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Nonprofit · EIN 86-0487231

GREAT ARIZONA PUPPET THEATER INC

Tax-exempt · PHOENIX, AZ 85003

Financials

$277K$371K2020$411K$531K2022$562K$527K2023$432K$524K2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of GREAT ARIZONA PUPPET THEATER INC by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
June 30, 2025990$431,853$524,311-$92,458$271,342$468,046-$196,704
June 30, 2024990$562,401$527,171$35,230$296,433$325,963-$29,530
June 30, 2023990$411,157$531,241-$120,084$336,666$399,356-$62,690
June 30, 2021990$276,939$370,619-$93,680$407,368$420,087-$12,719
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$146,351
of which government grants
$111,810
Program service revenue
$243,548
Investment income
$0
Net rental income
$28,379
Net income from sales of inventory
$13,575
Other revenue
$41,954

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$1,500
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$50,450
Other salaries and wages
$168,370
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$248,089
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Occupancy
$47,780
Travel
$9,832
Depreciation
$32,000
Program services (functional)
$394,149
Management and general (functional)
$126,014
Fundraising (functional)
$4,148

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$296,433
Total assets, end of year
$271,342
Total liabilities, end of year
$468,046
Net assets, end of year
-$196,704
Land, buildings and equipment
$235,842
Net assets without donor restrictions
-$196,704
Gross receipts
$441,509
Employees
7
Volunteers
10
Year formed
1984
State of legal domicile
AZ

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 June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Jeffrey Lazos FernsExecutive Director
Officer
30$50,450
Richard Kiene IIIChair
Trustee or director
1$0
Shari LightstoneSecretaryTreasurer
Trustee or director
1$0
Maurice PortleyDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Camilla Ann MicanDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Aubrey WatkinsDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 8 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Nancy SmithPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
30$41,937
Jeffrey Lazos FernsExecutive Director
Officer
30$36,600
Aubrey WatkinsDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Sally JesseDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Camilla Ann MicanDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Richard Kiene IIIChair
Trustee or director
1$0
Shari LightstoneSecretaryTreasurer
Trustee or director
1$0
Maurice PortleyDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 7 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Nancy SmithPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
30$42,404
Camilla Ann MicanDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Aubrey WatkinsDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Sally JesseDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Richard Kiene IIIChair
Trustee or director
1$0
Shari LightstoneSecretaryTreasurer
Trustee or director
1$0
Maurice PortleyDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2021: 7 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
NANCY SMITHPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Key employee
40$47,000
RICHARD KLIENE IIICHAIR
Officer
2$0
SHARI LIGHTHOUSESECRETARY/TREASURER
Officer
2$0
CAMILLA ANN MICANBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
MAURICE PORTLEYBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
SALLY JESSEBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
RACHEL DAVISBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
302 W LATHAM ST, PHOENIX, AZ 85003-1233
In care of
% SHARI LIGHTSTONE
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
Jeffrey Lazos Ferns, 302 W Latham St, Phoenix, AZ 85003
Signed the 990
SHARI LIGHTSTONE, SecretaryTreasurer
Phone
(602) 262-2050
Return prepared by
Rob Paull CPA PC

Mission

To educate through the art of puppetry.

990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • The Puppet Theater benefits children and the community by performing puppet shows and providing the instruction in puppet theater art through residence and other programs. The Theater served approximately 110,000 individuals, most of whom were children.
    Expenses $394,149

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 June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025June 30, 2026November 16, 2026Not due yet
2024June 30, 2025November 17, 2025990 on file
2023June 30, 2024November 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
86-0487231
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1985
Accounting year ends
June
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$271,342
Income (IRS master file)
$441,509

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990June 2025$431,853$524,311$271,342IRS
990June 2024$562,401$527,171$296,433IRS
990June 2023$411,157$531,241$336,666XML
990June 2022$449,194$438,914$400,815IRS
990June 2021$276,939$370,619$407,368XML

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 86-0487231).

Questions about GREAT ARIZONA PUPPET THEATER INC

What is the EIN of GREAT ARIZONA PUPPET THEATER INC?
The employer identification number (EIN) of GREAT ARIZONA PUPPET THEATER INC is 86-0487231.
Is GREAT ARIZONA PUPPET THEATER INC tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1985.
Are donations to GREAT ARIZONA PUPPET THEATER INC tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does GREAT ARIZONA PUPPET THEATER 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 GREAT ARIZONA PUPPET THEATER INC due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did GREAT ARIZONA PUPPET THEATER INC last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
Who is the principal officer of GREAT ARIZONA PUPPET THEATER INC?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names Jeffrey Lazos Ferns.
Who are the officers and directors of GREAT ARIZONA PUPPET THEATER INC?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 6 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $50,450 (Jeffrey Lazos Ferns, Executive Director).
How much revenue does GREAT ARIZONA PUPPET THEATER INC have?
On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $431,853, expenses of $524,311 and total assets of $271,342 at year end.

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