East-West Players Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PURPOSE OF EAST WEST PLAYERS, INC. (EWP) IS TO RAISE THE VISIBILITY OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE BY PRESENTING WORLD-CLASS THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS, DEVELOPING ARTISTS OF COLOR, AND PROVIDING IMPACTFUL YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS. FOUNDED IN 1965, EWP IS ONE OF THE NATION'S LONGEST-RUNNING THEATERS OF COLOR AND THE LARGEST AND OLDEST ASIAN AMERICAN THEATER COMPANY. EWP STRIVES TO ENSURE THAT ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER STORIES ARE TOLD BY WORKING TO INCREASE ACCESS, INCLUSION, AND REPRESENTATION IN THE CREATIVE ECONOMY THROUGH THE PRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THEATRICAL WORKS, A ROBUST RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL ENRICHMENT AND ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND OTHER CIVIC ACTIVITIES. IN RECOGNITION OF ITS WORK, EWP WAS DESIGNATED BY THE FORD FOUNDATION AS A NATIONAL CULTURAL TREASURE, ONE OF ONLY 20 ORGANIZATIONS TO RECEIVE THE HONOR.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $3.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 12.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 137
- Volunteers
- 97
- Highest pay
- $110,385, managing director, outgoing
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 76% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $1.9 million spent. EAST WEST PLAYERS PRESENTS 3-5 MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS PER YEAR. THESE CONSIST OF WORLD PREMIERE PLAYS AND MUSICALS, AS WELL AS REINTERPRETATIONS OF CLASSIC OR ESTABLISHED WORKS PRIMARILY WRITTEN, PERFORMED, AND/OR DEVELOPED BY ASIAN AMERICAN, PACIFIC ISLANDER, AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN (AAPINH) ARTISTS. THESE PRODUCTIONS ILLUMINATE THE DIVERSE STORIES AND EXPERIENCES WITHIN THE AAPINH COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDE DIVERSE ARTISTS OPPORTUNITIES THEY MIGHT NOT BE AFFORDED OTHERWISE.
- $647,155 spent. EAST WEST PLAYERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL ENRICHMENT CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS FOR ASPIRING ACTORS, DIRECTORS AND WRITERS. EAST WEST PLAYERS ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE TOURING THEATRE FOR YOUTH PRODUCTIONS WHICH OFFER NEW WAYS TO SEE THE WORLD THROUGH THEATER THAT STIMULATE STUDENTS TO DISCOVER THE PROMINENT ROLE ASIAN AMERICANS HAVE PLAYED IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
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
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 June 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 April 1967.
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.
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.