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Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Steppenwolf Theatre Company reported $28.0 million in revenue and $21.3 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $69.08 went to program services, $19.77 to management and general costs and $11.15 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 70.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $359,893 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 97% 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 $21MFor 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 $28MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 69.1% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 19.8% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 11.1% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.12 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 70.2% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.7% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 20.9% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $359,893 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.69% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 43.0 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 50 of 52 | 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 expenseIn support of our core artistic tenets, we seek to 1) serve as an artistic home for our ensemble and a launching pad for bold, new work; 2) amplify the voices of chicago teens and cultivate future generations of artists and enthusiasts; and 3) provide a collaborative space for independent artists and companies to promote a stronger, sustainable, and vibrant arts community. Steppenwolf produces hundreds of performances and events in its three spaces: the 500-seat downstairs theater; the 400-seat ensemble theater; and the 80-seat 1700 theater. Artistic programming includes a main season of…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $326,288 | $0 | $33,605 | $359,893 |
| CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $253,875 | $0 | $22,833 | $276,708 |
| CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $251,972 | $0 | $14,805 | $266,777 |
| DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $166,791 | $0 | $27,082 | $193,873 |
| PRODUCING DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $140,536 | $0 | $17,595 | $158,131 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $121,696 | $0 | $16,896 | $138,592 |
| DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATION Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $120,714 | $0 | $2,637 | $123,351 |
| DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $118,484 | $0 | $4,019 | $122,503 |
8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Steppenwolf Theatre Company (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $903K (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–1b52 · 50 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 5351
- Volunteers Part I, line 62,227
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| LS CONTRACTING GROUP INC General contractor | $281,205 |
| D&B GRAPHICS Printing | $233,439 |
| MIDWAY BUILDING SERVICES Cleaning services | $194,632 |
| CAPACITY INTERACTIVE Website maintenance | $166,500 |
| CONCORD THEATRICALS CORP Licensing company | $155,049 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 6 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
54 private foundations reported grants to Steppenwolf Theatre Company totaling $3.6M 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 Steppenwolf Theatre Company's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Steppenwolf Theatre Company, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Steppenwolf Theatre Company spent in FY2025, $69.08 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Overture Center FoundationMadison, WI · revenue $28M · programs 86.4% · FY2025
- Asian Art Museum Foundation of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA · revenue $28M · programs 68.2% · FY2025
- Grounds for SculptureHamilton, NJ · revenue $28M · programs 61.7% · 2025
- Nashville Symphony AssociationNashville, TN · revenue $28M · programs 83.1% · FY2025
- Skirball Cultural CenterLos Angeles, CA · revenue $27M · programs 88.0% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Illinois
Questions people ask
How much of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, Steppenwolf Theatre Company reported that 69.1% of its $21.3 million in expenses went to program services, 19.8% to management and general and 11.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Steppenwolf Theatre Company pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Steppenwolf Theatre Company reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $359,893, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Steppenwolf Theatre Company get its money?
Of $28.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 70.2% came from contributions and grants (including 0.7% from government grants) and 20.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Steppenwolf Theatre Company a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 51-0149370 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 202621689349300922 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202501959349301195 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202411769349301171 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202331649349301518 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202241869349301319 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202131969349300843 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 51-0149370: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.