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The Phoenix Theatre Company

EIN 86-0108839 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PHOENIX THEATRE CREATES EXCEPTIONAL THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES TO ARTICULATE MESSAGES THAT INSPIRE HOPE AND UNDERSTANDING.

Income
$19.5 million
Spending
$15.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-19.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
447
Volunteers
481
Highest pay
$252,920, producing artistic directo

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

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 58% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 August 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 (2)
  1. $12.4 million spent. PERFORMANCE PROGRAMING: WE VALUE THEATRE AS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE WHERE ANYONE CAN GO POPULAR, GEEKY, BROKEN DOWN OR AFFLUENT - AND BE WELCOMED. THEATRE LIVES WHERE WE WISH THE WHOLE WORLD LIVED. BY INSPIRING EMPATHY AND THE ABILITY TO SEE THINGS FROM ANOTHER'S POINT OFVIEW, WE ENCOURAGE QUALITIES THAT LEAD TO VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AND BUILD COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE ARE PROUD TO WORK AND LIVE.
  2. $325,717 spent. EDUCATION: PHOENIX THEATRE BELIEVES THE ARTS ARE ESSENTIAL BECAUSE THEY BUILD COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE ARE PROUD TO WORK AND LIVE. FOSTER THE HERO WITHIN, CREATE GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF CULTURAL AND POLITICAL DIFFERENCES AND, IN AN ERA OF SIMULATED VIRTUAL GATHERINGS, CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A FORUM IN WHICH THE COMMUNITY FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE CAN GATHER, LIVE AND IN-PERSON. PHOENIX THEATRE BELIEVES THE PROCESS OF CREATING THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE EXPERIENCE ITSELF. PHOENIX THEATRE STRIVES TO PRODUCE THE NEXT GENERATION OF PEOPLE WHO PRODUCE THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES. PHOENIX THEATRE CREATED A COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS - FROM THE ACTOR TO THE PROP DESIGNER; FROM THE MUSICIAN TO THE SET BUILDER, AND SO ON. PHOENIX THEATRE IS A PLACE WHERE THESE ARTISTS LIVE, CREATE, AND LEARN.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) THE PHOENIX THEATRE COMPANY'S CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ENRICH LIVES THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE ARTS BY SERVING INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS. THROUGH YOUTH THEATRE CLASSES, SUMMER CAMPS, DANCE TRAINING, AND YEAR-ROUND AUDIENCE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, THE COMPANY NURTURES CREATIVITY, SELF-EXPRESSION, ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT, AND LIFELONG ENGAGEMENT WITH THEATRE. COMMUNITY-FOCUSED INITIATIVES SUCH AS BACKSTAGE EXPERIENCES, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, AND THE RICHARD P. STAHL FESTIVAL OF NEW AMERICAN THEATRE DEEPEN CONNECTIONS BETWEEN AUDIENCES AND ARTISTS. THE SIGNATURE PARTNERS THAT HEAL PROGRAM BRINGS THE BENEFITS OF IMPROVISATION TO HEALTHCARE AND CAREGIVING SETTINGS, IMPROVING COMMUNICATION AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, WHILE COMMUNITY NIGHTS ENSURE THAT LIVE THEATRE REMAINS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL THROUGH PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN PERFORMANCES OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. IN ADDITION, THE COMPANY RUNS A ROBUST APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM TO TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF THEATRICAL TECHNICIANS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 August 1945.

    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.

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.