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Compass Rose Studio Theater

EIN 90-0649573 · Annapolis, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceFair61 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EXPERIENCE OF THE CRAFT OF THE THEATER BUILDS NOT ONLY TALENT AND TECHNIQUE, BUT FOSTERS SKILLS FOR LIVING WHICH ENRICH THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. PROFESSIONAL THEATER PERFORMANCES BY COMPASS ROSE THEATER UPHOLD UNPARALLELED ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AS THE COMPASS ROSE ON A NAUTICAL CHART GUIDES THE MARINER ON HIS OR HER JOURNEY, SO THE COMPASS ROSE THEATER EXPLORES DRAMATIC JOURNEYS AND CHARTS A COURSE TOWARDS MOVING, EVOCATIVE AND RICHLY ENTERTAINING THEATER.

Income
$315,680
Spending
$292,760
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 47%
Employees
5
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$71,262, executive di

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    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

    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 (1)
  1. $276,259 spent. THE COMPASS ROS THE COMPASS ROSE THEATER IS A PROFESSIONAL TEACHING THEATER COMPANY. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, LUCINDA MERRY-BROWNE FOUNDED THE COMPASS ROSE THEATER TO OFFER PROGRAMS, PRODUCTIONS, AND CLASSES IN THE GREATER BALTIMORE/ WASHINGTON AREA. IT IS LED BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BARBARA WEBBER. PROGRAMS, SHOWS, SPECIAL EVENTS, CLASSES, CAMPS, AND WORKSHOPS ARE OFFERED THROUGHOUT MARYLAND. CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS ARE OFFERED IN SCHOOLS IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, AS WELL AS THE APEX PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL, ANNAPOLIS FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, AND MARYLAND HALL. SHOWS REGULARLY ARE RECOGNIZED BY THE PRESTIGIOUS HELEN HAYES AWARDS IN WASHINGTON, DC. IT HIRES BOTH NONUNION AND UNION ACTORS AND TECHNICIANS. YOUTH ARE INVITED TO WORK ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONALS TO LEARN AND GROW THEIR SKILLS. FACULTY HOLD BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S DEGREES IN THEATER AND/OR MUSIC AND HAVE PROFESSIONAL TEACHING AND ACTING EXPERIENCE. OUR APPROACH TO EDUCATION IS PROCESS-BASED, TEACHING STUDENTS FROM AGES 4 TO ADULTS. THE COMPASS ROS THE COMPASS ROSE THEATER IS A PROFESSIONAL TEACHING THEATER COMPANY. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, LUCINDA MERRY-BROWNE FOUNDED THE COMPASS ROSE THEATER TO OFFER PROGRAMS, PRODUCTIONS, AND CLASSES IN THE GREATER BALTIMORE/ WASHINGTON AREA. IT IS LED BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BARBARA WEBBER. PROGRAMS, SHOWS, SPECIAL EVENTS, CLASSES, CAMPS, AND WORKSHOPS ARE OFFERED THROUGHOUT MARYLAND. CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS ARE OFFERED IN SCHOOLS IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, AS WELL AS THE APEX PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL, ANNAPOLIS FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, AND MARYLAND HALL. SHOWS REGULARLY ARE RECOGNIZED BY THE PRESTIGIOUS HELEN HAYES AWARDS IN WASHINGTON, DC. IT HIRES BOTH NONUNION AND UNION ACTORS AND TECHNICIANS. YOUTH ARE INVITED TO WORK ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONALS TO LEARN AND GROW THEIR SKILLS. FACULTY HOLD BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S DEGREES IN THEATER AND/OR MUSIC AND HAVE PROFESSIONAL TEACHING AND ACTING EXPERIENCE. OUR APPROACH TO EDUCATION IS PROCESS-BASED, TEACHING STUDENTS FROM AGES 4 TO ADULTS.

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 September 2011.

    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.