Studio 1
Nonprofit profile at a glance
- EIN
- 471817737
- IRS 990 coverage
- 2021–2024
- Official website data refreshed
- Sep 2026
- Forms available
- Form 990 2024, Form 990-EZ 2020
- Location
- Burlington, NC, US
- Phone
- (336) 534-0321
- Rating
- 80
- Verdict
- STRONG
- Rating confidence
- Moderate
- Sector
- Performing Arts Organizations
Reported finances
- Revenue
- $469,136
- Expenses
- $474,577
- Assets
- $48,713
- Liabilities
- $0
Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.
Leadership & pay
19 people listed
Executive titles in this filing
- Wayne Leonard (President)
- Chris Earl (Vice President)
Highest reported compensation
- Tamra Kress (Executive Dir.): $60,100 total reported compensation
Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.
Overview
Mission
Studio 1 is Burlington's community theatre, providing opportunities to performers of all ages, interests, and experience levels through classes and outreach.
What it reported doing in 2024
Studio 1 has consistently looked for ways to make theatre more accessible to those in our community. Three prime examples of this were our ASL shadowed production, our Shorts program, and our sensory-sensitive performances. Our ASL shadowed production of Blithe Spirit in November 2024 brought ASL interpreters onstage as part of the storytelling. Interns from UNC Greensboro's Programs in Deafness majors served as the interpreters and co-storytellers alongside the actors. The interpreters are brought onstage as part of the actions, instead of being off to the side, making theatre more accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing audience. Throughout the season, Studio 1 has had at least one performance of each of the main stage shows professionally ASL-interpreted to make theatre more accessible. The Shorts program is a production of short skits performed by people of all ages and physical and mental abilities. It is known as a side-by-side theatre program. The rehearsals and the production calendar are shorter than traditional shows and allow time for building relationships that transcend the stage. If an actor needs special assistance to remember their lines or blocking, cast member friends become their "shadow and assist them by standing by their side. This provides opportunities for many in the community to experience the joy of theatre in a way that honors and encourages them.Additionally, each season the Studio chooses at least one production for which they offer a sensory sensitive performance where they invite individuals and their families with sensory sensitivities to attend a show designed to make them feel welcome, included, and part of the Studio 1 family. The production of Broadway Bound was a sensory-sensitive performance, and it was a joy to share the magic of theatre with those who might not typically attend theatre. The Studio 1 community strives to be inclusive and partners regularly with people with special needs in ways that are meaningful to all participants. Studio 1 has invested heavily in the arts in Alamance County. Executive Director Tami Kress as well as several other Studio 1 regulars have been involved in the local Community Conversation Arts Team. Alamance County is home to a vast array of artists and arts organizations who want to build bridges to bring our community closer together in purpose and need through connection, intention and exposure. This group is taking the lead in community arts conversations as part of the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation's Community Conversations initiated through Impact Alamance. It is made up of members from Alamance Arts, The Burlington Writers Club, Painted Grape, Studio 1 and Alamance Children's Theatre. Through hosting events at their space, organizing meetings, and getting to know other artists in the community, Studio 1 continues to lead in excellence in Alamance County Arts as they find ways to celebrate and lift up what is already happening in Alamance County.Studio 1 has continued their work at Snow Camp Outdoor Theatre (SCOT), revitalizing a beloved and historic Alamance County landmark. Snow Camp Outdoor Theatre has had years of performances, and its revitalization is encouraging those who have attended productions there in the past to return again as well as invite others to experience the historic Sword of Peace, Pathway to Freedom and other productions for the first time. Performances and events at Snow Camp both commemorate the history of the location itself as well as offer new and exciting opportunities (such as the Festival of Lights) to draw individuals and families to experience the joy of Snow Camp.Through employing local vendors and caterers and extending opportunities for local craftsmen and artisans to sell their goods, Studio 1 at SCOT is investing in the future of Alamance County, while also honoring its historic past. The 2024-25 season marked Studio 1s second full season at the newly renovated SCOT, and it was a rousing success,
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
STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Some filing-based governance responses are negative or unanswered and expenses are high relative to revenue.
Rating breakdown
- Financial Efficiency: 74
- Transparency & Controls: 92
- Accountability: 79
- Sustainability: 31
- Growth: 100
Detailed rating inputs
Financial Efficiency
- Mission deployment rate: 83.6%; rating input score 84
- Program expense ratio: 82.7%; rating input score 83
- Fundraising efficiency: Limited
Transparency & Controls
- Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th 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: 4 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 50
- Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
- Whistleblower policy: Pass
- Document-retention policy: Pass
- CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
- Other executive compensation review process: Fail
- Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
- Board meeting minutes documented: Fail
- Audit committee oversight: Missing
- Independent financial-statement audit: Fail
Sustainability
- Operating margin: -1.2%; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings
- Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.1; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings
- Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
- Officer compensation ratio: 12.7%; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings
Growth
- Program expense growth: 13% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
- Revenue growth: 15.1% per year; rating input score 100; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
- Asset growth: 14.5% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
Details
- What they do: 5 programs and campaigns described on the official site · 1 operating location identified
- Where the money goes: 83.6% of revenue deployed · 82.7% of spending went to programs
- Governance: 18 of 18 board members independent · 4 of 8 filing controls reported
- Programs: 4 filed program accomplishments · $392K in reported program spending
- Leadership: top reported pay $60K · 19 people listed
- Consistency: 24 of 24 current checks pass
- Schedules: 5 filed schedules · includes major donors
- Filing history: 4 filing years from 2021 to 2024
- Contacts: How to reach this organization
- Money network: 2 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.
- Review — Accountability: Governance controls: 3 of 7 not reported.
- Moderate — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 36/100.
- High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 7/100.
- High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 26/100.