Bluestem Center for the Arts

What it reported doing in 2012

In 1998, Fargo-Moorhead community leaders formed Bluestem, a nonprofit organization, to support Trollwood Performing Arts School's substantial growth. Bluestem Center for the Arts mission is "to educate, entertain, inspire and enrich our community through the arts." Bluestem (formerly FutureBuilders) was entrusted with the operations and stewardship of Trollwood Performing Arts School and the shared Moorhead facilities. At its beautiful, spacious site, Bluestem not only provides a home for Trollwood's programming, but is also host to community events, conferences and symposiums, music concerts and festivals. The vision of Bluestem is to serve as a regional resource connecting communities and enabling dynamic arts programming for all citizens by developing financial support and maintaining a world-class venue. In 2011 Bluestem expanded its concert series to include Sheryl Crow, Moody Blues, Lyle Lovett and George Thorogood.Trollwood Performing Arts School (TPAS) provides youth arts educational offerings at Bluestem. TPAS is a unique youth arts organization committed to providing the highest quality of arts learning experiences, exceptional community entertainment, and activities that promote and celebrate cultural diversity. The mission of Trollwood is "to inspire those we serve through the arts to realize their full potential and be a positive influence in the global community." This mission drives the diverse and varied programs students experience each year in beginning through advanced levels of dance, theater, technical theater, vocal music, stringed music, video arts, and creative writing. These programs develop artistic knowledge and skills, but more importantly build fundamental life skills including self-esteem, self-confidence, communication and collaboration skills, citizenship and character. Trollwood developed in 1978 from the collaborative efforts between Fargo Public Schools and the Fargo Park District. As the demand for quality arts programming grew within the community, Trollwood quickly expanded beyond the purview of a typical public school arts program. Today, Trollwood serves an over 500 young people annually, with average audiences upwards of 20,000.Bluestem is the only venue of its type in the region, providing unique arts opportunities and events for all ages. TPAS offers students intensive arts training in a supportive and intellectually challenging environment, set in an inspirational outdoor venue that fosters a personal connection to nature and the greater world. Bluestem/TPAS plays many roles in the community including: 1) preparing youth for the future by empowering them with fundamental life skills in addition to top-quality arts training; 2) serving as an arts resource for the community by providing dynamic performances; 3) providing leadership to emerging arts organizations by sharing administrative, marketing, and development best practices; and 4) supporting regional schools and organizations by providing technical sound, lighting, stage equipment and costumes at little or no cost.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: Limited
• Program expense ratio: Limited
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.3%; rating input score 92; 11th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 89.9%; rating input score 90; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -225.8%; rating input score 0; 0th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.07; rating input score 2; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 1.26; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0.4%; rating input score 86; 86th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: Limited
• Revenue growth: 72.6% per year; rating input score 100; 98th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -88.2% per year; rating input score 0; 0th percentile among comparable filings