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The Hobby Center Foundation
Also known as The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
The Hobby Center Foundation reported $46.2 million in revenue and $36.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $86.21 went to program services, $11.23 to management and general costs and $2.56 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 68.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $476,988 (President/CEO). 14 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 180% 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 $37MFor 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 $46MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 86.2% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.2% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.6% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 24.6% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 68.2% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $476,988 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.30% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 14 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 28.9 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 22 of 23 | 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 expensePresented Programming and Rentals:The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts welcomes hundreds of thousands of audience members each year to diverse, high quality performing arts programming presented by the Hobby Center in three performance spaces across the campus including Sarofim Hall, Zilkha Hall and the Founders Club. The primary driver of impact is the Memorial Hermann Broadway at the Hobby Center series, a cornerstone of the Hobby Center's artistic programming, and one of the most successful Broadway Series in the country. See Schedule OIn addition to Broadway, during the 2024-2025…
Education and Engagement:An expanded Education Department is leading the development of programs on stage, in the classroom and in the community. Education and accessibility initiatives are central to the Hobby Center's reach in Houston through programs like the ExxonMobil Discovery Series that, during the 2024-2025 Season, welcomed nearly 20,000 fifth grade students and teachers for free performances in Sarofim Hall and Zilkha Hall, including bus transportation provided by the Hobby Center
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/CEO Director/trustee, officer, 38.00 hrs/week | $437,218 | $0 | $39,770 | $476,988 |
| VP Operations Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $252,660 | $0 | $36,724 | $289,384 |
| VP Finance & Administration Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $247,021 | $0 | $31,375 | $278,396 |
| Broadway Gen Manager Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $218,285 | $0 | $29,594 | $247,879 |
| VP of Prog & Education Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $188,628 | $0 | $36,874 | $225,502 |
| VP of Advancement Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $165,940 | $0 | $25,760 | $191,700 |
| Head Carpenter Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $152,663 | $0 | $34,743 | $187,406 |
14 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Hobby Center Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $800K (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–1b23 · 22 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5116
- Volunteers Part I, line 6375
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| The John Gore Organization Production services | $3,332,631 |
| Shield Event Services Security Services | $758,696 |
| IATSE Stage Labor | $506,805 |
| Shall Prosper Industries LLC Housekeeping | $431,472 |
| Har-Con Mech Contractors LLC Mechanical Contractors | $333,672 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 18 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
8 private foundations reported grants to The Hobby Center Foundation totaling $202K 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 Hobby Center Foundation'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 Hobby Center Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Hobby Center Foundation spent in FY2025, $86.21 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- National Cable Satellite CorporationWashington, DC · revenue $46M · programs 80.5% · FY2025
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- Fractured AtlasNew York, NY · revenue $46M · programs 96.6% · FY2025
- Minnesota Orchestral AssociationMinneapolis, MN · revenue $47M · programs 80.1% · FY2025
- Houston Symphony SocietyHouston, TX · revenue $45M · programs 82.5% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Texas
Questions people ask
How much of The Hobby Center Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, The Hobby Center Foundation reported that 86.2% of its $36.7 million in expenses went to program services, 11.2% to management and general and 2.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Hobby Center Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Hobby Center Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $476,988, for the role of President/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Hobby Center Foundation get its money?
Of $46.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 24.6% came from contributions and grants and 68.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Hobby Center Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 76-0428914 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 202631969349302453 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202501909349301700 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202411239349301116 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202321959349300702 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202211929349301466 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202100959349300245 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 76-0428914: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.