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Nonprofiteer
← STEPPENWOLF THEATER CO

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by STEPPENWOLF THEATER CO.

Totals

Total revenue
$25,552,636
Total expenses
$20,617,692
Contributions and grants received
$16,557,664
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$7,023,939
Investment income
$1,587,095
Other revenue
$383,938
Total assets, end of year
$111,439,122
Total liabilities, end of year
$48,213,299
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$63,225,823
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$14,402,468
Management and general expenses
$4,214,177
Fundraising expenses
$2,001,047
Program service expenses (Part III)
$14,402,468

Program services were 69.9% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $1,465,874

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $335,000

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $14,756,790

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $422,804

  • 2a · Program service revenue: SUBSCRIPTION REVENUE

    total $5,221,709 · related or exempt $5,221,709

  • 2b · Program service revenue: TICKET REVENUE

    total $911,947 · related or exempt $911,947

  • 2c · Program service revenue: TICKET HANDLING INCOME

    total $622,872 · related or exempt $622,872

  • 2d · Program service revenue: PARKING INCOME

    total $152,468 · related or exempt $152,468

  • 2e · Program service revenue: COSTUME SALES

    total $50,503 · unrelated business $50,503

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $64,440 · related or exempt $64,440

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $1,132,783 · excluded $1,132,783

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $166 · excluded $166

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $216,150

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $216,150

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $216,150 · excluded $216,150

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $11,493,008 · other assets $69,808

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $11,108,504 · other assets $0

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $384,504 · other assets $69,808

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $454,312 · excluded $454,312

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $186,308

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $1,465,874

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $473,504

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$287,196 · excluded -$287,196

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $737,080

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $282,262

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $454,818 · related or exempt $390,485 · unrelated business $64,333

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,110,099 · program services $579,521 · management and general $360,899 · fundraising $169,679

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $7,685,053 · program services $5,308,331 · management and general $1,399,951 · fundraising $976,771

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $362,776 · program services $291,473 · management and general $58,422 · fundraising $12,881

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $839,989 · program services $543,908 · management and general $234,106 · fundraising $61,975

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $813,410 · program services $491,177 · management and general $266,958 · fundraising $55,275

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $168,400 · management and general $148,250 · fundraising $20,150

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $84,423 · management and general $84,423

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $67,829 · fundraising $67,829

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $61,387 · management and general $61,387

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $159,962 · program services $51,824 · management and general $82,893 · fundraising $25,245

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $874,817 · program services $874,817

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $88,066 · program services $23,041 · management and general $16,299 · fundraising $48,726

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $410,795 · program services $143,778 · management and general $164,318 · fundraising $102,699

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $395,021 · program services $395,021

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $1,088,251 · program services $500,596 · management and general $500,595 · fundraising $87,060

  • 17 · Travel

    total $508,799 · program services $453,784 · management and general $34,470 · fundraising $20,545

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $6,843 · program services $1,320 · management and general $5,523

  • 20 · Interest

    total $1,525,517 · program services $1,189,903 · management and general $244,083 · fundraising $91,531

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $2,701,151 · program services $2,227,104 · management and general $334,853 · fundraising $139,194

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $192,629 · program services $116,288 · management and general $62,861 · fundraising $13,480

  • 24a · Other expenses: DESIGN AND PRODUCTION F

    total $539,723 · program services $539,723

  • 24b · Other expenses: PRODUCTION MATERIALS

    total $352,804 · program services $352,804

  • 24c · Other expenses: BANK FEES

    total $281,340 · program services $219,446 · management and general $45,014 · fundraising $16,880

  • 24d · Other expenses: REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE

    total $103,733 · program services $30,394 · management and general $60,774 · fundraising $12,565

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $194,875 · program services $68,215 · management and general $48,098 · fundraising $78,562

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $21,525,785 · end of year $4,260,042

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $5,516,108 · end of year $12,419,436

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $25,129 · end of year $5,623

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $556,595 · end of year $680,982

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $85,436,506

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $24,306,410

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $63,310,167 · end of year $61,130,096

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $19,486,184 · end of year $31,538,712

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $2,522,760 · end of year $1,404,231

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $734,551 · end of year $1,116,613

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $1,772,565 · end of year $2,121,907

  • 20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

    beginning of year $48,587,832 · end of year $40,272,451

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $4,691,200 · end of year $4,702,328

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $44,988,590 · end of year $41,165,712

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $12,167,990 · end of year $22,060,111

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY STRIVES TO CREATE THRILLING, COURAGEOUS, AND PROVOCATIVE ART IN A THOUGHTFUL AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT. WE SUCCEED WHEN WE DISRUPT YOUR ROUTINE WITH EXPERIENCES THAT SPARK CURIOSITY, EMPATHY AND JOY. WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR ENSEMBLE AS WE NAVIGATE, TOGETHER, OUR COMPLEX WORLD.

