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The Smith Center for the Performing Arts

EIN 88-0361875 · Las Vegas, NV

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE ARTISTS, AUDIENCES, AND OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY THROUGH GREAT PERFORMANCES, ENRICHING EXPERIENCES, AND ENGAGING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING.

Income
$44.6 million
Spending
$43.0 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-47 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 62%
Employees
302
Volunteers
130
Highest pay
$728,679, president & ceo

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 36% 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

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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. $33.8 million spent. DESIGNED TO EDUCATE, ENRICH AND INSPIRE THE LIVES OF THE LAS VEGAS VALLEY COMMUNITY BY PRESENTING WORLD CLASS PERFORMING ARTS. THE SMITH CENTER OFFERS A BLEND OF PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL ARTS GROUPS AS WELL AS FIRST RUN TOURING ATTRACTIONS. THE FEATURED MUSIC, THEATER AND DANCE COMPANIES CELEBRATE CULTURES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ALONG WITH LOCAL RESIDENT COMPANIES, THE LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC AND NEVADA BALLET THEATER. THE SMITH CENTER BEGAN OPERATIONS IN MARCH 2012 AND HAS ENRICHED THE LIVES OF AN ESTIMATE OF 2,929,000 PATRONS.
  2. $1.6 million spent. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE KENNEDY CENTER PARTNERS IN EDUCATION PROGRAM AND WOLF TRAP INSTITUTE FOR EARLY LEARNING THROUGH THE ARTS, WORKSHOPS, ARTIST RESIDENCIES AND DEMONSTRATION, TEACHING SESSIONS WERE CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO EDUCATE THE LAS VEGAS VALLEY COMMUNITY'S YOUTH THROUGH THE PERFORMING ARTS. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TOURING THEATER PRODUCTIONS BASED ON CHILDREN'S LITERATURE WERE PRESENTED FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES. PROGRAMMING FOCUSED ON PROVIDING A VARIETY OF PERFORMING ARTS EXPERIENCES FOR OVER A MILLION STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS IN THE PRE-K THROUGH GRADE 12 WITHIN CLARK COUNTY. PROGRAMMING WAS CONDUCTED ONSITE AND IN THE VENUES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

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 November 6, 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 February 1999.

    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 November 4, 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.