONS, SIGNIFICANT TRAVEL EXPERIENCES, AND A RICH ARRAY OF ACADEMIC CLASSES. OVER THE COURSE OF THE FULL FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM, STUDENTS WORK WITH EXPERTS IN DANCE, CHORAL SINGING, DRAMA, MUSICAL THEATRE, SET DESIGN, STAGE LIGHTING, AND STAGE SOUND TO CREATE FOUR PLAYS, FOUR MUSICALS, AND EIGHT COMMUNITY FESTIVAL EVENTS. SIMILARLY, DURING THEIR FOUR-YEAR TARA EXPERIENCE, STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN TWO CULTURAL AND ART IMMERSION TRIPS TO NYC, ONE SERVICE TREIP TO LEARN AND WORK WITH NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES, ONE GEOLOGY RAFTING EXCURSION, AND A MONTH LONG CULTURAL IMMERSION IN SPECIFIC REGIONS IN EUROPE. IN ADDITION, DURING THEIR FOUR YEARS AT TARA, STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A NUMBER OF IN-THE-FIELD EXPERIENCIAL OPPORTUNITIES AND WEEK-LONG OFF SITE IMMERSION LEARNING RETREATS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR ACADEMIC CLASSES. THESE PROGRAM SERVICES REPRESENT THE BLUK OF Continued on Schedule O Statement 2 THE TARA BUDGET, BUT THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY THE EQUALLY SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMMATIC HONOR CODE WORK AND FESTIVAL/SEASONAL OBSERVATION AND CELEBRATION THAT TAKES PLACE AT THE SCHOOL.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 July 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 September 1995.
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.