Center Stage Associates Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
520780194
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2024
Location
Baltimore, MD, USA
Phone
4109864003
Rating
79
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Theater

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$8,084,841
Expenses
$9,915,423
Assets
$35,441,891
Liabilities
$1,392,458

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

46 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • JILL PRATT (VICE PRESIDENT)
  • SANDY LIOTTA (PRESIDENT)
  • SCOT T SPENCER (VICE PRESIDENT)
  • SHARONNE BONARDI (VICE PRESIDENT)

Highest reported compensation

  • STEVIE WALKER-WEBB (ARTISTIC DIRECTOR): $176,498 total reported compensation
  • ADAM FRANK (MANAGING DIRECTOR): $173,493 total reported compensation
  • KEN-MATT MARTIN (PRODUCING DIRECTOR): $154,063 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

See schedule o.inspired by our home city, baltimore center stage acts as a cultural catalyst for all communities to access theater in every form and engage in compelling conversations. Programming: capture the collective imagination and build community through joy-filled theatrical activities that lead to a greater understanding of our ourselves and each other. Constituency: build interdependent relationships and expand participation in service to all communities in baltimore and every county in the state of Maryland. Culture: foster an environment of belonging and relentless curiosity where people can be their best selves. Impact: contribute to the story of baltimore by showing up locally and nationally as leaders, thought partners, amplifiers, and neighbors. Institution: develop a resilient organization that delivers on its mission and makes a distinctive impact relative to its resources.

What it reported doing in 2024

Education: our education programs annually benefit 10,000 students and teachers. Innovative programs introduce students to the performing arts and help build the next generation of well-rounded citizens. Programs include the young playwrights festival, student matinees, the virtual student matinee library, and camp centerstage.

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 78
  • Transparency & Controls: 84
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 41
  • Growth: 20

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 91.2%; rating input score 91
  • Program expense ratio: 72.4%; rating input score 72
  • Fundraising efficiency: $7.74 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 29; 29th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
    • Compensation committee: Pass
    • Independent consultant: Missing
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
    • Written employment contract: Pass
    • Compensation survey or study: Pass
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • 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: -22.6%; rating input score 6; 6th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.57; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.04; rating input score 73; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 5.1%; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: -2.1% per year; rating input score 0; 9th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: -1.8% per year; rating input score 0; 7th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 2.6% per year; rating input score 100; 22nd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 91.2% of revenue deployed · 72.4% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 43 of 43 board members independent · 8 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 3 filed program accomplishments · $7.2M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $176K · 46 people listed · 4 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Consistency: 31 of 31 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 6 filed schedules · includes major donors and executive pay
  • Filing history: 15 filing years from 2010 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 3 filed money-flow records
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 29/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 6/100.
  • High — Growth: Program expense growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Growth: Revenue growth scored 0/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 53/100.