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Play Pa Live Inc

EIN 99-4097837 · Reading, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak32 out of 100GovernanceFair63 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

PLAY PA LIVE'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT PERFORMANCES OF THE MUSICAL ARTS IN PENNSYLVANIA THROUGH GRANTMAKING, SCHOLARSHIP AND EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES AIMED AT DEVELOPING AND ADVANCING THE SKILLS OF MUSICIANS AND ENCOURAGING ACCESS TO LIVE MUSIC AND PERFORMANCES IN PENNSYLVANIA. PLAY PA LIVE DEVELOPED ITS FIRST GRANT PROGRAM, THE PENNSYLVANIA LIVE EVENTS REHEARSAL GRANT PROGRAM, IN EARLY 2025, AND BEGAN ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS SHORTLY THEREAFTER.FOR FY 2025, A TOTAL OF 6 GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO GRANTEES THAT HAD APPLIED TO THE PROGRAM.

Income
$643,280
Spending
$644,446
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
51

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: 32 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 100% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% 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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 6 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 (1)
  1. $529,002 spent. PLAY PA LIVE DEVELOPED ITS FIRST GRANT PROGRAM, THE PENNSYLVANIA LIVE EVENTS REHEARSAL GRANT PROGRAM, IN EARLY 2025, AND BEGAN ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS SHORTLY THEREAFTER. GRANTS AWARDED THROUGH THE PROGRAM ARE INTENDED TO HELP DEVELOPING ARTISTS BY PARTIALLY SUBSIDIZING THE COST OF REHEARSALS SO THEY CAN INVEST MORE INTO THEIR ACTUAL PERFORMANCES AND FURTHER THEIR OWN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE MUSICAL ARTS. THIS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, ENHANCING THE SOUND, LIGHTING, VISUAL EFFECTS, AND OTHER DESIGN-RELATED ELEMENTS OF THEIR CONCERTS OR TOURS AND EXPANDING THEIR OVERALL PROFICIENCY IN CONDUCTING HIGH-LEVEL, PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES.FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2025 WAS PLAY PA LIVE'S INAUGURAL YEAR, AND THE PENNSYLVANIA LIVE EVENTS REHEARSAL GRANT PROGRAM WAS ITS ONLY ESTABLISHED PROGRAM SERVICE IN OPERATION DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. FOR FY 2025, A TOTAL OF 6 GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO GRANTEES THAT HAD APPLIED TO THE PROGRAM.

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 October 2025.

    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.