Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia

EIN 98-0367731 · Canada

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak33 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INTRODUCE FAMILY AUDIENCES AT HOME AND ABROAD TO THE EXCITEMENT OF INNOVATIVE THEATRE AND THE PERFORMING ARTS; TO SERVE AS CULTURAL AMBASSADORS FOR NOVA SCOTIA AND FOR CANADA; TO PROVIDE A TOURING SHOWCASE OF ATLANTIC CANADA'S ARTISTS; TO ENCOURAGE LITERACY AND THE LOVE OF READING; TO PROMOTE THE ART OF PUPPETRY THROUGH LIVE RERFORMANCES AS WELL AS BY MEANS OF INSTRUCTION AT ALL LEVELS; TO ENCOURAGE CREATIVE SELF-EXPRESSION AMONG ADOLESCENTS THROUGH THE NON PROFESSIONAL YOUTH THEATRE.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-8.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 65%
Employees
0
Volunteers
10

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: 33 out of 100. Higher than 5% 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 62% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $674,820 spent. THE COMPANY CONDUCTED VARIOUS PERFORMANCES LIKE GOOD NIGHT MOON, RUNAWAY BUNNY AND THE RAINBOW FISH BY MARCUS PFISTER. THESE ARE PERFORMANCES WITH AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO PUPPETRY MANIPULATION AND CONSTRUCTION COMBINED WITH PLAYFUL ORIGINAL MUSIC FOR WHICH THE COMPANY EARNED WORLDWIDE PRAISE.
  2. $97,105 spent. MERMAID IMPERIAL PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE SALES
  3. $24,747 spent. SPACE RENTAL FOR TENANTS - MERMAID IMPERIAL PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE IS A FACILITY OWNED AND OPERATED BY MERMAID THEATRE OF NOVA SCOTIA. IT WAS RENTED TO VARIOUS EVENTS LIKE PLAYS, CONCERTS AND TRAVELLING MUSICAL SHOWS.
  4. $2,933 spent. INSTITUTE OF PUPPETRY ARTS
  5. OTHER INCOME

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 November 6, 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 2015.

    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 November 4, 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.