Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Old Globe Theatre

EIN 95-1543396 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE OLD GLOBE IS TO PRESERVE, STRENGTHEN AND ADVANCE AMERICAN THEATRE BY: CREATING THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES OF THE HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS; PRODUCING AND PRESENTING WORKS OF EXCEPTIONAL MERIT, DESIGNED TO REACH CURRENT AND FUTURE AUDIENCES; ENSURING DIVERSITY AND BALANCE IN PROGRAMMING; PROVIDING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR THE GROWTH AND EDUCATION OF THEATRE PROFESSIONALS, AUDIENCES AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

Income
$33.2 million
Spending
$37.0 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 46%
Employees
795
Volunteers
1,632
Highest pay
$623,372, artistic 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: 64 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    45 of 45 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (2)
  1. $29.1 million spent. THE OLD GLOBE WELCOMED 200,000 ADMISSIONS AND PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ATTENDED OUR FREE ARTS ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE OLD GLOBE PRESENTED 495 PERFORMANCES OF 15 PLAYS IN OUR THREE VENUES IN BALBOA PARK PLUS AT 19 VENUES THROUGHOUT THE SAN DIEGO REGION, INCLUDING IN TIJUANA, B.C., MEXICO. THE OLD GLOBE ANNUALLY EMPLOYS MORE THAN 700 ARTISTS, ARTISANS, AND STAFF MEMBERS, ATTRACTING LEADING NATIONAL THEATRE ARTISTS TO SAN DIEGO AS WELL AS STRENGTHENING THE LOCAL THEATRE SCENE BY HIRING HIGH-CALIBER PROFESSIONALS. OUR ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR SAN DIEGO IS $40.9 MILLION.THE OLD GLOBE'S REACH RADIATES FAR BEYOND SAN DIEGO, WITH 27 PRODUCTIONS HAVING MOVED TO BROADWAY, INCLUDING A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER, ALMOST FAMOUS, AND MOST RECENTLY, BOB FOSSE'S DANCIN'. ADDING TO THIS REMARKABLE LEGACY, THE HEART OF ROCK & ROLL OPENED AT THE JAMES EARL JONES THEATRE IN APRIL 2024 AND BECAME THE 27TH GLOBE PRODUCTION TO ACHIEVE THE DISTINCTION OF A BROADWAY DEBUT. OUR SOCIAL JUSTICE ROADMAP HAS BEEN HAILED AS AN EXEMPLAR FOR AMERICAN THEATRE, WITH MEASURABLE COMMITMENTS AND REPORTS ON OUR PROGRESS SHARED WITH OUR COMMUNITY.THE OLD GLOBE'S POWERS NEW WORKS FUND SUPPORTED THE NEW COMMISSIONS OF FOUR PLAYWRIGHTS, FUNDED THIRTEEN DEVELOPMENTAL WORKSHOPS, AND SUPPORTED THE 2024 POWERS NEW VOICES FESTIVAL. FIVE PLAYS SHOWCASED IN RECENT POWERS FESTIVALS, INCLUDING UNDER A BASEBALL SKY, AGE OF INNOCENCE, STIR, EXOTIC DEADLY, AND CRIME AND PUNISHMENT A COMEDY, HAVE RECEIVED THEIR WORLD PREMIERE BY THE END OF 2024. THE GLOBE'S ARTS ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS ARE RECOGNIZED INTERNATIONALLY FOR THEIR INNOVATION, RESPONSIVENESS, AND ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH DIVERSE POPULATIONS. SINCE 2015, THE GLOBE HAS CULTIVATED DEEP RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS SAN DIEGO COUNTY TO FOSTER CROSS-CULTURAL AND INTERGENERATIONAL SHARED EXPERIENCES CENTERED ON PARTICIPATORY THEATRE-MAKING. THROUGH 17 PROGRAMS CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OVER 40 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, THE GLOBE ENGAGES WITH UNSHELTERED ADULTS, MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS, REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS, SENIOR CITIZENS, THE NEURODIVERSE COMMUNITY, INCARCERATED ADULTS, JUSTICE- INVOLVED YOUTH, AND TITLE I STUDENTS. THESE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE VETERANS VILLAGE, NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO, FOURTH DISTRICT SENIOR RESOURCE CENTER, SOUTH BAY COMMUNITY SERVICES, LAS COLINAS DETENTION AND REENTRY FACILITY, CENTINELA AND DONOVAN STATE PRISONS, OCEANSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND MANY MORE. ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS IS GLOBE FOR ALL, AN ANNUAL TOURING SHAKESPEARE PRODUCTION THAT SERVES SAN DIEGO COMMUNITIES WITHOUT EASY ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL THEATRE. IT BRINGS FREE PERFORMANCES, COMMUNITY MEALS, AND THEATRE WORKSHOPS TO 19 LOCAL SCHOOLS, CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, AND COMMUNITY CENTERS ANNUALLY. FREE STUDENT MATINEES SERVED NEARLY 5,000 YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR TEACHERS, INTRODUCING THEM TO THEATRE - MANY FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.OTHER PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH INCLUDE SCHOOL IN THE PARK, AN IMMERSIVE, MULTI-WEEK PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS AT THE GLOBE, PAM FARR SUMMER SHAKESPEARE STUDIO FOR YOUNG ACTORS, THEATRE DESIGN STUDIO, WHICH INTRODUCES YOUNG PEOPLE TO CAREERS IN PRODUCTION, AND CREATIVE YOUTH STUDIO, WHICH GUIDES STUDENTS IN PERFORMANCE, TECHNICAL THEATRE, AND CAREER BUILDING. ALL TOGETHER, THESE PROGRAMS SERVED NEARLY 1,250 STUDENTS IN 2024.THE GLOBE DISTRIBUTED OVER 4,000 FREE TICKETS TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING SBCS (FORMERLY SOUTH BAY COMMUNITY SERVICES), COMMUNITY YOUTH ATHLETICS CENTER IN NATIONAL CITY, ELDERHELP OF SAN DIEGO, AND THE USO.
  2. $207,800 spent. THE GLOBE IS COMMITTED TO TRAINING THE ARTISTS OF THE FUTURE. THE OLD GLOBE AND UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO SHILEY GRADUATE THEATRE PROGRAM IS CONSISTENTLY RANKED IN THE TOP TEN INTERNATIONALLY FOR GRADUATE THEATRE PROGRAMS. PROGRAMS FOR DIVERSE DIRECTORS, PLAYWRIGHTS, AND OTHER THEATRE ARTISTS HAVE HELPED TO LAUNCH OR EXPAND CAREERS OF THEATRE ARTISTS THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1952.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.