The Movement Theatre Company Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

We kicked off the year with a 2-day retreat with strategic planner Dafina McMillan, Development Consultant Megan Carter and our Board, focusing on new organizational language, defining the pillars of our strategic plan and organizational goals. Our strategic plan with McMillan wrapped in October and included: the creation of robust cash flow tools to reach long-term financial goals, we also clarified Producing Artistic Leader job descriptions, identified two new positions (Part-time General Manager and Project Manager/Producer) who we plan to hire in 2026, and built an interactive road map with action items to reach our long-term financial and organizational goals. We found many folks in our community were in need of unabashed connection and joy in early 2025. In response, we hosted a series of dance parties and community gatherings titled JOYFUL DEFIANCE. Two at Harlem mainstay Silvana and one in partnership with Playwrights Horizons and Soho Rep in June. We continued our work with our NYSCA-commissioned playwright, Sam Hamashima, on their new play TAMAGO. Under the direction of Nicholas Polonio, and featuring actors Alex Gibson and Daniel Liu, Hamashima explored their science fiction world of transracial surgery and queer envy, ending in a 29-hour workshop that was attended by an at-capacity audience at Playwrights Horizons, including many first-time Movement attendees. We also continued development on Eric Lockleys SWEET CHARIOT, pairing Eric with a dramaturg to consider the bigger picture of the piece as we work towards a script and design workshop in 2026.This fall we co-produced MEXODUS with P3 Productions & Audible theater and THE ESSENTIALISNT with HERE Arts Center. MEXODUS, a live-looping hip-hop musical written and performed by Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson and directed by Producing Artistic Leader, David Mendizbal, told the story of the underground railroad that went south through Mexico. In addition to providing financial resources, strategizing with the lead producers around audience development, hosting special events, and organizing a student matinee for over 250 NYC public school students, we provided integral creative support to Mendizbal. THE ESSENTIALISNT written, performed and directed by Eisa Davis asks the provocative question Can you be Black and not perform. Davis takes the audience on a journey from the shores of Africa to the depths of the modern-day Black femme experience through song, video, and captivating plunges into a Davis-sized water tank. Supporting one of Davis most personal and genre-bending works with values-aligned organization, HERE Arts Center, highlighted the importance of being in relationship with work over timefollowing artists and projects through their development and stepping in when we can make meaningful impact.We also participated in the nationwide activation FALL OF FREEDOM and hosted SONGS OF FREEDOM in collaboration with Troy Anthony & The Fire Ensemble, Creative Legacy Project, The Peoples Theater and EMERGE125, all uptown BIPOC arts organizations at El Barrios ArtSpace PS109.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 25.7%; rating input score 26
• Program expense ratio: 44.6%; rating input score 45
• Fundraising efficiency: $6.9 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 24; 24th percentile among comparable filings

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: 77.8%; rating input score 78; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 42.5%; rating input score 88; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.23; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 35.8%; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -3.7% per year; rating input score 0; 8th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 22.7% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 25.9% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings