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Santa Fe Playhouse

EIN 85-6011831 · Santa Fe, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SANTA FE PLAYHOUSE CREATES COMMUNITY ON STAGE AND OFF BY HOLDING SPACE FOR UNEXPECTED CONVERSATIONS THROUGH INTRIGUING AND VITAL PROGRAMMING. WE CREATE COMMUNITY BY: -CONNECTING ARTISTS WITH AUDIENCES THROUGH THEATRE. THIS INCLUDES: NEW WORKS AND NEW WORK DEVELOPMENT, NEW VOICES, CLASSICS RE-IMAGINED, PLAYS WITH MULTI-GENERATIONAL APPEAL. -INNOVATING ACCESS TO THEATER INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OUR FOUR WALLS. -CREATING INSPIRING AND DIVERSE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. -PROVIDING RADICAL INCLUSION AND HOSPITALITY. -EMBEDDING OUR NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ARTISTS INTO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. -BEING SUSTAINABLE, FINANCIALLY SECURE AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. -CONNECTING ARTISTS WITH AUDIENCES THROUGH THEATRE. THIS INCLUDES: NEW WORKS AND NEW WORK DEVELOPMENT, NEW VOICES, CLASSICS RE-IMAGINED, PLAYS WITH MULTI-GENERATIONAL APPEAL.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
16
Volunteers
45
Highest pay
$85,978, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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 December 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 (1)
  1. $870,678 spent. SANTA FE PLAYHOUSE (THE PLAYHOUSE) IS A PROFESSIONAL THEATER LOCATED IN SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO. THE PLAYHOUSE CREATES AND PRODUCES PROFESSIONAL THEATER THAT CREATES COMMUNITY ON STAGE AND OFF BY HOLDING SPACE FOR UNEXPECTED CONVERSATIONS THROUGH INTRIGUING AND VITAL PROGRAMMING. ITS ANNUAL PROGRAMS TYPICALLY INCLUDE SIX FULL PRODUCTIONS, A ROBUST EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT, PRESENTED WORKS, AND HOSTS NUMEROUS SMALLER THEATRICAL ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS. THE PLAYHOUSE RECOGNIZES THE NEED FOR EMPHASIS ON EDUCATIONAL AND SUPPORT GROUPS TO ENSURE THE PARTICIPATION OF AS MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS POSSIBLE IN EVERY ASPECT,INCLUDING PERFORMING, TECHNICAL, AND FUNDING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 June 1952.

    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.

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