Activities or mission (Part I)

STEPPENWOLF IS AMERICA'S LEADING ENSEMBLE THEATER AND ARTS EDUCATION CENTER.

  • IN SUPPORT OF OUR CORE ARTISTIC TENETS, WE SEEK TO 1) SERVE AS AN ARTISTIC HOME FOR OUR ENSEMBLE AND A LAUNCHING PAD FOR BOLD, NEW WORK; 2) AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF CHICAGO TEENS AND CULTIVATE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF ARTISTS AND ENTHUSIASTS; AND 3) PROVIDE A COLLABORATIVE SPACE FOR INDEPENDENT ARTISTS AND COMPANIES TO PROMOTE A STRONGER, SUSTAINABLE, AND VIBRANT ARTS COMMUNITY.STEPPENWOLF PRODUCES HUNDREDS OF PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS IN ITS THREE SPACES: THE 500-SEAT DOWNSTAIRS THEATER; THE 400-SEAT ENSEMBLE THEATER; AND THE 80-SEAT 1700 THEATER. ARTISTIC PROGRAMMING INCLUDES A MAIN STAGE SEASON OF NEW WORK AND REIMAGINED PLAYS; A TWO-PLAY STEPPENWOLF FOR YOUNG ADULTS SEASON; AND LOOKOUT, A MULTI-GENRE PERFORMANCE SERIES THAT GIVES A PLATFORM TO LOCAL EMERGING ARTISTS, QUINTESSENTIAL CHICAGO COMPANIES, AND YOUNG ASPIRING ENSEMBLES.IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, THE POST-PANDEMIC RECOVERY STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS LAUNCHED IN EARNEST AT STEPPENWOLF. THIS INCLUDED A REDUCTION IN FORCE AND TUNING OF PROGRAMMATIC SCOPE FOR THE INSTITUTION THAT REDUCED OVERALL EXPENSES YEAR OVER YEAR. THIS EFFORT ALSO PUT AN EMPHASIS ON EVOLVED PROGRAMING, INCREASED AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT AND NEW STRATEGIES FOR EARNED REVENUE. OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEASON, SIX PLAYS WERE PRODUCED ALONGSIDE LIMITED ENGAGEMENTS THAT RESULTED IN 425 PERFORMANCES. TOTAL ATTENDANCE NUMBERS REACHED 143,375 ACROSS THE COURSE OF THE SEASON. MARKETING STRATEGIES SHIFTED FROM PACKAGED SALES (SUBSCRIPTIONS) TO SINGLE TICKET ACQUISITION. AS A RESULT OF PROGRAMMING AND STRATEGY, TOTAL ATTENDANCE INCREASED 44% OVER FISCAL YEAR 2023. SINGLE TICKET REVENUES WERE UP BY $2.2 MILLION OVER THE PREVIOUS SEASON PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THREE PLAYS THAT HAD EXTRAORDINARILY SUCCESSFUL RUNS. PROGRAMMING IN THE EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT AREA REACHED MORE THAN 15,000 TEENS, EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS CHICAGO'S 77 NEIGHBORHOODS. TWO PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIONS ANCHORED THIS WORK THROUGH LIVE PERFORMANCES OFFERED AS FIELD TRIPS AS WELL AS WRAPAROUND CURRICULUM DEVELOPED FOR SCHOOLS. THE YOUNG ADULT COUNCIL, COMPRISED OF 30 PASSIONATE HIGH SCHOOL AGED TEENS WITH AN INTEREST IN THEATER, REPRESENTED SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS CHICAGO AS THEY ADVISED ON TEEN PROGRAM AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT FOR THE SEASON. THE SUITE OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS, IN SCHOOLS AND ACROSS OUR ARTISTIC CAMPUS, WERE ROOTED IN AN ETHOS OF ACCESSIBILITY AND BARRIER-FREE PROGRAMMING. BEYOND PARTNERSHIP WITH TEENS AND SCHOOLS, STEPPENWOLF INVESTED IN MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND ENSURED THAT THE PRINCIPALS THAT GUIDE OUR WORK BOTH ALIGN WITH AND PROVIDE ADDED VALUE TO OUR PARTNERS. WE COLLABORATED WITH MYRIAD PARTNERS ACROSS THE LITERACY SPACE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL SERVICES, LIBRARIES AND PARK DISTRICTS OF CHICAGO. STEPPENWOLF'S MULTI-GENRE PERFORMANCE SERIES, LOOKOUT, PRESENTED THE WORK OF A WIDE VARIETY OF CHICAGO-BASED INDEPENDENT ARTISTS AND COMPANIES ON A YEAR-ROUND BASIS. LOOKOUT PRODUCED APPROXIMATELY 200 PERFORMANCES OF 60 WORKS, FEATURING 500 ARTISTS. TO SUPPORT THE STRATEGIC PLAN, STEPPENWOLF LAUNCHED A FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE 2024 FISCAL YEAR. THE $35 MILLION GOAL IS TWO-FOLD: TO GENERATE FUNDS TO SAFEGUARD THE THEATER'S MISSION-DRIVEN WORK ON STAGE AND IN COMMUNITY, AND TO PAY DOWN THE EXISTING DEBT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CAMPUS EXPANSION PROJECT THAT ADDED A NEW PERFORMANCE VENUE (THE COMPANY NOW OPERATES A THREE THEATER CAMPUS) AND WORKSHOP SPACES TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING.

