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Theatre Bay Area

EIN 94-2476071 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak37 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

(cont from page 1) democratic society, and invaluable as a source of personal enrichment and growth.

Income
$881,494
Spending
$935,312
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
-2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
6
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$118,971, exec 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

Weak: 37 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 50% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 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 (3)
  1. $583,825 spent. The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the largest and most dynamic theatre centers in the country. Theatre Bay Area was founded in 1976 to serve this vital artistic community, and is today one of the largest regional theatre service organizations in North America. Known for its thought leadership and innovative programming, TBA serves as a model for other service organizations around the country.Theatre Bay Areas membership is derived from 11 Bay Area counties and consists of almost 300 Bay Area theatre and dance companies, from multi-million dollar organizations to grassroots community groups; over 2,000 theatre artists; 100+ organizational members, from libraries and universities to theatre-related professional services; and some 22,000 theatre patron subscribers.
  2. Programs include:Equipping the field for success (Expenses $101,165)Programs include an Annual Conference which draws some 400 theatre artists and administrators for a day-long intensive of training and networking; professional development such as our ATLAS program, providing theater artists with training in career planning; grant programs such as CA$H, offering grants to artists and small-budget companies; General Auditions, annually showcasing 400 actors to 100 Bay Area theatres; online Audition and Job Listings and an online Talent Bank.
  3. Recognizing achievement (Expenses $192,754)Special grants and awards such as the Glickman Award for a new play, Rella Lossy Award is an award for professionally oriented theatre organizations that will be presenting a world-premiere full-length play. During the year ended June 30, 2023, we awarded $170,000 in various grants to deserving artists and organizations.Developing audiences (Expenses $288,437)Programs include the Bay Area Audience Database, a unique tool, with dozens of arts nonprofits pooling their audience data on 1.8 million arts-goers to better their marketing and research options; and a weekly e-newsletter, The Theatregoer, which reaches thousands of subscribers.

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 October 13, 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 March 1977.

    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 October 21, 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.