Center for the Living Arts
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CENTER FOR THE LIVING ARTS IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL WELLNESS THROUGH THE THERAPEUTIC USE OF DRAMA THERAPY AND THE CREATIVE ARTS. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR FULL STATEMENT)
- Income
- $51,545
- Spending
- $58,761
- Spent on programs
- 60%
- Reserves
- 24.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 81%
- Employees
- 0
- Highest pay
- $2,756, treasurer
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: 77 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1560% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Fair: 56 out of 100.
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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 (4)
- $35,461 spent. THE LIVING ARTS COUNSELING COLLECTIVE PROVIDES QUALITY INDIVIDUAL, COUPLES, AND GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY SERVICES PROVIDED BY LICENSED THERAPISTS. ALL OF OUR PRACTITIONERS USE TALK THERAPY, AND IF DESIRED AND USEFUL, MAY INCORPORATE THE HEALING POWERS OF CREATIVE ARTS AND/OR DRAMA THERAPY. ----------------------------------- LIVING ARTS DRAMA THERAPY INSTITUTE OFFERS INNOVATIVE AND TRANSFORMATIVE WORKSHOPS, GROUPS AND TRAINING FOR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH, THEY PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO FACILITATE ACTION-ORIENTED PROCESSES WITH INDIVIDUALS, COUPLES, FAMILIES AND GROUPS.
- HEALING THE WOUNDS OF HISTORY IS A PROCESS IN WHICH EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES ARE USED TO WORK WITH A GROUP OF PARTICIPANTS WHO SHARE A COMMON LEGACY OF HISTORICAL TRAUMA. WE CONDUCT PUBLIC EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, AND TRAINING TO PROMOTE INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION, MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, AND CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION USING DRAMA AND THE EXPRESSIVE ARTS. BY HUMANIZING EACH OTHER THROUGH SHARING OUR PERSONAL STORIES WE TAKE STEPS TOWARDS HEALING PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE WOUNDS USING CREATIVE AND EXPERIMENTAL METHODS.
- THE LIVING ARTS PLAYBACK THEATRE ENSEMBLE IS AN INTERACTIVE, IMPROVISATIONAL THEATRE COMPANY WHO "PLAY BACK" PERSONAL STORIES SHARED BY AUDIENCE MEMBERS IN WAYS THAT BOTH HONOR AND ILLUMINATE THE ORIGINAL EXPERIENCE. FOR OVER 35 YEARS, THE ENSEMBLE HAS CREATED PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS THAT TRANSFORM, EMPOWER, AND VALIDATE THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.
- FULL MISSION STATEMENT: THE CENTER FOR THE LIVING ARTS IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL WELLNESS THROUGH THE THERAPEUTIC USE OF DRAMA THERAPY AND THE EXPRESSIVE ARTS. WE BELIEVE THAT THE INCORPORATION OF DRAMA AND THE EXPRESSIVE ARTS IN THERAPY IS AN EFFECTIVE AND EMPOWERING METHOD FOR PROBLEM-SOLVING, PROMOTING PERSONAL GROWTH, AND WELL-BEING WITHIN INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, GROUPS, AND SOCIETY.
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 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 July 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 January 1977.
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.
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