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The Second Stage Theatre
The Second Stage Theatre reported $24.6 million in revenue and $25.3 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $73.36 went to program services, $17.47 to management and general costs and $9.17 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 65.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $638,145 (President/Art Dir. thru 8/2024). 20 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 99% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $25MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $25MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 73.4% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 17.5% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.2% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.28 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 33.2% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.2% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 65.2% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $638,145 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.52% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 20 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 16.2 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 34 of 35 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseSecond Stage presented five shows during the 2024-2025 season. The season opened with "WALDEN" by Amy Berryman, which ran at the Tony Kiser Theater from October 17 to November 24, 2024. This play explored themes of environmental stewardship and human ambition through the story of two sisters confronting their diverging paths. Helmed by Whitney White, this production reached 11,532 theatergoers. Next, Leslye Headlan's "CULT OF LOVE" ran at the Helen Hayes Theater from November 20, 2024 to February 2, 2025. Directed by Trip Cullman, this play followed the Dahl family during the holiday season.…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President/Art Dir. thru 8/2024 Director/trustee, officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $31,792 | $0 | $606,353 | $638,145 |
| EXEC. DIRECTOR, THRU 04/2025 Director/trustee, officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $319,966 | $0 | $0 | $319,966 |
| ELECTRICIAN, HAYES THEATER Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $243,122 | $0 | $74,152 | $317,274 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $165,732 | $0 | $137,720 | $303,452 |
| HEAD PROPERTIES, HAYES THEATER Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $231,828 | $0 | $70,707 | $302,535 |
| HEAD CARPENTER, HAYES THEATER Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $217,886 | $0 | $66,455 | $284,341 |
| art. dir. as of 01/2024 Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $236,525 | $0 | $28,813 | $265,338 |
| CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $179,909 | $0 | $27,106 | $207,015 |
20 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Second Stage Theatre (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.3M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b35 · 34 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26Yes
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5946
- Volunteers Part I, line 6836
Private foundation grants it received
42 private foundations reported grants to The Second Stage Theatre totaling $886K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Second Stage Theatre's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Second Stage Theatre, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Second Stage Theatre spent in FY2025, $73.36 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Questions people ask
How much of The Second Stage Theatre's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, The Second Stage Theatre reported that 73.4% of its $25.3 million in expenses went to program services, 17.5% to management and general and 9.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Second Stage Theatre pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Second Stage Theatre reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $638,145, for the role of President/Art Dir. thru 8/2024 (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Second Stage Theatre get its money?
Of $24.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 33.2% came from contributions and grants (including 1.2% from government grants) and 65.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Second Stage Theatre a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 13-3021180 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, object 202631759349301503 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202531819349300133 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202411849349301451 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202301869349300610 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202221459349300917 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202141129349301134 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 13-3021180: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.