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Childsplay Inc

EIN 86-0336473 · Tempe, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak18 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IGNITE IMAGINATION, WONDER AND JOY BY CREATING STRIKINGLY ORIGINAL THEATRE AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT INSPIRE YOUNG MINDS TO EXPLORE AND SOAR.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 57%
Employees
159
Volunteers
155
Highest pay
$135,403, managing 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

Weak: 18 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 50% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 41 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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 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 (2)
  1. $2.2 million spent. THEATRE PRODUCTIONS FOUNDED IN 1977, CHILDSPLAY IS A NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY RESPECTED PROFESSIONAL THEATRE COMPANY THAT PERFORMS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN ARIZONA. AT CHILDSPLAY WE BELIEVE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE DESERVE TO EXPERIENCE CHALLENGING, THOUGHT-PROVOKING THEATRE OF THE HIGHEST ARTISTIC QUALITY. OUR RESPECT FOR THE INTELLIGENCE AND CREATIVITY OF CHILDREN DRIVES US TO PRODUCE NEW AND INNOVATIVE WORKS BY THE FINEST THEATRICAL ARTISTS, AS WE EMPLOY AN ENSEMBLE OF PROFESSIONAL ADULT ACTORS, DIRECTORS, AND DESIGNERS TO CREATE EXCEPTIONAL THEATRE PRODUCTIONS. OUR NEW PLAYS PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO CREATING ORIGINAL PLAYS THAT SPEAK TO THE CONTEMPORARY EXPERIENCE OF BEING A CHILD. CHILDSPLAY REACHES YOUNG AUDIENCES THROUGH FOUR MAJOR PERFORMANCE PROGRAMS PUBLIC PERFORMANCES, FIELD TRIPS, LOCAL AND NATIONAL TOURING. IN FY25, CHILDSPLAY HELD 32 PUBLIC PERFORMANCES FOR 5,969 ATTENDEES, 52 FIELDTRIP PERFORMANCES FOR 20,820 ATTENDEES, 77 TOURING PERFORMANCES FOR 29,850 ATTENDEES, AND 76 NATIONAL TOURING PERFORMANCES FOR 38,041 ATTENDEES.
  2. $929,452 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS CHILDSPLAY IS A LEADER IN EDUCATIONAL ARTS PROGRAMMING, HAVING ESTABLISHED A REPUTATION AMONG EDUCATORS FOR TRUSTWORTHY, QUALITY CONTENT THAT PROVIDES CROSS-CURRICULAR VALUE. EDUCATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN KEY TO CHILDSPLAYS MISSION AND PROGRAMMING. WITHIN THE PAST DECADE, SPECIFIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS CONNECTED TO ACADEMIC CURRICULUM HAVE BECOME AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF WHAT THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS THE COMMUNITY. THE ACADEMY PROVIDES THEATRE TRAINING AT OUR CAMPUS, AND THE EDUCATION OUTREACH DEPARTMENT OFFERS THEATRE EXPERIENCES IN THE CLASSROOM. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDE DRAMA FRAMES, WHICH WORKS WITH ELEMENTARY TEACHERS TO INTEGRATE DRAMA INTO THE CURRICULUM, AND EYEPLAY, WHICH WORKS WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS TO PAIR DRAMA AND LITERACY. IN FY25, CHILDSPLAY SERVED 1,387 CHILDREN THROUGH ITS ACADEMY AND 4,615 CHILDREN THROUGH ITS EDUCATION OUTREACH PROGRAMS.

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 September 1978.

    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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