Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Red Ladder Theatre Company

EIN 84-2394273 · San Jose, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood79 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

As a social justice theatre company founded on the understanding that the most essential component of a healthy individual is the creative spirit, Red Ladder exists to connect our most vulnerable community members with their own creativity - igniting their imaginations and amplifying their voices - empowering them to tell their own stories.

Income
$673,370
Spending
$799,103
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
19 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 68%
Employees
15
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$145,835, executive dir.

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $403,512 spent. Arts in CorrectionsRed Ladder Theatre Company serves both youth and adults experiencing incarceration, with great success. These participants have often grappled with multiple and inter-related issues such as substance abuse, literacy and language barriers, employment challenges, troubled or abusive home lives, housing instability and the like, and often lack the resources to aid them in their efforts to positively affect their own circumstances. Through restorative justice techniques and Red Ladders focus on creative collaboration in an atmosphere free from judgement, participants impacted by the carceral system are able to visualize opportunities, imagine positive outcomes, and discover within themselves the strength to transform their dreams into reality.
  2. $197,972 spent. Community Enrichment ProgramsRed Ladder provides creative engagement opportunities to a wide range of groups within the community - from seniors in our Japantown neighborhood to veterans and their families, neuro-atypical adults, or individuals experiencing the intersectional effects of substance abuse recovery, housing insecurity and mental health struggles. Through meaningful community partnerships with service agencies who work with these individuals on a daily basis, Red Ladder works collaboratively to ensure that the needs of our participants are being met, and they have the support required to achieve long-term, lasting and meaningful pro-social skill development.
  3. $13,987 spent. Youth Engagment ProgramsRed Ladder provides a variety of opportunities for youth in our community to engage in the creative process. This includes work with youth in the foster system, work with students in the classroom or in summer bridge programs designed to give children a leg up when making the transition to a new school environment, and work with youth in a variety of community settings. Red Ladder has become a leader in performing arts curriculum development and uses the power of the arts to reach students, especially those with non-traditional learning styles, and to help them make sense of the world around them. The company has developed a broad range of activities that meet the State of California's Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Standards and are in line with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Further, Red Ladder successfully executes curriculum based on the Studio Thinking Framework/Studio Habits of Mind with its participants.

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 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 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 July 2020.

    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.