Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Southwest Shakespeare Company Inc

EIN 86-0764708 · Mesa, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak27 out of 100GovernanceGood73 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THEATRE COMPANY TO EDUCATE AND ENTERTAIN THROUGH PERFORMANCES OF WORKS OF CLASSICAL THEATRE

Income
$466,169
Spending
$485,322
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 43%
Employees
4
Volunteers
15

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: 27 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 91% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $84,149 spent. STUDENTS WHO WILL BE ATTENDING OUR WEEKDAY STUDENT MATINEES WILL HAVE PRE- SHOW ORIENTATION WORKSHOPS IN THEIR CLASSROOMS TAUGHT BY ONE OF OUR TEACHING ARTISTS AND OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY ONE OF THE SHOW'S ACTORS. ANOTHER TYPE OF WORKSHOP IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE PLAY WITH THE ACTORS AND DIRECTOR AFTER SEEING IT AT THE MESA ARTS CENTER ("MAC") OR "TALKBACKS". WE ALSO OFFER BACKSTAGE TOURS AFTER THE PERFORMANCE.PERIODICALLY, SPECIAL CUSTOMIZED WORKSHOPS NOT RELATING TO CURRENT SHOWS ARE ARRANGED ON A ONE- BY-ONE BASIS.
  2. $82,277 spent. ON THE SECOND SATURDAY OF EVERY MAIN STAGE SHAKESPEARE PRODUCTION, DR.SUSAN WILLIS, DRAMATURG OF THE ALABAMA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL AND PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, TEACHES A DAYLONG SEMINAR ON THE PLAY WE ARE PRODUCING. THESE FUN AND INTERESTING SEMINARS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, FREE TO SEASON SUBSCRIBERS AND USUALLY FULL OF EDUCATORS WHO TAKE WHAT THEY LEARN BACK TO THEIR CLASSROOMS. MOST OF THEM EARN 10 RECERTIFICATION HOURS FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THIS IS YET ANOTHER MEANS BY WHICH WE EDUCATE OUR PATRONS AND MAKE SHAKESPEARE MORE ACCESSIBLE.
  3. $137,592 spent. THERE ARE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES THAT CANNOT, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, COME TO THE MESA ARTS CENTER TO SEE OUR FULL-LENGTH PRODUCTIONS. FOR THESE INTERESTED PARTIES, WE HAVE DEVELOPED A TOURING SHOW OF NO MORE THAN 90 MINUTES THAT IS GENERALLY PERFORMED BY A CADRE OF EIGHT PERFORMERS. IN ADDITION TO THE PERFORMANCE ITSELF, THESE ACTORS OFTEN PROVIDE A WORKSHOP PRIOR OR AFTER THE PERFORMANCE GIVING THE STUDENTS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SHAKESPEARE, HIS LIFE AND TIMES. EVERY SEASON SOUTHWEST SHAKESPEARE COMPANY PRODUCES A PROFESSIONAL SEASON OF AT LEAST FIVE CLASSICAL PLAYS FOR SEASON SUBSCRIBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT INCLUDES THREE TO FOUR WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE AND/OR ONE TO TWO WORKS SELECTED FROM THE CLASSICAL REPERTOIRE. THESE PRODUCTIONS ARE PRODUCED USING THE FINEST LOCAL AND REGIONAL ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS, AUGMENTED BY NATIONALLY-RESPECTED PROFESSIONALS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. ONLY THE HIGHEST OF STANDARDS ARE ASPIRED TO IN THESE PRODUCTIONS, IN SETS, LIGHTS, COSTUMES, AND OTHER PRODUCTION VALUES. OUR COMPANY WAS NAMED BY GET OUT MAGAZINE AS BEST THEATRE IN PHOENIX FOR 2005-6, AND HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS ARIZONI THEATRE AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE, INCLUDING FIVE BEST PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR AWARDS, AND NUMEROUS "BEST ACTOR" AWARDS.
  4. THERE ARE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES THAT CANNOT, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, COME TO THE MESA ARTS CENTER TO SEE OUR FULL-LENGTH PRODUCTIONS. FOR THESE INTERESTED PARTIES, WE HAVE DEVELOPED A TOURING SHOW OF NO MORE THAN 90 MINUTES THAT IS GENERALLY PERFORMED BY A CADRE OF EIGHT PERFORMERS. IN ADDITION TO THE PERFORMANCE ITSELF, THESE ACTORS OFTEN PROVIDE A WORKSHOP PRIOR OR AFTER THE PERFORMANCE GIVING THE STUDENTS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SHAKESPEARE, HIS LIFE AND TIMES. EVERY SEASON SOUTHWEST SHAKESPEARE COMPANY PRODUCES A PROFESSIONAL SEASON OF AT LEAST FIVE CLASSICAL PLAYS FOR SEASON SUBSCRIBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT INCLUDES THREE TO FOUR WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE AND/OR ONE TO TWO WORKS SELECTED FROM THE CLASSICAL REPERTOIRE. THESE PRODUCTIONS ARE PRODUCED USING THE FINEST LOCAL AND REGIONAL ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS, AUGMENTED BY NATIONALLY-RESPECTED PROFESSIONALS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. ONLY THE HIGHEST OF STANDARDS ARE ASPIRED TO IN THESE PRODUCTIONS, IN SETS, LIGHTS, COSTUMES, AND OTHER PRODUCTION VALUES. OUR COMPANY WAS NAMED BY GET OUT MAGAZINE AS BEST THEATRE IN PHOENIX FOR 2005-6, AND HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS ARIZONI THEATRE AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE, INCLUDING FIVE BEST PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR AWARDS, AND NUMEROUS "BEST ACTOR" AWARDS.

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 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 June 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 December 1994.

    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.