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Ford's Theatre Society
Ford's Theatre Society reported $16.3 million in revenue and $17.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $77.40 went to program services, $12.85 to management and general costs and $9.75 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 56.9% of the total. Government grants made up 5.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $709,418 (DIRECTOR). 13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 37% 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 $17MFor 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 $16MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.4% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.9% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.8% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.18 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 56.9% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 5.4% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 37.9% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $709,418 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 4.16% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 13 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 55.0 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 58 of 59 | 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 expenseDuring FY25, approximately 357,000 patrons visited historic ford's theatre. The fts mainstage productions mr. Lincoln, a christmas carol, and sister act entertained over 70,000 local, national, and international patrons. Additionally, educational programs and outreach served over 23,500 local and national students, teachers, and leaners through field trips, student matinees, workshops, distance learning, and oratory festival
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $618,297 | $0 | $91,121 | $709,418 |
| DEPUTY DIR AND DIR OF PROGRAMMING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $192,578 | $0 | $38,381 | $230,959 |
| DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $190,371 | $0 | $34,847 | $225,218 |
| HEAD CARPENTER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $145,704 | $0 | $33,607 | $179,311 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $127,162 | $0 | $41,942 | $169,104 |
| DIR OF COMMUICATIONS AND MARKETING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $144,719 | $0 | $6,911 | $151,630 |
| DIR OF ACCESSIBILITY AND ENGAGEMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $115,283 | $0 | $16,710 | $131,993 |
13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Ford's Theatre Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $754K (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–1b59 · 58 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 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 5263
- Volunteers Part I, line 6300
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CONSIGLI CONSTRUCTION CO INC Construction | $9,088,172 |
| WASHINGTON PROFESSIONAL SYSTEMS Theatrical equipment | $539,482 |
| F & D SCENE CHANGES LTD Theatrical scenery | $348,590 |
| OTJ ARCHITECTS Architectural services | $212,040 |
| RED COATS INC Custodial services | $199,935 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 12 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
24 private foundations reported grants to Ford's Theatre Society 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 Ford's Theatre Society's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Ford's Theatre Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Ford's Theatre Society spent in FY2025, $77.40 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Louisville OrchestraLouisville, KY · revenue $16M · programs 83.8% · FY2025
- San Diego Society of Natural HistorySan Diego, CA · revenue $16M · programs 87.0% · FY2025
- Sarasota Opera AssociationSarasota, FL · revenue $16M · programs 74.2% · FY2025
- Asolo TheatreSarasota, FL · revenue $16M · programs 81.2% · FY2025
- Apollo Theater FoundationNew York, NY · revenue $16M · programs 72.1% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Ford's Theatre Society's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, Ford's Theatre Society reported that 77.4% of its $17.1 million in expenses went to program services, 12.9% to management and general and 9.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Ford's Theatre Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Ford's Theatre Society reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $709,418, for the role of DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Ford's Theatre Society get its money?
Of $16.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 56.9% came from contributions and grants (including 5.4% from government grants) and 37.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Ford's Theatre Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-6073157 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 202640639349301014 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202510949349300541 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202440859349300849 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202330459349301578 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202240689349301614 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202100449349300510 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-6073157: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.