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Theatre for Children Inc

EIN 95-4047805 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

B STREET THEATRE IS ONE OF THE REGION'S MOST ENDURING AND CELEBRATED DESTINATIONS. WE CREATE AND INSPIRE COMMUNITY THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL LIVE PERFORMANCES AND THE HIGHEST-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. WE ALSO SERVE AS A TRUSTED INCUBATOR FOR NEW THEATRICAL WORKS AND PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AT OUR WORLD-CLASS SACRAMENTO HOME, THE SOFIA.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$5.2 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-35.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 42%
Employees
137
Volunteers
145
Highest pay
$109,667, ceo/executive 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: 25 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 66% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 16 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
  1. $4.2 million spent. B STREET THEATRE (THEATRE FOR CHILDREN INC.)IS PROUD TO BRING HIGH-QUALITY THEATRE AND ARTS EDUCATION TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. OUR ACCLAIMED FAMILY SERIES INVITES STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS INTO OUR 365 SEAT, STATE-OF-THE-ART VENUE IN THE HEART OF MIDTOWN SACRAMENTO WHERE THE STAGE BECOMES THE CLASSROOM. THROUGH LIVE, PROFESSIONAL THEATRE, STUDENTS EXPERIENCE CLASSIC STORIES AND INFLUENTIAL HISTORICAL FIGURES BROUGHT VIVIDLY TO LIFE. EACH SCHOOL YEAR, THIS PROGRAM SERVES MORE THAN 50,000 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. BEYOND OUR CAMPUS, B STREET THEATRE ALSO BRINGS THE ARTS DIRECTLY INTO SCHOOLS ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH IN-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS FOCUSED ON ACTING, PLAYWRITING, IMPROVISATION, AND PLAY DEVELOPMENT - FOSTERING CREATIVITY, COMMUNICATION, AND COLLABORATION.
  2. B STREET THEATRE PRODUCES SEVEN PROFESSIONAL MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS EACH YEAR, ALONG WTIH SPECIAL ENGAGEMENTS, FEATURING ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION PERFORMERS AND PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORS, DESIGNERS, AND STAGE MANAGERS. SINCE 1991, B STREET'S MAINSTAGE HAS BEEN A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED INCUBATOR FOR NEW WORK, PRODUCING MORE THAN 150 WORLD PREMIERES, ALONG WITH NUMEROUS WEST COAST AND REGIONAL PREMIERES. A CORE MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL NEW PLAY NETWORK, B STREET IS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE LEADING PRODUCERS OF NEW PLAYS IN THE COUNTRY. WITH OVER 6,000 SUBSCRIBERS - A REMARKABLE NUMBER FOR AN ORGANIZATION OF ITS SIZE AND LOCATION - MORE THAN 50,000 PATRONS ATTEND MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS ANNUALLY. IN RECOGNITION OF ITS ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AND IMPACT, B STREET THEATRE WAS HONORED AT THE 2025 THEATRE OF THE YEAR BY THE NATIONAL THREATRE CONFERENCE.
  3. THE SOFIA, B STREET THEATRE'S STATE-OF-THE-ART VENUE, IS A VIBRANT HOME FOR A WIDE RANGE OF PERFORMING ARTS INCLUDING MUSIC, DANCE,COMEDY, AND DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS. OUR MUSIC SERIES FEATURES LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS, WITH PAST PERFORMERS, INCLUDING JOHN WAITE, THE LATE ED ASNER, TUCK AND PATTI, JACKIE GREENE, TYCHO, AND MANY MORE. THE SOFIA ALSO SERVES AS A CREATIVE HOME FOR VALUED ARTISTIC PARTNERS SUCH AS THE SACRAMENTO BALLET, SACRAMENTO CONTEMPORARY DANCE THEATRE, THE SACRAMENTO GAY MEN'S CHORUS, TEATRO NAGUAL, THE SACRAMENTO ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL, CALIDANZA, AND MANY OTHERS. TOGETHER, THESE PRESENTED EVENTS AND PARTNERSHIPS WELCOME MORE THAN 30,000 PATRONS ANNUALLY, INTRODUCING NEW AND DIVERSE AUDIENCES TO THE POWER OF LIVE PERFORMANCE.

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 August 1986.

    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.