Cygnet Theatre Company

What it reported doing in 2024

The donald c. & elizabeth dickinson foundation cygnet scholarship the donald c. & elizabeth dickinson foundation cygnet scholarship offers a one-time 2,500 award to four san diego high school seniors, helping them pursue theater training programs across the u.s. This audition-based scholarship involves the following steps: nomination and preparation: participating san diego high schools nominate 6-10 students from their theater programs who demonstrate skills in singing and acting. These students prepare a 32-bar song and a 90-second, age- appropriate monologue. Selection workshop: cygnet theatre provides a 90-minute workshop to support the student selection process. Cygnet scholarship day: all selected students attend cygnet scholarship day, where they perform for a panel of judges. Four scholarship recipients are chosen based on these performances. Scholarship funds are awarded upon proof of enrollment, and recipients are free to use the funds as they see fit. The student matinee experience for nearly a decade, cygnet theatre has provided san diego county k-12 students with free matinee performances each season. Cygnet theatre offers four student matinees per season, which teachers in san diego county can register their classes to attend. These field trips often introduce students to live theater, expanding their world and cultivating an appreciation for the arts. Each cygnet production connects with some aspect of the human experience, making it universally relatable. In-school pre-show workshops: these workshops, aligned with California common core and san diego unified visual and performing arts standards, help students understand the work involved in producing a professional show. Each workshop includes a vibrant, engaging study guide that enriches the student experience. Post-show talkbacks: after each matinee, actors return to the stage for a discussion, answering students' questions about the play, the profession, and any other topics of interest. Cygnet artists in the schools pre-professional program: this eight-week onsite high school residency provides around 72 hours of professional instruction. Students apprentice under theater professionals, focusing on skills in production, organization, and task execution to meet industry demands. At the program's end, students earn a certificate of achievement. Beyond the bell after-school program: designed for students in grades 412, this eight-week program offers training in acting, singing, dancing, and other performance skills. These sessions build confidence, enhance public speaking, and strengthen writing and social skills. Classroom unit program: this six-week, in-class residency culminates in a student presentation. Tailored to complement existing school curricula, the program serves students in grades 412, providing a comprehensive theater education experience. From the page to the stage from the page to the stage is a free, 45-minute interactive presentation that brings literature to life, fostering a love of reading. Through live theater, it shows children and adults how stories by authors like cervantes, mark twain, and charles schulz transform into musicals. Featuring excerpts from beloved productions such as big river, man of la mancha, seussical the musical, wicked, and youre a good man, charlie brown, these mini-shows are performed by professional musical theater artists. This program now reaches diverse audiences at locations including the salvation army kroc center, parks and recreation centers, military bases, senior centers, schools, and public libraries.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 40.2%; rating input score 40
• Program expense ratio: 79.6%; rating input score 80
• Fundraising efficiency: $11.49 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 42; 42nd 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: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 7 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: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 49.8%; rating input score 92; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.64; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.24; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 8%; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 2.4% per year; rating input score 100; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 11.3% per year; rating input score 100; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 23.2% per year; rating input score 100; 88th percentile among comparable filings