Skip to main content

Nonprofit · EIN 45-2697899

SHAKING THE TREE INC

Tax-exempt (reinstated) · PORTLAND, OR 97214

Financials

$404K$528K2023$412K$419K2024$405K$435K2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of SHAKING THE TREE INC by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$405,344$435,442-$30,098$68,222$26,062$42,160
December 31, 2024990$411,841$419,449-$7,608$98,340$26,082$72,258
December 31, 2023990$403,550$527,593-$124,043$106,477$26,611$79,866
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$324,135
of which government grants
$53,400
Program service revenue
$69,018
Investment income
$35
Net rental income
$11,456
Net income from sales of inventory
$700
Other revenue
$12,156

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$55,270
Other salaries and wages
$40,578
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$134,261
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Occupancy
$104,364
Travel
$5,175
Depreciation
$1,734
Program services (functional)
$414,505
Management and general (functional)
$20,937

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$98,340
Total assets, end of year
$68,222
Total liabilities, end of year
$26,062
Net assets, end of year
$42,160
Land, buildings and equipment
$19,932
Net assets without donor restrictions
$42,160
Gross receipts
$406,044
Employees
11
Volunteers
8
Year formed
2014
State of legal domicile
OR

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
SAMANTHA VAN DER MERWEPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
40$54,309$961
SCOTT WIGGERSTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
JESSIE JONASSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
DOROTHY DAVISDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KERRY ERDENBERGERDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BELINDA GREENDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
REBECCA HARRISONDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MICHELLE RUIZ KEILDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JESSIE FANDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 8 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
SAMANTHA VAN DER MERWEPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
40$53,500
SCOTT WIGGERSTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
JESSIE JONASSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
DOROTHY DAVISDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
KERRY ERDENBERGERDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
BELINDA GREENDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
REBECCA HARRISONDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
MICHELLE RUIZ KEILDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 9 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
SAMANTHA VAN DER MERWEPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
40$53,500
SCOTT WIGGERSTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
JESSIE JONASSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
DOROTHY DAVISDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
KERRY ERDENBERGERDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
BELINDA GREENDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
REBECCA HARRISONDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
MICHELLE RUIZ KEILDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
PANCHO SAVERYDirector
Trustee or director
1$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
823 SE GRANT ST, PORTLAND, OR 97214-4524
In care of
% SAMANTHA VAN DER MERWE
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
SAMANTHA VAN DER MERWE, 823 SE Grant St, Portland, OR 97214
Signed the 990
SAMANTHA VAN DER MERWE, President
Phone
(503) 235-0635
Return prepared by
KERN & THOMPSON LLC

Mission

SHAKING THE TREE MELDS THE BOUNDARIES OF THEATRE AND VISUAL ART BY PRESENTING AUDIENCES WITH UNCONVENTIONAL THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES IN OUR NON-TRADITIONAL WAREHOUSE SPACE. FOUNDED IN 2003, SHAKING THE TREE USES INNOVATIVE WAYS TO INHABIT SPACE, AND POSITIONS ITSELF AT THE INTERSECTION OF INNOVATION, ACTIVISM AND GROUNDBREAKING THEATRICALITY TO ALLOW AUDIENCES TO EXPERIENCE A DEEPER, MORE ACTIVE CONNECTION TO THE WORK.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • IN 2025, SHAKING THE TREE PRESENTED 2 MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS, A SUMMER FESTIVAL, 3 PERFORMANCE RESIDENCIES, 1 VISUAL ARTIST RESIDENCY, 11 WORKSHOPS, AND 1 COMMUNITY EVENT, TO AN ESTIMATED 2,748 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
    Expenses $414,505 · revenue $81,174

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
45-2697899
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
2014
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Education (B99)
Assets (IRS master file)
$68,222
Income (IRS master file)
$406,044

Revocation and reinstatement

Exemption revoked
May 15, 2014
Posted by the IRS
September 8, 2014
Reinstated
Effective May 15, 2014

From the IRS automatic revocation list: organizations that did not file a required return or e-Postcard for three consecutive years.

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$405,344$435,442$68,222XML
990December 2024$411,841$419,449$98,340IRS
990December 2023$403,550$527,593$106,477XML
990December 2022$315,985$322,839$229,912IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990December 2019–––IRS
990-EZDecember 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 45-2697899).

Questions about SHAKING THE TREE INC

What is the EIN of SHAKING THE TREE INC?
The employer identification number (EIN) of SHAKING THE TREE INC is 45-2697899.
Is SHAKING THE TREE INC tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS revoked its exemption on May 15, 2014 and reinstated it effective May 15, 2014.
Are donations to SHAKING THE TREE INC tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does SHAKING THE TREE INC file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of SHAKING THE TREE INC due?
The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did SHAKING THE TREE INC last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
Who is the principal officer of SHAKING THE TREE INC?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names SAMANTHA VAN DER MERWE.
Who are the officers and directors of SHAKING THE TREE INC?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 9 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $54,309 (SAMANTHA VAN DER MERWE, President).
How much revenue does SHAKING THE TREE INC have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $405,344, expenses of $435,442 and total assets of $68,222 at year end.

Other nonprofits in PORTLAND

All nonprofits in PORTLAND · Oregon · Education