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Nonprofiteer
← STEPPENWOLF THEATER CO

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by STEPPENWOLF THEATER CO.

Totals

Total revenue
$27,973,239
Total expenses
$21,343,251
Contributions and grants received
$19,648,074
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$5,855,156
Investment income
$2,055,366
Other revenue
$414,643
Total assets, end of year
$119,052,173
Total liabilities, end of year
$42,525,951
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$76,526,222
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$14,743,397
Management and general expenses
$4,220,123
Fundraising expenses
$2,379,731
Program service expenses (Part III)
$14,743,397

Program services were 69.1% 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

    $1,734,652

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $183,420

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $17,730,002

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $536,881

  • 2a · Program service revenue: SUBSCRIPTION REVENUE

    total $4,178,963 · related or exempt $4,178,963

  • 2b · Program service revenue: TICKET REVENUE

    total $579,320 · related or exempt $579,320

  • 2c · Program service revenue: TOUR INCOME

    total $437,506 · related or exempt $437,506

  • 2d · Program service revenue: TICKET HANDLING INCOME

    total $433,542 · related or exempt $433,542

  • 2e · Program service revenue: COSTUME SALES

    total $53,037 · unrelated business $53,037

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $172,788 · related or exempt $172,788 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $1,166,806 · excluded $1,166,806

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $67,011 · excluded $67,011

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $195,091

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $195,091 · personal property $0

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $195,091 · excluded $195,091

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $16,053,216 · other assets $50,522

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

    securities $15,215,178 · other assets $0

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $838,038 · other assets $50,522

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $888,560 · excluded $888,560

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $145,115

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

    $1,734,652

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $438,220

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$293,105 · excluded -$293,105

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $688,000

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $242,354

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $445,646 · related or exempt $422,361 · unrelated business $23,285

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $0

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $903,378 · program services $371,891 · management and general $359,893 · fundraising $171,594

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $8,420,292 · program services $5,790,390 · management and general $1,500,216 · fundraising $1,129,686

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $456,801 · program services $329,836 · management and general $73,609 · fundraising $53,356

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $856,337 · program services $589,764 · management and general $172,267 · fundraising $94,306

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $706,608 · program services $454,181 · management and general $151,742 · fundraising $100,685

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $63,622 · management and general $11,214 · fundraising $52,408

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $74,892 · management and general $74,892

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $32,307 · fundraising $32,307

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $63,466 · management and general $63,466

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $167,948 · program services $42,749 · management and general $170,313 · fundraising -$45,114

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $495,154 · program services $495,154

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $76,985 · program services $18,548 · management and general $5,375 · fundraising $53,062

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $436,172 · program services $152,660 · management and general $174,469 · fundraising $109,043

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $308,769 · program services $308,769

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $1,143,226 · program services $525,884 · management and general $525,884 · fundraising $91,458

  • 17 · Travel

    total $631,453 · program services $521,170 · management and general $44,057 · fundraising $66,226

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $5,478 · management and general $3,210 · fundraising $2,268

  • 20 · Interest

    total $1,343,187 · program services $1,047,686 · management and general $214,910 · fundraising $80,591

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $2,733,428 · program services $2,186,742 · management and general $410,015 · fundraising $136,671

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $258,784 · program services $110,607 · management and general $115,642 · fundraising $32,535

  • 24a · Other expenses: Repairs and Maintenance

    total $134,395 · program services $37,180 · management and general $80,676 · fundraising $16,539

  • 24b · Other expenses: Production Materials

    total $438,316 · program services $438,316

  • 24c · Other expenses: Design and Production Fees

    total $437,024 · program services $437,024

  • 24d · Other expenses: Bank Fees

    total $206,165 · program services $160,809 · management and general $32,986 · fundraising $12,370

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $949,064 · program services $724,037 · management and general $35,287 · fundraising $189,740

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $4,260,042 · end of year $2,298,717

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $12,419,436 · end of year $17,611,290

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $5,623 · end of year $109,579

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $680,982 · end of year $630,585

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

    $88,441,618

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

    $28,911,742

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $61,130,096 · end of year $59,529,876

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $31,538,712 · end of year $37,571,138

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $1,404,231 · end of year $1,300,988

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $1,116,613 · end of year $845,369

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $2,121,907 · end of year $1,945,564

  • 20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

    beginning of year $40,272,451 · end of year $39,735,018

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $4,702,328 · end of year $0

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $41,165,712 · end of year $44,940,080

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $22,060,111 · end of year $31,586,142

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

STEPPENWOLF THEATRE 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.

