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Northlight Theatre
Northlight Theatre reported $12.0 million in revenue and $4.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $65.52 went to program services, $24.62 to management and general costs and $9.86 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 80.2% of the total. Government grants made up 9.6%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $165,712 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 128% 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 $4.4MFor 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 $12M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$70.50 $8.5M
- Government grants$9.56 $1.1M
- Program service revenue$15.75 $1.9M
- Investment income$4.19 $504K
Other revenue was negative: −$14,369. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 65.5% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 24.6% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.9% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.05 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 80.2% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 9.6% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 15.8% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $165,712 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.76% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 3 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 67.1 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 29 of 31 | 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 expenseHighest 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $157,754 | $0 | $7,958 | $165,712 |
| ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $160,800 | $0 | $0 | $160,800 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $112,749 | $0 | $7,979 | $120,728 |
3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Northlight Theatre (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $343K (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–1b31 · 29 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 2No
- 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 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5176
- Volunteers Part I, line 631
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| BULLEY & ANDREWS General contractor | $6,118,929 |
| ECKENHOFF SAUNDERS ARCHITECTS Architect fees | $525,870 |
| CITY OF EVANSTON Permitting fees | $418,513 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
22 private foundations reported grants to Northlight Theatre totaling $422K 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 Northlight 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 Northlight Theatre, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Northlight Theatre spent in FY2025, $65.52 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Autry Museum of the American WestLos Angeles, CA · revenue $12M · programs 79.9% · 2024
- International Documentary FoundationLos Angeles, CA · revenue $12M · programs 92.2% · FY2025
- Santa Barbara Center for the Performing ArtsSanta Barbara, CA · revenue $12M · programs 61.6% · FY2025
- Saint Louis Symphony Endowment TrustSaint Louis, MO · revenue $12M · programs 92.2% · FY2025
- Chicago Historical SocietyChicago, IL · revenue $12M · programs 73.5% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Illinois
Questions people ask
How much of Northlight Theatre's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, Northlight Theatre reported that 65.5% of its $4.4 million in expenses went to program services, 24.6% to management and general and 9.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Northlight Theatre pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Northlight Theatre reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $165,712, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Northlight Theatre get its money?
Of $12.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 80.2% came from contributions and grants (including 9.6% from government grants) and 15.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Northlight Theatre a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-7390464 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), 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 202620489349301572 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202531009349300043 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202431979349300723 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202311949349300406 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202201969349301945 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202121169349301267 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-7390464: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.