A Noise Within

What it reported doing in 2024

In a typical season, ANW's Education Program serves approximately 18,000 students and educators from nearly 200 schools across more than 40 school districts. The Education Program is made up of a carefully developed range of impactful theatre-based learning experiences, including: a. Student Matinees & Evening PerformancesWeekday matinees for student audiences are performed by the same professional cast seen in evening productions. Each experience includes a pre-show orientation, a full-length performance, and a post-show conversation with the artists, facilitated by ANW's Director of Education. Based on need and availability, participating schools may receive flexible scholarships that support ticket costs, transportation, and/or program fees.b. Study GuidesANW provides free, in-depth study guides to educators through its website. These resources help teachers animate classic texts and plays in the classroom by combining thematic and contextual analysis with activities tied to music, visual arts, and history, all aligned with California State standards.c. Professional DevelopmentEach year, ANW offers two no-cost professional development opportunities for educators. The late-summer Educator Extravaganza introduces teachers to the upcoming season and features workshops led by professional teaching artists. A second seminar is held in the spring and typically focuses on ANW's annual Shakespeare production. d. Workshops & ResidenciesANW's teaching artists lead experiential workshops that pair interactive exercises with close exploration of a play's language and themes. Workshops are typically one-day intensives, while residencies often span eight weeks, with artists teaching one or two classes per week. Programs are customized to meet the specific needs of each school or classroom and may be delivered in person, virtually, or through hybrid models.e. Summer With ShakespeareSummer With Shakespeare is a five-week theatre camp for students ages 6-18, offering hands-on experience with professional actors and technicians. Participants deepen their understanding of Shakespeare's verse while engaging with a range of classic plays. The program encourages young artists to grow as both scholars and performers, strengthening acting and public speaking skills, building confidence, and providing meaningful exposure to theatre-making.f. Relaxed PerformancesANW's sensory-friendly Relaxed Performances are designed to welcome patrons with Autism and other social communication and sensory processing differences. These performances feature the same professional cast and artistic quality as standard productions, while incorporating adjusted lighting, sound, and a more flexible audience environment. ANW is committed to making live theatre accessible to all and has been invited to advise organizations such as the Natural History Museum, the California Science Center, and The Huntington Library and Gardens on best practices for creating sensory-friendly experiences.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 73.7%; rating input score 74
• Program expense ratio: 82.5%; rating input score 83
• Fundraising efficiency: $9.15 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 91.3%; rating input score 91; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 12.8%; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.35; rating input score 76; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.09; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 11.5%; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 4.8% per year; rating input score 100; 38th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 7.1% per year; rating input score 100; 55th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 0.6% per year; rating input score 100; 14th percentile among comparable filings