Black Theatre United
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CHAMPION ACCESS, REPRESENTATION, EQUITY AND INCLUSION THROUGHOUT THE AMERICAN THEATRE AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 9.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $180,000, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 May 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 (1)
- $832,091 spent. A NEW DEAL FOR BROADWAY - EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, ACCESSIBILITY & BELONGING FOR THE THEATRICAL INDUSTRY. BLACK THEATRE UNITED WAS PROUD TO HOST THIS REMARKABLE AND HISTORIC COLLABORATION. IT IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP TO REOPENING OUR INDUSTRY WITH A BRIGHT SPOTLIGHT FOCUSED ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, ACCESSIBILITY, AND BELONGING FOR BLACK PROFESSIONALS IN THE ARTS. THOUGH ONE OF MANY INITIATIVES CREATED BY BLACK, BIPOC AND ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS SINCE THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD, BTUS SUMMIT IS THE FIRST TO BRING TOGETHER ALL AREAS OF OUR INDUSTRY FROM THEATRE OWNERS, PRODUCERS, CREATIVES, CASTING AND UNIONS. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH US. BTU WAS ABLE TO FINILIZE THE NEW DEAL, WHICH NOW HAS OVER 100 SIGNATORIES. THE CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW DEAL IS OVERSEEN BY BTU, COLLABORATORS KENJI YOSHINO AND DAVID GLASGOW FROM THE CENTER FOR DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING AT NYU SCHOOL OF LAW AND A COMMITTEE OF NEW DEAL SIGNATORIES. A SUMMIT IS HELD EVERY YEAR FOR SIGNATORIES TO DISCUSS PROGRESS MADE OVER THE YEAR AND CHALLENGES FACED. THE BROADWAY MARTKETING INTERNSHIP PROGRAM - A EIGHT-WEEK PROGRAM, IS INITIATIVE DEDICATED TO CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING BLACK TALENT IN ALL AREAS OF THEATRE. INTERNS WORK WITH THE TOP MARKETING AND ADVERTISING AGENCIES IN NYC. BROADWAY BOUND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM - A TRANSFORMATIVE 10-12 WEEK INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO BRING THE MAGIC OF BROADWAY TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL IN UNDERREPRESENTED, LOW-ECONOMIC COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM, TAKING PLACE DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, AIMS TO INTEGRATE COMMON CORE STANDARDS INTO A DYNAMIC BROADWAY THEORY AND THEATRICS CURRICULUM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, 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 May 2025.
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 March 2022.
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.