Is it real?
Yes. Exemption reinstated (2014-05-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Sep 2014.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
78 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.
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Who runs it and what they're paid
9 people listed on the 990; $43K paid to officers and key staff.
Samantha Van Der Merwe’s $54K as President is at the 46th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1613 $100K–1M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.
Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII
| Name | FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samantha Van Der Merwe | $54,309 | $53,500 | $53,500 | $50,000 | $43,000 | $30,769 |
Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.
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Questions the 990 asks
The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.
- Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
- Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes
Programs and updates
Creates performances blending theatre and visual art.
Questions for Shaking the Tree INC
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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.
Funders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
By the numbers
The FY2021 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY21 | End FY21 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $87K | $240K |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $87K | $240K |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $47K | $30K |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $40K | $211K |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5 | $43K | $22K | $11K | $11K |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $51K | $38K | $13K | |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $7K | $4K | $2K | $893 |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $1K | $1K | ||
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $47K | $47K | $345 | $172 |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $591 | $591 | ||
| Office expensesLn 13 | $7K | $454 | $6K | |
| Information technologyLn 14 | $2K | $2K | ||
| RoyaltiesLn 15 | $3K | $3K | ||
| OccupancyLn 16 | $47K | $47K | ||
| TravelLn 17 | $715 | $715 | ||
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $100 | $100 | ||
| InsuranceLn 23 | $6K | $4K | $2K | |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $17K | $17K | $257 | $0 |
| All other expensesLn 24e | $526 | $526 | ||
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $233K | $182K | $38K | $12K |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 Latest | $405K | $435K | −$30K | $42K | 990 PDF |
| FY2024 | $412K | $419K | −$8K | $72K | 990 PDF |
| FY2023 | $404K | $528K | −$124K | $80K | 990 PDF |
| FY2022 | $316K | $323K | −$7K | $204K | 990 PDF |
| FY2021 Viewing | $403K | $233K | $171K | $211K | 990 PDF |
| FY2020 | $228K | $183K | $45K | $40K | 990 PDF |
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Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $403,055 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 7 of 8 board members independent, no flags
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $403,055 across 6 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $232,515 across 15 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $240,410 assets, 9 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $210,763 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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