The Public Theater

What it reported doing in 2024

Civic artistic programscivic artistic programs is the public's hub for expanding access, fostering civic engagement, and advancing community-focused artistic innovation by building meaningful connections with community organizations and their members.the mobile unitthe mobile unit reaches past economic and geographic barriers to the arts by meeting communities where they are, staging theater productions and programs at no cost in local neighborhood venues and spaces across nyc's five boroughs. In 2025, the mobile unit presented a bi-lingual adaptation of much ado about nothing by julian mesri and rebecca martinez.public workspublic works aims to restore and build community by connecting people through the creation of extraordinary works of art. In 2025, public works presented a free concert experience of pericles, conceived by troy anthony, involving hundreds of community members and presented at the cathedral of st. John the divine. Additionally, public works provided year-round programming through weekly classes, monthly gatherings, workshops, and access to performances. These activities were offered in partnership with eight long-standing organizations: children's aid (manhattan), the fortune society (queens), dreamyard (bronx), brownsville recreation center (brooklyn), domestic workers united (staten island and citywide), casita maria center for arts and education (bronx), center for family life in sunset park (brooklyn), and military resilience foundation (citywide).new work development & ancillary programsthe public's early career working group supports early-career artists with collaborative programs that nurture talent and provide resources at critical moments in their development.emerging writers group (ewg) fosters artistic and professional growth for playwrights and other generative artists in the early stages of their careers. Writers are selected biennially for a two-year fellowship that includes a stipend, bi-weekly group sessions, and special sessions with established playwrights. The residency culminates in the spotlight series, a festival of new work by members of the ewg cohort. In 24/25, the public deepened its support for the program by:-tailoring artistic development and group retreats to the cohort's evolving needs -producing the spotlight series, featuring ten readings of new plays by the members of the ewg.-expanding networking opportunities with leaders in film and televisionthe 23/25 ewg cohort included karina billini, tommy endter, jesse jae hoon, humaira iqbal, celeste jennings, nina ki, gloria oladipo, valen-marie santos, amita sharma, and al sierra.joe's pub working groupjoe's pub working group (jpwg) supports 4-6 early-career musicians and performance artists annually, offering curatorial support, rehearsal space, and many administrative resources. Artists are selected for their strong narrative voices and encouraged to explore performance-based storytelling and songwriting. The 2025-2026 jpwg cohort includes daniel emond, gregory richardson, kate douglas, mafer bandola, and pooja reddy.New York voicesnew york voices was created in response to the decline in album sales and aims to support musicians in developing new live performance work. The program commissions at least three artists per year, helping them develop a full show, access funding, and expand touring potential. Artists also receive finishing funds to complete their projects. The 2024-2025 cohort included dan fishback, mali obomsawin & jake blount, barsha & jo lampert, and sarah elizabeth charles.artists-in-residencethe public theater offers salaried residencies to give artists time, space, and resources to develop their work.-writer-in-residence: suzan-lori parks-artist-in-residence: shaina taub-residency: the apothetae: a two-year collaboration with actor and disability rights advocate gregg mozgala to explore shakespeare through a disability lens.-tow playwright-in-residence: else went-directing fellow: emma went

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 56%; rating input score 56
• Program expense ratio: 72.4%; rating input score 72
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.22 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.7%; rating input score 95; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 6 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 50%; rating input score 50; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 95.8%; rating input score 96; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 24.1%; rating input score 89; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.87; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.29; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 8.5%; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.1% per year; rating input score 100; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.8% per year; rating input score 100; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 11.7% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings