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Theatreworks Silicon Valley

EIN 94-2831245 · Redwood City, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO IGNITE IMAGINATION AND FOSTER MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS AS AN OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL THEATRE THAT CELEBRATES DIVERSE EXPERIENCES AND OUR SHARED HUMANITY, ENRICHING SILICON VALLEY AND BEYOND.

Income
$11.2 million
Spending
$9.1 million
Spent on programs
52%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
268
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$192,167, artistic 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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    52% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 22 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

    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

    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 (4)
  1. $4.4 million spent. MAIN STAGE PRODUCTIONS: IN THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, SEASON 54, THEATREWORKS SILICON VALLEY PRODUCED SIX PRODUCTIONS WHICH INCLUDED A MIX OF CLASSICS, MUSICALS AND CONTEMPORARY HITS. THE THEATRE'S ART REFLECTS ITS CORE VALUES OF ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE, INNOVATION, COLLABORATION AND CELEBRATING THE HUMAN SPIRIT. THEATREWORKS PERFORMS IN TWO PENINSULA VENUES: THE MOUNTAIN VIEW CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (MVCPA) AND THE LUCIE STERN THEATRE IN PALO ALTO. THE THEATRE IS CLASSIFIED AS A LORT C PROFESSIONAL THEATRE AT THE LUCIE STERN THEATRE AND A LORT B AT THE MVCPA. BOTH ARE AN INDICATION OF THE CALIBER OF ARTISTS IT HIRES, AND A RANK SHARED WITH LESS THAN 50 REGIONAL THEATRES NATIONWIDE.
  2. $118,581 spent. NEW WORKS INITIATIVE: THEATREWORKS HAS BECOME A THEATRE OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE THROUGH ITS COMMITMENT TO NEW WORKS. THE THEATRE HAS PRODUCED OVER 75 WORLD PREMIERES. THE "NEW WORKS INITIATIVE" INCORPORATES ALL ASPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS INCLUDING STAGED READINGS; AN ANNUAL WRITER'S RETREAT FOR PLAYWRIGHTS, COMPOSERS, AND LYRICISTS; AN ANNUAL PUBLIC NEW WORKS FESTIVAL; ARTIST COMMISSIONS AND FULL PRODUCTIONS OF WORLD PREMIERES. THEATREWORKS HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OVER 110 NEW WORKS THROUGH THE NEW WORKS INITIATIVE, MANY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN PRODUCED ON ITS MAIN STAGE. AS A RESULT OF THE INITIATIVE, THEATREWORKS HAS GROWN FROM A THEATRE WITH AN IDEA FOR A UNIQUE DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM FOR NEW MUSIC THEATER TO A MAJOR (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) PLAYER ON THE NATIONAL SCENE IN DEVELOPING AND PRODUCING WORLD PREMIERES.
  3. $57,893 spent. ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS:THEATREWORKS OFFERS LOW-COST DAYTIME PERFORMANCES FOR SCHOOL GROUPS AND YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. BEFORE THE SHOW, EDUCATORS RECEIVE A GUIDEBOOK FULL OF INFORMATION AND ACTIVITIES TO CONNECT THE ART ONSTAGE TO THE WORK IN THEIR CLASSROOM. AFTER THE SHOW, THEATREWORKS HOSTS A TALKBACK BETWEEN THE CAST AND THE STUDENT AUDIENCE. STUDENT MATINEES TICKETS ARE $10 EACH; CHAPERONES ATTEND FREE OF CHARGE. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE CHILDREN'S HEALING PROJECT, A UNIQUE ARTS HEALING PROGRAM AT THE LUCILE PACKARD CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND THE PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. AUDIENCE ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE DISCUSSION WEDNESDAYS, A POST SHOW DISCUSSION BETWEEN AUDIENCE MEMBERS AND THE CAST AND SHOW SPECIFIC BEHIND-THE-SCENES E-NEWSLETTERS.
  4. $195,616 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES, INCLUDING CO-PRODUCTIONS WITH OTHER THEATRES, AND COSTUME, PROPERTY AND REHEARSAL SPACE RENTAL.

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 September 1982.

    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.