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Bearded Ladies Cabaret

EIN 85-3343355 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AN EXPERIMENTAL CABARET GROUP DEVOTED TO EXPLOITING ALL POSSIBILITIES OF INTIMATE, HOMEMADE THEATRE THROUGH BEAUTIFUL SONGS, TRICKED-OUT COSTUME CHANGES, DRAG, AND VIRTUOSTIC PROP CONSTRUCTION.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$772,816
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
11.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
10
Highest pay
$75,264, artistic dir

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    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 July 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 (5)
  1. $176,311 spent. MABELINE - PERFORMANCE RESIDENCY AT VOYEUR NIGHTCLUB AND CONCERT FILM AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD. POP DIVA MABELINE IS BACK AND GREENER THAN EVER, KICKING OFF HER WORLD TOUR IN PHILLY. THE GRINCH'S EX-WIFE IS BRINGING THE HEAT TO THE COLDEST TIME OF THE YEAR WITH HER HOLIDAY SHOW FEATURING DAZZLING VISUALS, DYNAMIC DANCERS, AND SURPRISE GUEST APPEARANCES.
  2. $141,862 spent. BEARDS ON ICE - PARTNERSHIP WITH PHILADELPHIA PARKS AND RECREATION AT TWO CITY ICE RINKS. THE BEARDED LADIES ARE TAKING ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS, ON WOBBLY SKATE AT A TIME. THIS HOUR-LONG ICECAPADE COMES IN TWO DAZZLING VARIATIONS: FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY AND PG13 (A LITTLE MORE EDGE). FEATURING RESOURCES FROM PHILLY'S CLIMATE JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS AND A FREE SKATE AFTER THE SHOW.
  3. $100,922 spent. ROSE - RESIDENCY AND TOURING PRODUCTION. IN THIS MUSICAL SHRINE TO THE CONSUMED TWIN, ROSE WELCOMES YOU INTO A FEAST OF GENDER THROUGH SONG, STORYTELLING, AND A FULL PLATE OF WORDPLAY.
  4. $188,703 spent. SHAVINGS - THE BEARDED LADIES CABARET IS PRESENTING SHAVINGS, AN INSTALLATION AND PERFORMANCE SERIES. THE INSTALLATION SPACE WILL BE ACTIVATED BY LIVE EVENTS FEATURING BEARDED LADIES COLLABORATORS AND PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE PHILADELPHIA ARTS SCENE, INCLUDING PERFORMANCES, TALKS,AND MORE. THE PROJECT IS CURRENTLY IN A DEVELOPMENT STAGE, WITH SEVERAL WORKSHOPS FOR ALL COLLABORATORS. SHAVINGS WILL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER 2026. REVENUE = -0-; EXPENSES = 63,832. BEARDMOBILE - THE BEARDMOBILE IS A MOBILE PERFORMANCE UNIT, GLITTERFULLY OUTFITTED FOR SOCIALLY-DISTANCED PERFORMANCES AND POLITICAL ACTIONS. EACH PERFORMANCE IS CURATED BY A SLEW OF AMAZING PHILLY-BASED ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND HOSTED BY A ROTATING ROSTER OF BEARDS' HOSTS. REVENUE = -0-; EXPENSES = 55,131. SING-A-LONGS - JOIN THE BEARDED LADIES FOR A SERIES OF SING-ALONG SHOWS. SET YOUR ESCAPISM AND DENIAL TO MUSIC WITH ROUSING GROUP RENDITIONS OF SONGS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH FASCISM. SING-ALONG OR SCREAM ON PITCH OR JUST SCREAM REVENUE = 3,362; EXPENSES = 19,405. MISCELLANEOUS GIGS - REVENUE = 11,094; EXPENSES = 50,335.
  5. SHAVINGS - THE BEARDED LADIES CABARET IS PRESENTING SHAVINGS, AN INSTALLATION AND PERFORMANCE SERIES. THE INSTALLATION SPACE WILL BE ACTIVATED BY LIVE EVENTS FEATURING BEARDED LADIES COLLABORATORS AND PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE PHILADELPHIA ARTS SCENE, INCLUDING PERFORMANCES, TALKS,AND MORE. THE PROJECT IS CURRENTLY IN A DEVELOPMENT STAGE, WITH SEVERAL WORKSHOPS FOR ALL COLLABORATORS. SHAVINGS WILL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER 2026. REVENUE = -0-; EXPENSES = 63,832. BEARDMOBILE - THE BEARDMOBILE IS A MOBILE PERFORMANCE UNIT, GLITTERFULLY OUTFITTED FOR SOCIALLY-DISTANCED PERFORMANCES AND POLITICAL ACTIONS. EACH PERFORMANCE IS CURATED BY A SLEW OF AMAZING PHILLY-BASED ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND HOSTED BY A ROTATING ROSTER OF BEARDS' HOSTS. REVENUE = -0-; EXPENSES = 55,131. SING-A-LONGS - JOIN THE BEARDED LADIES FOR A SERIES OF SING-ALONG SHOWS. SET YOUR ESCAPISM AND DENIAL TO MUSIC WITH ROUSING GROUP RENDITIONS OF SONGS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH FASCISM. SING-ALONG OR SCREAM ON PITCH OR JUST SCREAM REVENUE = 3,362; EXPENSES = 19,405. MISCELLANEOUS GIGS - REVENUE = 11,094; EXPENSES = 50,335.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending July 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2022.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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