    Expenses $14,402,468 · Revenue $7,363,921

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Audrey Francis

    CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $285,670
    From this org
    $251,972
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,698
    Hours/week
    40 + 1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $251,972
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $18,012
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,686
    Filer's total
    $285,670
  • Glenn Davis

    CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $258,630
    From this org
    $249,610
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,020
    Hours/week
    40 + 1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $249,610
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $1,188
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,832
    Filer's total
    $258,630
  • Karen Rodriguez

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $28,271
    From this org
    $28,271
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Sandra Marquez

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $19,142
    From this org
    $19,142
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Yasen Peyankov

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $16,044
    From this org
    $16,044
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Verett Mims

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $1,000
    From this org
    $1,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Keating Crown

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Christopher M Murphy

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Carole L Brown

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Stephanie B Smith

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Aimee Graham

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Amy Bluhm

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Amy Eshleman

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Anne M Phillips

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Asheesh Goel

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Beth Boosalis Davis

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Brenda Robinson

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Bruce Sagan

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Bryce Cooper

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Bryan Traubert

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Cari B Sacks

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Chanel W Coney

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Chris Keogh

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Colette Cachey Smithburg

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • D Cameron Findlay

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • David Blowers Jr

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • David E Mendelsohn

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Deborah Quazzo

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Dennis Chookaszian

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Dennis D Howarter

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Douglas R Brown

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Elizabeth Ingram

    TRUSTEE - PART YEAR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Elliot A Stultz

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Helen Zell

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Jeff Jozwiak

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Jon Michael Hill

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • L Heather Mitchell

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Liz Kramer Lefkofsky

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Lynn Lockwood Murphy

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Matthew Shapiro

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Meredith Bluhm-Wolf

    TRUSTEE - PART YEAR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Michael Brennan

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Michael W Bender

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Nora Daley

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Paul Goodrich

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Racquel Harris

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Rebecca L Johnston

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Rich Feitler

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Ritu Dhingra

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Robert J Greenbaum Jr

    TRUSTEE - PART YEAR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Robert S Rivkin

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Ronald J Mallicoat Jr

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Susan O Berghoef

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Susan Stone

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Tarell Alvin McCraney

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Elizabeth Brooke Flanagan

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $368,115
    From this org
    $319,070
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $49,045
    Hours/week
    40 + 1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $319,070
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $34,971
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,074
    Filer's total
    $368,115
  • Eric Evenskaas

    DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $192,179
    From this org
    $161,156
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $31,023
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $161,156
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $22,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,523
    Filer's total
    $192,179
  • Thomas Pearl

    PRODUCING DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $145,396
    From this org
    $125,999
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,397
    Hours/week
    40
  • Maria Nondorf

    DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $129,548
    From this org
    $116,994
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,554
    Hours/week
    40
  • Pennymaria Jackson

    DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

    Total calculated
    $125,787
    From this org
    $117,122
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,665
    Hours/week
    40
  • Jennifer Hoyt

    DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS

    Total calculated
    $118,959
    From this org
    $106,747
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,212
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

  • STEPPENWOLF FOUNDATION I

    501(C)(3) · TO SUPPORT THE STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY'S THEATRE PROGRAMS · IL · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY

  • STEPPENWOLF FOUNDATION II

    501(C)(3) · TO SUPPORT THE STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY'S THEATRE PROGRAMS · IL · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
9 July 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202501959349301195

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