Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Minerva West

EIN 88-2140426 · Ridgway, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MINERVA WEST S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPRESSION, CREATIVITY AND ARTS EDUCATION TO ALL IN THE COMMUNITY VIA REGULARLY SCHEDULED PERFORMANCES, YOUTH CAMPS, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND TRAINING IN PERFORMANCE ARTS PRODUCTION. MINERVA WEST AIMS TO INSPIRE CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY BY OFFERING EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL REGARDLESS OF AGE, ABILITY, RACE OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 2022, MINERVA HAS PRODUCED 32 SHOWS WITH 107 PERFORMANCES INVOLVING MORE THAT 185 ACTORS, CREW AND VOLUNTEERS. IT HAS ESTABLISHED AFTER-SCHOOL YOUTH PROGRAMS AT BOTH RIDGWAY ELEMENTARY AND RIDGWAY SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

Income
$72,965
Spending
$79,331
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Highest pay
$45,000, employee - artistic director

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

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

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

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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 (3)
  1. $13,294 spent. Minerva West is a community theater based in a small rural Colorado Town. It has grown from nothing to have over 200 citizens participate and over 4000 people attend its shows. In 2025 Minerva West Theatre Company (Adult Community Theater) produced three public productions (Death of a Salesman, I Love You/You're Perfect/Now Change, and Steel Magnolias), involving 64 actors/crew/volunteers, ages 16 - 79. Of Ridgway's approx 1250 residents, 645 attended the shows.
  2. $2,256 spent. Minerva West Youth Theater Program - Secondary Level: This after school theater program serves secondary level students. Participation is free and culminates in a public performance. In 2025, productions included Beetlejuice and a Murder Mystery. 31 secondary students participated as cast, crew, and volunteers.Attendance by community members totaled 166.
  3. $3,462 spent. Minerva West Youth Theatre Workshop and Performance Program - Primary level: This program provides theater arts education for kids 5-14 and is comprised of an afterschool workshop program and a summer youth theater program. The 2025 Afterschool workshops presented 2 productions (You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, and Peter Pan). The 2025 Youth Summer Theatre workshop lead to a public performance of Frozen. Workshops are tuition supported. 47 kids aged 5-13 participated.. Performance attendance totaled 417.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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 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 December 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 July 2022.

    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.