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Phame Academy

EIN 93-0991167 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PHAME IS A FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS ACADEMY SERVING ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. OFFERING FOUR TERMS OF ARTS-BASED CLASSES EACH YEAR, AS WELL AS A RIGOROUS PERFORMANCE PROGRAM, PHAME EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO LEARN NEW SKILLS, TAKE ARTISTIC RISKS, AND BUILD LASTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE WHO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE OF HAVING A DISABILITY.PHAME IS BUILT UPON THE BELIEF THAT ART IS FOR EVERYONE, AND THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS STRONGER WHEN IT CHAMPIONS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL. WITH THAT IN MIND, PHAME BRINGS PASSION, JOY, AND RIGOR TO ARTS EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
38
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$65,237, past executive 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

Fair: 59 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 77 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $388,313 spent. PHAME OFFERED 100 TERM-LENGTH LIFELONG ARTS LEARNING CLASSES TO 145 INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES FROM THE PORTLAND METROPOLITAN REGION AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. CLASSES INCLUDED VISUAL ART, MUSIC, ACTING, DANCE, WRITING, AND ADDITIONAL DISCIPLINES. WE AWARDED $48,310 IN TUITION ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT PARTICIPATION IN THESE CLASSES AND EMPLOYED MORE THAN 25 TEACHING ARTISTS AND CAMPUS COORDINATORS.WE CONTINUED TO OFFER ONLINE AND HYBRID CLASSES, WITH MOST CLASSES HELD IN PERSON. IN ADDITION TO TERM LENGTH CLASSES, PHAME HOSTED BOTH FREE AND PAID ONE DAY WORKSHOPS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS FOR PHAME STUDENTS AND FOR INDIVIDUALS SERVED THROUGH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. PHAME ALSO SUPPORTED STUDENTS IN BUILDING FULL AND CONNECTED LIVES THROUGH CAMPUS EVENTS SUCH AS DANCES, CABARETS, COMMUNITY GATHERINGS, OUR ANNUAL GET PHAMEOUS OPEN HOUSE, AND OUR ANNUAL DISABILITY PRIDE CELEBRATION, WHICH WAS HELD IN COMMUNITY VISION'S PARKING GARAGE.IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ARTISTS REPERTORY THEATRE, TWO PHAME STUDENTS CONSULTED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRODUCTION SAPIENCE, AND ONE WAS CAST IN A LEADING ROLE. AS PART OF THIS PARTNERSHIP, PHAME PROVIDED COACHING TO ART STAFF ON SUPPORTING AND ACCOMMODATING INDIVIDUALS WITH I/DD. A COHORT OF PHAME STUDENTS ATTENDED REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES TO LEARN ABOUT THE PRODUCTION PROCESS, AND CHAMELEONICA, PHAME'S MIXED ENSEMBLE, PERFORMED AT A PRESHOW EVENT HIGHLIGHTING PHAME.PHAME ALSO PARTNERED WITH PORTLAND REVELS TO DEVELOP REVELATION COFFEE, AN ORIGINAL PLAY WRITTEN BY PHAME STUDENTS AND PERFORMED BY PHAME STUDENTS ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONAL ACTORS, WITH DRAMATURGY PROVIDED BY AN ADDITIONAL PHAME STUDENT. AUDITIONS AND REHEARSALS FOR PHAME PERFORMERS WERE HELD AT PHAME IN THE FALL AND WINTER. THE PRODUCTION RAN FOR THREE PERFORMANCES AT THE BRUNISH THEATRE AT PORTLAND'5.
  2. $104,417 spent. OUR MUSIC PERFORMANCE GROUPS WERE HIRED FOR SIX ENGAGEMENTS, INCLUDING THE ADA BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR THE CITY OF HILLSBORO, COLUMBIA COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH, HARPER'S PLAYGROUND GALA, GUARDIAN PARTNERS GALA, ARLETA ELEMENTARY, AND THE SHINE THE LIGHT EVENT AT THE PATRICIA RESER CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN BEAVERTON. OUR COMEDY TROUPE, ALMOST PHAMEOUS, LAUNCHED ITS FIRST MONTHLY PERFORMANCE SERIES AT PORTLAND COMEDY THEATER.WE HELD OUR ANNUAL WINTER CONCERT AT PORTLAND CENTER STAGE AND REIMAGINED IT AS THE SNOW GLOBE TIME MACHINE WINTER CONCERT. WHILE PAST CONCERTS FEATURED ONLY MUSIC PERFORMANCES, THIS YEAR'S EVENT ALSO INCLUDED DANCE AND COMEDY.
  3. $280,260 spent. FUNDS GRANTED TO THE ROBIN FOR OPERATING THE FACILITY ON BEHALF OF PHAME.

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 May 1993.

    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.