Chicago Theatre Group

Also known as Goodman Theatre

Chicago, IL · EIN 36-2896025 · 501(c)(3) · Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
Latest filing: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 (tax year 2024) · View the filing · Correct or respond

Chicago Theatre Group reported $32.0 million in revenue and $29.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $77.88 went to program services, $14.61 to management and general costs and $7.51 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 50.7% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,003,839 (FORMER CEO (THRU 8/2024)/SENIOR ADVISOR). 17 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 91% 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 $29M

Program services$77.88 $23M
Management & general$14.61 $4.2M
Fundraising$7.51 $2.2M

For 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 $32M

Contributions & grants (non-government)$49.24 $16M
Government grants$1.45 $464K
Program service revenue$42.24 $14M
Investment income$6.87 $2.2M
Other revenue$0.20 $63,361

The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades

FY2025 filing. Median across 876 covered charities in this category, from their latest filings.
Measure	FY2025	Median
Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A)	77.9%	78.5%
Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A)	14.6%	13.6%
Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A)	7.5%	6.0%
Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h	$0.13	$0.10
Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12	50.7%	57.5%
Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12	1.5%	1.7%
Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12	42.2%	20.8%
Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F	$1,003,839	$385,706
Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A)	3.46%	2.03%
People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2	17	8
Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses	10.5	36.6
Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b	80 of 80	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 expense

$23M expenses · 100.0% of program spending · revenue $14M

Goodman theatre, chicago's oldest and largest not-for-profit theater, is internationally recognized for its artists, productions and educational programs. With depth and diversity of artistic leadership, the goodman is committed to producing both classic and contemporary works, giving full voice to a wide range of artists and visions. The theatre is renowned for the excellence of its many community and educational programs. The goodman offers nationally recognized programs to the chicago community for students of all ages. Additionally, the theatre offers educational materials that not only…

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
FORMER CEO (THRU 8/2024)/SENIOR ADVISOR Former, 40.0 hrs/week	$486,458	$0	$517,381	$1,003,839
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Officer, 40.0 hrs/week	$512,515	$0	$14,565	$527,080
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 40.0 hrs/week	$313,366	$0	$8,309	$321,675
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week	$210,700	$0	$583	$211,283
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.0 hrs/week	$174,573	$0	$8,282	$182,855
CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week	$161,304	$0	$17,248	$178,552
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week	$173,418	$0	$583	$174,001
CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCE OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week	$158,719	$0	$8,228	$166,947

17 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Chicago Theatre Group (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.0M (Part IX, line 5).

6 years of filings

Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linked

RevenueExpenses

Filing	Revenue	Expenses	Programs	Net assets	Top pay
FY2025 ⓘ	$32M	$29M	77.9%	$25M	$1,003,839
FY2024 ⓘ	$29M	$34M	78.0%	$22M	$642,070
FY2023 ⓘ	$27M	$30M	78.9%	$27M	$635,724
FY2022 ⓘ	$25M	$24M	76.3%	$31M	$547,250
FY2021 ⓘ	$13M	$15M	65.8%	$34M	$570,864
FY2020 ⓘ	$17M	$21M	74.6%	$33M	$604,005

Governance 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–1b80 · 80 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 11aNo
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 18No
Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
Employees Part I, line 5680
Volunteers Part I, line 6400

Largest outside contractors

FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only

CHICAGO MAGIC COMPANY Performer	$381,345
F&D SCENE CHANGES LTD Scenery build	$301,225
THEATRICAL LIGHTING CONNECTION Lighting equipment	$212,735
PLANTE & MORAN PLLC Auditors	$197,350

Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 10 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.

Private foundation grants it received

20 private foundations reported grants to Chicago Theatre Group totaling $1.3M 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 Chicago Theatre Group's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Chicago Theatre Group, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.

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Similar-sized charities in this cause

Indiana Symphony Society
Indianapolis, IN · revenue $32M · programs 84.5% · FY2025
The American Theatre Guild
Kansas City, MO · revenue $32M · programs 83.0% · FY2025
International Spy Museum
Washington, DC · revenue $32M · programs 82.0% · 2024
North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation
Raleigh, NC · revenue $32M · programs 74.8% · FY2025
Baltimore Museum of Art
Baltimore, MD · revenue $32M · programs 78.6% · FY2025

All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Illinois

Questions people ask

How much of Chicago Theatre Group's spending goes to programs?

In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, Chicago Theatre Group reported that 77.9% of its $29.0 million in expenses went to program services, 14.6% to management and general and 7.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).

How much does Chicago Theatre Group pay its top executive?

The largest total compensation Chicago Theatre Group reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $1,003,839, for the role of FORMER CEO (THRU 8/2024)/SENIOR ADVISOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).

Where does Chicago Theatre Group get its money?

Of $32.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 50.7% came from contributions and grants (including 1.5% from government grants) and 42.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).

Is Chicago Theatre Group a registered charity?

The IRS lists EIN 36-2896025 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 202611949349301016 · read the filing · XML
FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202511929349300321 · read the filing
FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202411979349300341 · read the filing
FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202311929349300786 · read the filing
FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202241939349301909 · read the filing
FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202111819349301421 · read the filing

All filings for EIN 36-2896025: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.