Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

El Teatro Campesino

EIN 94-2214186 · Sn Jun Batsta, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceFair54 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • Only 46% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

El Teatro Campesino mission is to make teatro a creator of vibrant community.

Income
$486,620
Spending
$612,621
Spent on programs
46%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
51
Volunteers
90
Highest pay
$13,230, director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 30 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 63% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    46% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 54 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

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

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (14)
  1. $82,769 spent. "La Virgen del Tepeyac" was ETC bi-annual Christmas production. The performances were held at ETC Theater. There were twenty-one performances with 3,241 in attendance.
  2. $81,913 spent. Adios Mama Carlota production was held at ETC Theater. There were 14 performances with 1,320 in attendance.
  3. $19,183 spent. Palabra Vol. X showcased new works submitted by writers and presented at ETC Theater. The three day production with an attendance of 299.
  4. $18,881 spent. Teatro de Nosotros was a theater youth program serving of the city of Watsonville with 190 youth. The program focus on acting, music and visual arts. At the end of the program the youth presenting a live theater production.
  5. $17,752 spent. Valley of the Heart Radio Production is a radio version of the script written by ETC Artistic Director
  6. $16,882 spent. Spadework workshops were held in different cities facilitated by El Teatro Campesino Executive Director.
  7. $13,240 spent. Artists In Schools Program served 180 elementary students in the Hollister and San Juan Bautista School Districts in San Benito County. The program focused on theater, puppetry, music and visual arts.
  8. $11,420 spent. ETC contracted with San Jose City College to provide technical and artistic support.
  9. $8,581 spent. Dia de los Muertos a free community event and procession. The event was attended by approximately 400 people.
  10. $4,120 spent. A redesign of El Teatro Campesino archival museum.
  11. $2,596 spent. Teatro Camp was held for youth with 7 youth enrolled. The Camp focused on theater and visual arts. A performance was held at ETC Family Day Event with the youth in the ETC Camp.
  12. $2,435 spent. El Teatro Campesino, Executive Director, conducted a workshop for the California Arts Council.
  13. $2,222 spent. Ecology Poster Workshops were held in the elementary schools. The program served 300 students. The workshop focused on recycling and the development of posters which were used by Ecology.
  14. $1,800 spent. Esperanza de Valle a dance troupe from Watsonville presented their seasonal production at ETC Theater. There were 4 performances with an attendance of 414.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 March 1974.

    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.