The Laguna Playhouse
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE'S MISSION IS TO ENRICH LIVES THROUGH THE MAGIC OF LIVE THEATRE, TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, AND TO CREATE EXPERIENCES THAT STIMULATE CULTURAL AND SOCIAL INTERACTION AND INSPIRE OUR COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $5.4 million
- Spending
- $6.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- -1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 69%
- Employees
- 84
- Volunteers
- 145
- Highest pay
- $165,000, 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
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 58% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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 (2)
- $4.9 million spent. MAIN STAGE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS: THE LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE IS THE OLDEST CONTINUALLY OPERATING THEATRE ON THE WEST COAST. IT IS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S PREMIER RESIDENT THEATRES, PERFORMING AWARD-WINNING LIVE THEATRE SINCE 1920. ITS ACTIVITIES INCLUDE EIGHT MAIN STAGE PRODUCTIONS WITH OVER 300 PERFORMANCES YEAR ROUND FOR A DIVERSE AUDIENCE OF OVER 100,000 ORANGE COUNTY RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. THE LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE, A 501(C)3 NONPROFIT, HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS ARTISTIC AND EDUCATION AWARDS.
- $489,159 spent. YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS:-CONSERVATORY: OFFERING COMPREHENSIVE, AFTER SCHOOL, YEAR-LONG THEATRE TRAINING IN A PROFESSIONAL SETTING FOR TALENTED, ASPIRING YOUNG ACTORS, AGES 10-18. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR LOW-INCOME YOUTH. -YOUTH THEATRE: A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SERIES OF FULLY-STAGED PRODUCTIONS OF POPULAR STORIES FOR FAMILY AUDIENCES.-THEATRE FOR A NEW GENERATION: OFFERS PROVOCATIVE, ISSUE-ORIENTED DRAMAS AIMED AT TEENS, PARENTS AND EDUCATORS.-SPRING/SUMMER WORKSHOPS: OFFERS YOUTH HANDS-ON EXPERIMENTAL LEARNING WITH THEATRE PROFESSIONALS-OUTREACH PROGRAM: THEATREREACH BRINGING BOOKS TO LIFE IS AN EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS LITERACY BY PERFORMING PLAYS ADAPTED FROM REQUIRED BOOKS IN THE CALIFORNIA STATE CURRICULUM AND BUSSING THEM INTO THE PLAYHOUSE FOR A PROFESSIONAL THEATTRICAL EXPERIENCE. IT SERVES OVER 10,000 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EACH YEAR. THEATREREACH IS THE ONLY IN SCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM THAT ADDRESSES CALIFORNIA STATE HISTORY AND LITERATURE CONTENT STANDARDS FOR GRADES K-6.
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
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1948.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.