Activities or mission (Part I)

STEPPENWOLF IS AMERICA'S PREMIERE 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 SEASON OF PRODUCED NEW WORK AND REIMAGINED PLAYS; PRESENTATIONS OF CABARET, COMEDY AND MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ARTISTS; LIVE PERFORMANCES AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMING FOR TEEN AUDIENCES; AND LOOKOUT, A MULTI-GENRE PERFORMANCE SERIES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, STEPPENWOLF'S POST-PANDEMIC RECOVERY STRATEGIC PLAN CONTINUED FOR ITS SECOND YEAR. THIS FOLLOWED AN INITIAL REDUCTION IN FORCE AND TUNING OF PROGRAMMATIC SCOPE FOR THE INSTITUTION IN THE PREVIOUS SEASON 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, FIVE PLAYS WERE PRODUCED ALONGSIDE LIMITED ENGAGEMENTS THAT RESULTED IN 400 PERFORMANCES. TOTAL ATTENDANCE NUMBERS REACHED 100,000 ACROSS THE COURSE OF THE SEASON. MARKETING STRATEGIES SHIFTED FROM PACKAGED SALES (SUBSCRIPTIONS) TO SINGLE TICKET ACQUISITION. PROGRAMMING IN THE EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT AREA REACHED NEARLY 15,000 TEENS, EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS CHICAGO'S 77 NEIGHBORHOODS. FOUR OF THE THEATER'S 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 PRINCIPLES 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 110 PERFORMANCES OF 30 WORKS, FEATURING 300 ARTISTS AND ENGAGING 7,500 AUDIENCE MEMBERS. THE RESULTING REVENUE PROVIDED MORE THAN $100,000 TO LOCAL ARTISTS. TO SUPPORT THE STRATEGIC PLAN, STEPPENWOLF CONTINUED A FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN (LAUNCHED 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 $14,743,397 · Revenue $6,224,480

As filed on the 2024 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Carole L Brown

    TREASURER

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

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Keating Crown

    PRESIDENT

    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
  • Bryan Traubert

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Bryce Cooper

    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

    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
  • Elliot A Stultz

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Helen Zell

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Hubert Allen

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Jeff Jozwiak

    TRUSTEE

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

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $18,276
    From this org
    $18,276
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Karen Rodriguez

    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
  • Marilynn Rubio

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Matthew Shapiro

    TRUSTEE

    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
  • Michelle Adams

    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 S Rivkin

    TRUSTEE

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

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Sandra Marquez

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Sarah Norris

    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
    $10,000
    From this org
    $10,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Verett Mims

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Yasen Peyankov

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Audrey Francis

    CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $276,708
    From this org
    $253,875
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,833
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $253,875
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,678
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,155
    Filer's total
    $276,708
  • Elizabeth Brooke Flanagan

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $359,893
    From this org
    $326,288
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,605
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $326,288
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $25,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,605
    Filer's total
    $359,893
  • Glenn Davis

    CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $266,777
    From this org
    $251,972
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,805
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $251,972
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,422
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,383
    Filer's total
    $266,777
  • Eric Evenskaas

    DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $193,873
    From this org
    $166,791
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $27,082
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $166,791
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $22,279
    Nontaxable benefits
    $4,803
    Filer's total
    $193,873
  • Jennifer Hoyt

    DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS

    Total calculated
    $122,503
    From this org
    $118,484
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,019
    Hours/week
    40
  • Maria Nondorf

    DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $138,592
    From this org
    $121,696
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,896
    Hours/week
    40
  • Pennymaria Jackson

    DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATION

    Total calculated
    $123,351
    From this org
    $120,714
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $2,637
    Hours/week
    40
  • Thomas Pearl

    PRODUCING DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $158,131
    From this org
    $140,536
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,595
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $140,536
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $17,595
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $158,131

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.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
17 June 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.1
Source object
202621689349300922

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