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South Coast Repertory Inc

EIN 95-6122708 · Costa Mesa, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SCR WAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATING AND SERVING ITS COMMUNITY WITH PRODUCTIONS OF DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT ON ITS STAGES AND OFFERING DRAMATIC CLASSES FOR YOUTH THROUGH ADULTS (THE CONSERVATORY) BOTH ONSITE AND IN COMMUNITY VENUES THROUGHOUT ORANGE COUNTY.

Income
$11.1 million
Spending
$12.7 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 41%
Employees
391
Volunteers
272
Highest pay
$296,456, artistic director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 26 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

    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

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (2)
  1. $9.1 million spent. STAGE PRODUCTIONS:FOR 24-25, SCR CONTINUED PRODUCING AT A REDUCED LEVEL FROM PRE-PANDEMIC SEASONS. SCR PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 8 PLAYS PERFORMED ON THE TWO MAIN INDOOR STAGES, INCLUDING ONE PRODUCTION FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES, AS WELL AS ITS HOLIDAY TRADITIONAL A CHRISTMAS CAROL. EACH PLAY PERFORMED FOR THREE TO FIVE WEEKS. THERE WERE ALSO READINGS OF NEWLY-WRITTEN PLAYS PERFORMED BY ACTORS AT VARIOUS DATES DURING THE YEARS, INCLUDING AT OUR PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL DEVOTED TO PRESENTING SEVERAL NEW WORKS OVER A 3-DAY WEEKEND. IN ADDITION, WE ARE NO LONG PRODUCING OUTSIDE SCR AT THIS TIME.
  2. $1.1 million spent. CONSERVATORY: THIS COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM OFFERS SPECIALIZED THEATRE TRAINING FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, TAUGHT BY WORKING THEATRE PROFESSIONALS. THE CONSERVATORY HAS FOUR COMPONENTS: THE YOUTH AND TEEN PROGRAM, FOR STUDENTS GRADES 3-12, IS HELD IN THREE 10-WEEK SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. THE YOUTH PROGRAM IS FOR GRADES 3-6 AND THE TEEN PROGRAM IS FOR GRADES 7-12. ALSO OFFERED IS THE SUMMER THEATRE WORKSHOP, A 2-WEEK INTRODUCTORY SESSION HELD IN AUGUST FOR YOUTHS GRADES 3-12; AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATORY, A 10-WEEK VERSION OF THE YOUNG CONSERVATORY OFFERED FREE-OF-CHARGE AT COMMUNITY CENTERS, FOR CHILDREN WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT HAVE ACCESS TO SUCH A PROGRAM. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE YOUTH AND TEEN PROGRAMS ARE AWARDED TO STUDENTS WHO DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES IN SCR'S NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATORY PROGRAMS BASED ON COMMITMENT, ENTHUSIASM, PERSONAL GROWTH AND THE ABILITY TO WORK IN AN ENSEMBLE. THE JUNIOR, TEEN AND SUMMER PLAYERS ARE PERFORMANCE GROUPS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH AT LEAST TWO YEARS OF CONSERVATORY TRAINING. THREE TIMES A YEAR THEY PERFORM PROFESSIONALLY WRITTEN, DIRECTED AND DESIGNED PRODUCTIONS FOR PAID AUDIENCES IN THE NICHOLAS STUDIO. THE THEATRE CONSERVATORY, FOR STUDENTS 18 AND OVER, OFFERS CLASSES IN FOUR 8-WEEK SESSIONS. THESE CLASSES TEACH THE FUNDAMENTALS THROUGH EXERCISES IN BASIC SKILLS OF IMPROVISATION, COMMUNICATION AND SCENE WORK. STUDENTS IN THIS PROGRAM ARE BOTH VOCATIONAL AND/OR INTERESTED IN A PROFESSIONAL CAREER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 December 1965.

    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.