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Odc

EIN 94-3372711 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EMPOWER AND DEVELOP INNOVATIVE ARTISTS BY PARTICIPATING IN THE CREATION OF NEW WORKS THROUGH PRESENTING, MENTORSHIP, AND ACCESS.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
57
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$164,938, executive director

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

Fair: 51 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 87% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 115% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 27 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 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 (1)
  1. $930,550 spent. THE 170-SEAT VENUE HOSTS OVER 150 PERFORMANCES ANNUALLY, FEATURING NEARLY 1,000 LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS. IT ALSO CULTIVATES INFORMED, ENGAGED AUDIENCES AND CHAMPIONS THE PERFORMING ARTS AS A DRIVER OF SAN FRANCISCO'S CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC VITALITY.LEGACY AND IMPACT: SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1976 BY BRENDA WAY, ODC THEATER HAS SERVED AS A CORNERSTONE FOR CONTEMPORARY DANCE IN SAN FRANCISCO AND A LAUNCHPAD FOR ARTISTS DEBUTING IN THE BAY AREA, INCLUDING SPALDING GRAY, DIAMANDA GALS, BILL T. JONES, EIKO & KOMA, RONALD K. BROWN/EVIDENCE, KAROLE ARMITAGE, SARAH MICHELSON, BRIAN BROOKS, AND JOHN HEGINBOTHAM. UNDER CREATIVE DIRECTOR CHLO L. ZIMBERG, THE THEATER CONTINUES TO NURTURE THE NEXT GENERATION OF GROUNDBREAKING DANCE ARTISTS.RESILIENCE AND LEADERSHIP: AMID WIDESPREAD VENUE CLOSURES DURING THE POST-PANDEMIC RECOVERY, ODC THEATER REMAINS ONE OF THE FEW SURVIVING PRESENTERS OF CONTEMPORARY AND EXPERIMENTAL DANCE IN THE U.S. THE THEATER DISTINGUISHES ITSELF THROUGH ITS COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, ARTIST SUPPORT, AND ITS ROLE AS A CRITICAL WEST COAST HUB FOR ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE SPACE AND RESOURCES.CURATORIAL INNOVATION:IN 2024, ODC THEATER EXPANDED THE VISIBILITY OF ITS CURATORIAL MODEL, DEVELOPED BY ZIMBERG, WHICH SHIFTED FROM A SINGLE CURATOR TO A RESIDENT CURATOR MODEL THAT FOSTERS COLLABORATION AND DIVERSITY. THIS APPROACH CENTERS ARTISTIC PARTNERSHIP ACROSS ODC'S COMMUNITY AND SHOWCASES A WIDE RANGE OF REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL VOICES. ARTISTS ENGAGE THROUGH COMMISSIONING, PRESENTATION, MENTORSHIP, AND SUBSIDIZED ACCESS TO CREATION AND PERFORMANCE SPACE.PROGRAMS AND COLLABORATIONS:RESIDENT CURATOR MAURYA KERR AND ZIMBERG SELECTED 4 ARTISTS FOR THE SPRING SEASON AND 9 ARTISTS FOR THE STATE OF PLAY FESTIVAL, A WEEK-LONG PLATFORM FOR EXPERIMENTAL DANCE. GUEST CURATOR LEYYA MONA TAWIL CONTRIBUTED TO THE PRESENTATION OF FANNY ARA, RESCHEDULED FROM 2023 DUE TO FISCAL DELAYS. DESPITE SEVERE BUDGET PRESSURES, ODC THEATER MET ALL PRESENTING COMMITMENTS AND CO-PRESENTED WITH SFDANCEWORKS, BRAD BARTON (REALITY THIEF), THE ISADORA DUNCAN DANCE AWARDS, THE SAN FRANCISCO DANCE FILM FESTIVAL, COUNTERPULSE, AND OTHER PARTNERS. IT ALSO HOSTED PERFORMANCES BY ODC/DANCE, THE ODC HEALTH PROGRAM, AND THE ODC SCHOOL. THROUGH ITS RENTAL DISCOUNT INITIATIVE, ODC THEATER PROVIDED OVER $40,000 IN SUBSIDIES TO SELF-PRODUCING ARTISTS.RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT:IN 2024, ODC LAUNCHED THE ODC THEATER ART CLUB TO ENGAGE INDIVIDUAL DONORS, EXPAND CONTRIBUTED INCOME, AND BUILD ADVOCACY AMONG COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS. THIS INITIATIVE RESPONDS TO A MARKED DECLINE IN REGIONAL FOUNDATION FUNDING AS MAJOR FUNDERS SHIFT PRIORITIES OUTSIDE THE BAY AREA AND AWAY FROM THE PERFORMING ARTS. STRENGTHENING INDIVIDUAL AND DIVERSIFIED CONTRIBUTED SUPPORT REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY FOR 2025.

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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 2001.

    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.