Playground Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER PLAY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, PLAYGROUND FOCUSES ON THE CREATION OF A TRUE THEATRE COMMUNITY BY NURTURING THE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS BETWEEN FIRST-TIME OR EARLY DEVELOPMENT PLAYWRIGHTS, AND ESTABLISHED, PROFESSIONAL ACTORS AND DIRECTORS
- Income
- $764,710
- Spending
- $752,199
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 7.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 56
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $110,000, president
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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 28% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 31% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $537,389 spent. MONDAY NIGHT PLAYGROUNDPRODUCE STAGED READINGS OF 72 ORIGINAL SHORT WORKS FROM MORE THAN 300 SUBMISSIONS FOR AN ONLINE AUDIENCE OF 2000+ WITH PARTICIPATION OF MORE THAN 360+ THEATRE ARTISTS (12 PERFORMANCES).PLAYGROUND FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKSPRODUCE A THREE-WEEK ONLINE NEW WORKS FESTIVAL CELEBRATING THE BEST NEW SHORT AND FULL-LENGTH PLAYS, INCLUDING BEST OF PLAYGROUND, AN ANNUAL SHOWCASE FEATURING A FULLY-PRODUCED EVENING-LENGTH PROGRAM OF THE BEST 6-7 SHORT WORKS FROM THE MONDAY NIGHT SERIES, STAGED READINGS OF NEW FULL-LENGTH PLAYS COMMISSIONED AND/OR DEVELOPED BY PLAYGROUND, AND PREMIERES OF TWO FULL-LENGTH PLAYS DEVELOPED IN PAST FESTIVALS, FOR AN AUDIENCE OF 1,200+ WITH PARTICIPATION OF NEARLY 100 THEATRE ARTISTS (12 PERFORMANCES).
- COMMISSIONING INITIATIVE & PLAYWRIGHT RESIDENCY PROGRAMDEVELOP 12-16 NEW FULL-LENGTH PLAYS BY PLAYGROUND ALUMNI, INCLUDING 4-6 UNDER COMMISSION.PLAYGROUND YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS PROJECTPROVIDE PLAYWRITING CLASSES FOR BAY AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, FREE AND DISCOUNTED STUDENT ADMISSIONS TO PUBLIC PERFORMANCES, AND PRODUCE THE ANNUAL YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS PROJECT, SHOWCASING THE BEST STUDENT WORKS AS PART OF THE PLAYGROUND FESTIVAL.PLAYGROUND SOLO PERFORMANCE FESTIVALSHOWCASE THE BEST NEW SOLO PERFORMANCES BY EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED SOLO ARTISTS OVER A THREE-WEEK FESTIVAL, FOR AN AUDIENCE OF 800+.
- PLAYGROUND INNOVATOR INCUBATOR & INNOVATORS SHOWCASESUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND LAUNCH OF INNOVATIVE NEW THEATRE COMPANIES AND NEW WORKS THROUGH A YEAR-LONG INTENSIVE INCUBATOR AND MULTI-WEEK SHOWCASE, FEATURING FULL PRODUCTIONS AND PUBLIC SHOWINGS BY INCUBATOR PARTICIPANTS.TOTAL EXPENSES FOR ALL OF THE PROGRAMS NOTED ABOVE AMOUNTED TO $358,608.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2000.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.