Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Acts on Stage Inc

EIN 85-0694752 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ACTS ON STAGE is a professional theater committed to centering the talents, voices, works and initiatives of People of Color and creatives of faith. Our mission is to change lives dramatically by serving the local urban and global community through the production of programs & performances that elevate the arts, the artists and all audiences. Our vision is to be a driving force behind a new era renaissance where creativity creates social change.

Income
$607,293
Spending
$619,941
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
5
Volunteers
179
Highest pay
$79,800, executive director

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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% 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 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $135,444 spent. THEATER COMPANY: Through Acts On Stage Theater, audiences can expect to regularly experience a season of small to medium cast shows from September to May. This fiscal year, we produced two shows: A SOLDIER'S PLAY in the fall of 2024, and SADIE'S KITCHEN in the spring of 2025. A SOLDIER'S PLAY was written by Charles Fuller, and directed by Isiah Anderson Jr. SADIE'S KITCHEN was written by La'Chris Jordan, and directed by Isiah Anderson Jr.
  2. $195,277 spent. TEEN SUMMER MUSICAL: The Teen Summer Musical is a Signature Seattle program that has lit up the largest stages in the city for the last 25 years. In addition to creating stunning feels and vibes, the TSM serves as an excellent way to instill character and work ethic in our young performers and future leaders. Teen Summer Musical highlights some of the brightest youth stars in summer performances of classic stories with timely social justice themes. In summer 2024, 72 TSM youth performed SNOW WHYTE AND THE SEVEN: EACH ONE TEACH ONE, written and directed by Isiah Anderson Jr., with music by Michelle Lang-Raymond and Cedric Paul Thomas II, and choreography by Koach Crosby.
  3. $62,025 spent. RENAISSANCE 20: This spring we re-launched quarterly cycles of Renaissance 20, our young artists development program, led by Sam Townsend Jr. Group Classes in beginning piano, voice, dance, and acting happen throughout the school year. This is another exciting step into our vision to be a new era renaissance where creativity creates change!
  4. $49,209 spent. OTHER PROJECTS: In addition to our traditional theater offerings, we offer video content production services, programs that develop artists (of all levels) in every discipline of the performing arts (music, dance, performance, stage craft, writing, etc.), art-based interactive workshops re: racial equity and social justice and in-the-moment / nimble services such as seasonal events, after-school clubs and artist consultation. This fiscal year our other projects included GET (ACT)IVE, a youth fitness program in partnership with King County Parks, a JUNETEENTH celebration in partnership with Cultivate South Park, and A DOUGLASS DECLARATION, an alternative 4th of July celebration in partnership with The Sound of the Northwest Choir.

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 May 2021.

    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.