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Center Theatre Group of Los Angeles

EIN 95-2466183 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE BELIEVE THEATRE CREATES AN EXTRAORDINARY CONNECTION BETWEEN ARTISTS AND AUDIENCES THAT ONLY STARTS ON THE STAGE. THEATRE CREATES THE ENERGY THAT FEEDS A CITY, A CULTURE, AND A SOCIETY. THEATRE REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES. OUR MISSION IS TO SERVE THE DIVERSE AUDIENCES OF LOS ANGELES BY PRODUCING AND PRESENTING THEATRE OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER, BY NURTURING NEW ARTISTS, BY ATTRACTING NEW AUDIENCES, AND BY DEVELOPING YOUTH OUTREACH AND ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS. AT OUR THREE THEATRES, THE AHMANSON THEATRE, THE MARK TAPER FORUM, AND THE KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE, WE INVITE AUDIENCES TO EXPERIENCE THE BROADEST RANGE OF THEATRICAL ENTERTAINMENT IN THE COUNTRY. WE PRODUCE AND PRESENT THE MOST CELEBRATED SHOWS STRAIGHT FROM BROADWAY, THOUGHT-PROVOKING AND LIVELY STORIES THAT HELP US UNDERSTAND OUR COMPLICATED WORLD, AND ADVENTUROUS NEW PLAYS FROM FRESH VOICES.

Income
$44.2 million
Spending
$49.9 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 63%
Employees
779
Volunteers
51
Highest pay
$593,427, ceo/managing 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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    51 of 53 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 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 (4)
  1. $18.0 million spent. AHMANSON THEATRE: CLUE* (33 PERFORMANCES, 47,346 TOTAL ATTENDANCE); DUEL REALITY (12 PERFORMANCES, 9,203 TOTAL ATTENDANCE); ONCE UPON A MATTRESS (32 PERFORMANCES, 54,710 TOTAL ATTENDANCE); OLD FRIENDS (34 PERFORMANCES, 48,054 TOTAL ATTENDANCE); LIFE OF PI (31 PERFORMANCS, 38,724 TOTAL ATTENDANCE); PARADE* (16 PERFORMANCES, 17,421 TOTAL ATTENDANCE)*PRODUCTION CROSSES TWO FISCAL YEARS.
  2. $8.6 million spent. MARK TAPER FORUM: AMERICAN IDIOT (53 PERFORMANCES, 31,011 TOTAL ATTENDANCE); FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT (46 PERFORMANCES, 20,310 TOTAL ATTENDANCE); HAMLET (34 PERFORMANCES, 17,271 TOTAL ATTENDANCE); MUSE/IQUE (6 PERFORMANCES, 2,814 TOTAL ATTENDANCE)
  3. $678,937 spent. KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE: CAT KID COMIC CLUB (51 PERFORMANCES, 11,614 TOTAL ATTENDANCE); EL OTRO OZ (12 PERFORMANCES, 2,231 TOTAL ATTENDANCE)
  4. $13.9 million spent. CENTER THEATRE GROUP'S EDUCATION & COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS (E&CP) WORK SUPPORTS CTG'S OVERALL MISSION: SERVING THE DIVERSE AUDIENCES OF LOS ANGELES BY PRODUCING AND PRESENTING THEATRE OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER, BY NURTURING NEW ARTISTS, BY ATTRACTING NEW AUDIENCES, AND BY DEVELOPING YOUTH OUTREACH AND ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS. OUR CTG CORE VALUES OF CENTERING LOS ANGELES; LIFELONG LEARNING, INSPIRATION, AND HUMAN CONNECTION; AND RESPECT, COMPASSION, SOCIAL CONSCIENCE, AND AREDI LEAD OUR WAY.E&CP SPECIFICALLY SERVES OUR MISSION BY WORKING COLLABORATIVELY AND WITH DIRECT AND FREQUENT INPUT FROM OUR LOS ANGELES COMMUNITIES; PARTNERING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, THEATREMAKERS, AND SCHOOLS; PROVIDING RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS; AND CREATING PROGRAMS TO EQUIP AND COLLABORATE WITH THE NEXT GENERATION OF THEATREMAKERS. THE E&CP TEAM KEEPS JUSTICE, INCLUSION, AND ANTIRACISM PRACTICES AT THE CENTER OF OUR WORK. FOR FY25, EDUCATION & COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS ENGAGED 7,583 STUDENTS, 925 EDUCATORS, AND 5,421 ADDITIONAL PARTICIPANTS THROUGH LIVE PROGRAMMING, STUDENT MATINEES, WORKSHOPS, READINGS, INTERNSHIPS, CAREER FAIRS, IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES, TICKETING INITIATIVES, ACTIVATIONS, LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, AND, IN PARTICULAR THIS YEAR, OUR LA WILDFIRE RELIEF RESPONSE.

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

  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? 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 June 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 March 1966.

    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.