Crossroads Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
222345520
IRS 990 coverage
2015–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
New Brunswick, NJ, USA
Phone
7322387530
Rating
63
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Human Service Organizations

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$513,304
Expenses
$556,151
Assets
$159,269
Liabilities
$144,335

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

Leadership & pay

7 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • DR ABENA P A BUSIA (PRESIDENT)

People named in this filing

  • DR ABENA P A BUSIA (PRESIDENT)
  • THEODORE BENNETT ESQ (SECRETARY)
  • ZACKARIE L LEMELLE (VICE PRESIDE)

Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.

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

Overview

Mission

The crossroads theatre company is dedicated to artistic excellence in the creation and production of professional theatre that: 1. Celebrates the culture, artistry and voices of the african diaspora; 2. Provides a nurturing, professional working environment for writers and artists in the development of plays created and interpreted through the lens of the black experience; 3. Presents authentic portrayals of people of color in this country and from around the world in order to inspire, educate, ignite imagination and promote healing in our society; 4. Promotes a deeper, more informed cross-cultural conversation on community, our interconnectedness, the histories we share and don't share, the human condition today, and the world we strive to build for tomorrow.

What it reported doing in 2024

Since it's founding, crossroads has produced over 100 works, many of which were premiere productions by the world's leading african and african american artist. Through both its main stage productions and the community and education programs, crossroads reaches audiences of diverse origins who were able to experience live performances of plays that illuminate the many complexities of black life. During the fiscal year ended june 30, 2025, crossroads theater company continued to fulfill its exempt purpose through a number of key activities: main stage productions the organization continued to produce and present professional theatrical performances dedicated to authentic portrayals of the african diaspora. Notable productions during the year included the 2024 staging of lift by bestselling author walter mosley and the revival of fly, a world premiere about the tuskegee airmen. Ctc also celebrated its 47th season by launching the 2025-2026 season with a production of two-time pulitzer prize winner lynn nottages acclaimed drama crumbs from the table of joy at the new brunswick performing arts center. These performances were attended by thousands of patrons, directly advancing the organizations educational and cultural aims. Genesis festival of new voices & new plays a major part of ctcs exempt purpose is nurturing new talent. During the fiscal year, the company continued to support and present the genesis festival of new plays, a program that has for 35 years served as an incubator for the discovery of new storytellers from the african diaspora. The festival provides a professional working environment for playwrights, directors, and actors to develop and share new works. The 36th edition of the festival was planned for the upcoming season, with preparatory workshops and readings occurring in the current fiscal year. Community engagement and education in addition to its public performances, crossroads theater company engaged the new brunswick community through programs such as vanguards, a presentation that celebrated the companys archival works alongside new plays to foster cross-cultural conversation. Through lectures, post-performance discussions, and other educational activities, the organization provides the local community with access to the arts and informed dialogue on social issues. In summary, crossroads theater company continues to operate exclusively for charitable and educational purposes by producing professional theater that celebrates the african diaspora and promotes cross-cultural understanding, while providing a nurturing environment for artists to develop new works.

Operating model

Revenue model
Grant-funded. 71% of the money available for current operations came from government grants.
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 - The filed numbers largely add up and most voting board members are independent. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and a relatively small share of total spending goes to programs.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 27
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 94
  • Sustainability: 23
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 31.2%; rating input score 31
  • Program expense ratio: 28.8%; rating input score 29
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • 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: 6 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 86
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -8.3%; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.29; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.91; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 3.2% per year; rating input score 100; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 6% per year; rating input score 100; 49th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 12.3% per year; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 31.2% of revenue deployed · 28.8% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 7 of 7 board members independent · 6 of 7 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $160K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 7 people listed
  • Consistency: 28 of 28 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 10 filing years from 2015 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: Resolved incoming and outgoing counterparties from filed money flows.
  • 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.

  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Mission deployment rate scored 31/100.
  • High — Financial Efficiency: Program expense ratio scored 29/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 19/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 13/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: Form 990 shared with the board not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 7/100.