Memorial Hall Center For The Arts Inc
Nonprofit profile at a glance
- EIN
- 043375055
- IRS 990-EZ coverage
- 2020–2024
- Forms available
- Form 990-EZ 2024
- Location
- Wilmington, VT, USA
- Phone
- 8024648541
- Rating
- 88
- Verdict
- STRONG
- Rating confidence
- Moderate
- Sector
- Performing Arts Centers
Reported finances
- Revenue
- $75,273
- Expenses
- $85,314
- Assets
- $310,202
- Liabilities
- $357,400
Source: IRS Form 990-EZ. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.
Leadership & pay
4 people listed
People named in this filing
- Daniel Facilla (Chairman)
- Edwin M Wilson (Vice Chair)
- Linda Hughes (Secretary/Treas)
Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.
Source: IRS Form 990-EZ. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.
Overview
Mission
The original purpose of Memorial Hall Center for the Arts (MHCA) when it was located in Memorial Hall, Wilmington, VT, was the production of programs and events on a seasonal basis (during July & August) to foster an appreciation of theater, music and dance in a rural area where cultural opportunities are limited and the population is insufficient to support such endeavors without charitable support. In addition to the above programming, MHCA, during its first five years in Wilmington, also included a fall weekend of silent films, usually with piano accompaniment, to foster an appreciation for this art form, as well as an art show, in which area visual artists would display and sell their paintings, sculptures, and other wares. In August, 2012, MHCA purchased a recently closed and about-to-be-auctioned movie theater in West Dover, VT, with the goal of establishing a home for the arts. The members of the Board of MHCA, as long-time residents of the area, were aware that this theater, as
What it reported doing in 2024
From April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025, MHCA presented thirty-nine studio-release films in a combination of matinee and evening shows that totaled 368 screenings for the year. These films included first-run mainstream selections, as well as indie and art films of limited release, such as documentaries, biographies, and those based on books, history and art. The film industry is still recovering from the COVID pandemic and the SAG strike. The number of wide releases are about equal to last year, but the number that are appropriate for our demographic audience are few. The number of indie films were more plentiful, and MHCA was able to present more of the 501(c)(3) films that distinguish this theatre from a for-profit one, namely the documentaries, and biographies, films based on books, history and art. But, MHCA is experiencing similar results as other theatres, a decrease in patron attendance. Audiences are more widely opting streaming as the means to view a film. As well, streaming platforms are heavily investing in their own original programming, cannibalizing the stars, writers and directors that were being utilized for theatrical releases. Moreover, taking a page from television years ago, streaming platforms are producing series shows that keep audiences entertained week after week. Although the quality of presentation is better in a theatre, time will tell if this transition by patrons toward the convenience of viewing at home versus going out to the theatre will recede. The live-performing Village Light Opera Group opted to not return to the area again, unfortunately. The person that ran the August Dulcimer Daze Festival, a Festival that MHCA had supported for 25 years, passed away, and the inn that was hosting the Festival was renovating. So, no Dulcimer Festival occurred this year. The Festival is planning a return to the area next year including a live performance at Memorial Hall, which MHCA again will proudly support. This year was quite unique in that there were no special film events utilizing MHCAs excellent 4K Sony projector and Dolby surround sound. MHCA did many more screenings of indie limited-release films during the current year than the year prior. These films, while educational, artistic and well made, are not those that attract a wide audience and are not widely supported through extensive advertising by the distributor. As well, these films are not of the genre currently in favor by the theatre going public in that they are not horror or action films. The lower box office receipts this year versus last year gives testament to the lack of wide audience appeal of these films by the theatre-going public. However, the financial contributions given to MHCA to present such films firmly lends credence to the importance of MHCAs 501(c) (3) status by and to the community.Although there were no special events this year, MHCA is always looking for the opportunity to present such events, and presently has one planned for next year, in April, 2025. It is expected that more will follow.
Operating model
- Revenue model
- Cannot be determined from the filing. The filing does not provide enough consistent revenue detail to tell how this nonprofit funds its work.
- 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
STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Expenses are high relative to revenue and assets have declined or grown slowly.
Rating breakdown
- Financial Efficiency: 99
- Transparency & Controls: 82
- Sustainability: 43
- Growth: 80
Detailed rating inputs
Financial Efficiency
- Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
- Program expense ratio: 98.3%; rating input score 98
Transparency & Controls
- Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
- Major donor itemization: Limited
Sustainability
- Operating margin: -13.3%; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings
- Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.64; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings
- Liabilities to assets ratio: 1.15; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings
- Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings
Growth
- Program expense growth: 3.7% per year; rating input score 100; 59th percentile among comparable filings
- Revenue growth: 6.6% per year; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings
- Asset growth: -1.6% per year; rating input score 0; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
Details
- Where the money goes: 100% of revenue deployed · 98.3% of spending went to programs
- Governance: Filed governance answers
- Accomplishments: 1 filed program accomplishment · $84K in reported program spending
- Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 4 people listed
- Consistency: 7 of 7 current checks pass
- Schedules: 3 filed schedules
- Filing history: 5 filing years from 2020 to 2024
- Contacts: How to reach this organization
- Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
- 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 — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 28/100.
- High — Growth: Asset growth scored 0/100.
- High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 4/100.
- Review — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 56/100.