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Shakespeare-San Francisco

EIN 94-2867269 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak20 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

SAN FRANCISCO SHAKESPEARE'S MISSION ISTO MAKE THE WORDS AND THEMES OF SHAKESPEARE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OFAGE, ETHNICITY, FINANCIAL STATUS, OR LEVEL OF EDUCATION.

Income
$991,063
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
104
Volunteers
50

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 20 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 128% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 43% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 74 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $599,029 spent. Free Shakespeare in the Park: Professional productions of Shakespeares works presented at no cost in neighborhood parks. The program generally serves up to 30,000 people through performances in San Francisco, Cupertino, and Redwood City (pre-pandemic, the company also performed in Pleasanton.) In 2024, the company performed The Tempest in person. In 2023, the company performed Cymbeline in person and made a recording available. In 2022, the company performed Much Ado About Nothing in person, and made a recording available. Due to the pandemic in 2020, the company innovated the Unified Virtual Space method and presented live performances of King Lear virtually via Youtube, successfully pivoting the program to Free Shakespeare at Home. In 2021, the company presented an episodic hybrid version of the Play On translation of Pericles Prince of Tyre, with episodes 1, 2 and 3 performed virtually, both live and recorded, and episode 4 performed in person with a recording available.
  2. $242,464 spent. Residencies & Other: Residencies and workshops provide an interactive series of classes that bring Shakespeare to life for students of all backgrounds and levels of interest. Enhancing curriculum and aligning with the Common Core subjects of English & History as well as Theater Arts, SF Shakes teaching artists facilitate the artistic and personal growth of each student while transforming the group into a fun, engaging, interactive ensemble. Residencies include engaging students on the autism spectrum through Shakespeare Heartbeat at four SFUSD middle schoolss. Shakespeare for All Neighbors engages our unhoused neighbors at The Healing Well in San Franciscos Tenderloin neighborhood.
  3. $195,374 spent. Shakespeare on Tour: A program that brings a five-actor, fifty-five minute version of a Shakespeare play to up to 150 schools and community sites statewide, serving up to approximately 45,000 each season. Due to the pandemic in 2020, the tour ceased in-person performances in March; in the fall of 2020, using the learnings from Free Shakespeare at Home, a series of educational experiences were provided to schools and the public called Takes on Shakes; these continued into 2022. In 2023, in-person performances of A Midsummer Nights Dream took place. In 2024 performances of As You Like It took place.
  4. $174,549 spent. Bay Area Shakespeare Camps: A program that provides Bay Area youth with the opportunity to study and perform Shakespeare in a fun, supportive environment. The program serves up to three hundred children in summer sessions at community centers, schools, and houses of worship throughout the Bay Area. The Organization offers full and partial scholarships for eligible campers.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 October 1994.

    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.