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Aurora Theatre Company

EIN 94-3168663 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak36 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

See Schedule O

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
-0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
102
Volunteers
260
Highest pay
$98,778, managing dir

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 36 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 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

    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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 July 31, 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. $1.3 million spent. AURORAS PRODUCTIONS RECEIVE MANY ACCOLADES FROM AUDIENCES AND CRITICS, AND HAVE GARNERED MANY REGIONAL AWARDS, INCLUDING BEST OF ACCOLADES IN EVERY MAJOR BAY AREA DAILY NEWSPAPER. IN 2012, SF WEEKLY NAMED AURORA THE BEST THEATRE COMPANY IN ITS 2012 BEST OF LIST. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL HAS NOTHING BUT PRAISE FOR THE AURORA, WHILE THE CONTRA COSTA TIMES STATED, PERFECTION IS PROBABLY AN UNATTAINABLE IDEAL IN A MEDIUM AS FLUID AS LIVE PERFORMANCE, BUT THE AURORA THEATRE COMES LUMINOUSLY CLOSE.ORIGINATE+GENERATE IS AURORA THEATRE COMPANYS NEW WORKS INITIATIVE, INCLUDING COMMISSIONS, WORKSHOPS, READINGS, AND FULL PRODUCTIONS OF NEW PLAYS. THIS INCUBATOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING NEW WORK HAS SEEN TREMENDOUS GROWTH SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2015. WITH A PRIMARY FOCUS AND INVESTMENT IN WORKS GENERATED BY BAY AREA ARTISTS, O+G
  2. PROVIDES EXTENSIVE DEVELOPMENTAL SUPPORT TO PLAYMAKERS. AURORA IS PROUD TO CONTRIBUTE BAY AREA VOICES TO THE NATIONAL THEATRE REPERTOIRE, AND HOPES TO CONTINUE PROVIDING A SPACE FOR PLAYWRIGHTS TO CRAFT THE STORIES THAT WILL INSPIRE AND ILLUMINATE A NEW WORLD. PREVIOUS O+G ARTISTS INCLUDE JONATHAN SPECTOR (AWARD-WINNING EUREKA DAY), CHRISTOPHER CHEN (THE RULER), BETH WILMURT (OLGA), AS WELL AS BRITNEY FRAZIER AND MARGO HALL (LAVEAU).AURORA THEATRE COMPANYS NEW COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROGRAM CONNECTS EACH OF OUR PRODUCTIONS TO A PARTNER ORGANIZATION, GROUNDING AURORA INTO THE LIFE, WORK, AND CULTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY. AURORAS ARTISTS LEARN FROM OUR PARTNERS ABOUT THE CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE STORIES WE TELL, AND IN RETURN, WE OFFER ACCESS TO
  3. AURORAS PROCESS, SPACES, AUDIENCE, AND RESOURCES. BY SHARING RESOURCES BETWEEN AURORA THEATRE COMPANY AND OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, WE BUILD LASTING RELATIONSHIPS THAT FURTHER OUR MISSION AND YOURS WHILE STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY IN BERKELEY, THE EAST BAY, AND THE BAY AREA. PREVIOUS PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE BERKELEY HIGH SCHOOL, MILLS COLLEGE THEATER DEPARTMENT, BAY AREA WOMENS THEATRE FESTIVAL, AND CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS.
  4. AS THE STORYTELLER FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AURORA THEATRE COMPANY INSPIRES NEW AUDIENCES AND LONGTIME THEATRE LOVERS ALIKE WITH THE VISCERAL POWER OF LIVE THEATRE. OUR VENUES, THE MOST INTIMATE PROFESSIONAL STAGES IN THE BAY AREA, HIGHLIGHT GREAT ACTING, NUANCED LANGUAGE, AND AN IMMEDIACY THAT MAKES FOR EXHILARATING THEATRE. BY TELLING DEEPLY RELEVANT STORIES, WERE BUILDING A NEW CULTURE OF THEATREGOING IN THE BAY AREA AND CONTRIBUTING TO A REVITALIZATION OF THEATRE NATIONWIDE, CHALLENGING ALL OF US TO THINK DEEPER, LAUGH LOUDER, AND ENGAGE MORE PURPOSEFULLY AND PROFOUNDLY WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR WORLD.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 July 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 April 1993.

    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.