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Nonprofiteer
← GREAT RIVER SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by GREAT RIVER SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL.

Totals

Total revenue
$798,956
Total expenses
$866,200
Contributions and grants received
$647,414
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$141,740
Investment income
$507
Other revenue
$9,295
Total assets, end of year
$418,665
Total liabilities, end of year
$514,700
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
-$96,035
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$666,825
Management and general expenses
$133,449
Fundraising expenses
$65,926
Program service expenses (Part III)
$666,825

Program services were 77.0% 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.

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $10,000

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $637,414

  • 2a · Program service revenue: BOX OFFICE INCOME

    total $130,440 · related or exempt $130,440

  • 2b · Program service revenue: EDUCATION PROGRAM INCO

    total $11,300 · related or exempt $11,300

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $507 · excluded $507

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $2,642

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $7,622

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$4,980 · excluded -$4,980

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $7,777

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $6,101

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $1,676 · excluded $1,676

  • 11a · Other revenue: OTHER INCOME

    total $12,599 · related or exempt $12,599

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $12,599

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $542,199 · program services $451,289 · management and general $46,247 · fundraising $44,663

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $84,561 · program services $71,344 · management and general $6,815 · fundraising $6,402

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $26,279 · program services $2,505 · management and general $23,720 · fundraising $54

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $25,622 · program services $20,928 · management and general $288 · fundraising $4,406

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $4,960 · program services $2,674 · management and general $1,104 · fundraising $1,182

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $20,827 · program services $11,688 · management and general $2,939 · fundraising $6,200

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $68,877 · program services $40,705 · management and general $28,172

  • 17 · Travel

    total $20,244 · program services $20,244

  • 20 · Interest

    total $6,747 · management and general $6,747

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $4,911 · program services $3,202 · management and general $1,709

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $17,968 · program services $10,376 · management and general $7,592

  • 24a · Other expenses: SUPPLIES

    total $25,125 · program services $22,840 · management and general $2,285

  • 24b · Other expenses: DUES & FEES

    total $11,937 · program services $5,649 · management and general $3,982 · fundraising $2,306

  • 24c · Other expenses: EQUIPMENT RENTAL & MAIN

    total $4,620 · program services $2,771 · management and general $1,849

  • 24d · Other expenses: DONOR DEVELOPMENT

    total $713 · fundraising $713

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $610 · program services $610

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $48,017 · end of year $31,277

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $35,977 · end of year $42,821

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $51,732 · end of year $82,298

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $2,547 · end of year $1,720

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $1,200

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

    $66,506

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

    $56,235

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $15,181 · end of year $10,271

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $250,278

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $60,602 · end of year $82,584

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $23,428 · end of year $20,841

  • 20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

    end of year $90,000

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $99,415 · end of year $69,976

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $251,299

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year -$169,620 · end of year -$223,700

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $140,829 · end of year $127,665

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

TO ENRICH PEOPLE'S LIVES BY CREATING DYNAMIC, CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD PRODUCTIONS OF SHAKESPEARE AND OTHER PLAYWRIGHTS WHO CELEBRATE THE SPOKEN WORD. IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION, GRSF ENGAGES AND SUSTAINS A HIGHLY-SKILLED COMPANY OF THEATER PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING EQUITY ACTORS.

  • CREATION OF ART: GRSF PRODUCED THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, ROMEO AND JULIET, AND PRESENTED A GRADUATE STUDENT PRODUCTION OF THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA. PERFORMANCES TOTALED 36 OVER THE FIVE-WEEK PERIOD FROM JUNE 26-JULY 27, 2025. REHEARSALS, SET CONSTRUCTION, AND PROP & COSTUME CREATION OCCURRED DURING THE FIVE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF THE PERFORMANCES. ATTENDANCE FOR THE THREE PLAYS WAS 5,048. THIS WAS A SLIGHT DECLINE FROM TOTAL ATTENDANCE IN 2024. THE PRODUCTION OF THE COMEDY OF ERRORS INCLUDED SECTIONS ATTRIBUTED TO SHAKESPEARE FROM THE PLAY SIR THOMAS MORE WHICH HIGHLIGHTED THE PLIGHT OF THE "STRANGER." THIS FIT THE CONTEXT OF BOTH THE ORIGINAL PLAY AND OUR OWN SITUATION IN THE USA. ROMEO AND JULIET WAS DIRECTED FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE NURSE WHO PROVIDED THE CHORUS NARRATION AS WELL AS REMAINED ON STAGE THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE MEMORY PLAY. HER OMNIPRESENCE ON STAGE HELPED THE AUDIENCE SEE THEMSELVES (THE MAJORITY BEING ADULTS) IN THE TRAGIC STORY OF THESE YOUNG LOVERS. ONE AUDIENCE MEMBER EXPRESSED, "I'M ADDICTED TO THE CREATIVITY [OF THIS COMPANY]." CRITICS WROTE: "UNFORTUNATELY, THE IDEAS OF DIVISION AND EXCLUSION ARE EXTREMELY RELEVANT AND RELATABLE RIGHT NOW, AND IT FEELS HEALING AND HOPEFUL TO WATCH THESE TWO EXAMPLES OF A WAY OUT AND THROUGH TO MORE CONNECTION, ACKNOWLEDGING OUR SHARED HUMANITY AND "IT'S ONE OF THE BEST PRODUCTIONS OF ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCED PLAYS OF SHAKESPEARE'S THAT I'VE SEEN."

    Expenses $579,064 · Revenue $128,735

  • AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: THE FESTIVAL HOSTED FOUR POST-SHOW DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CAST AND AUDIENCE MEMBERS. AUDIENCES WANTED TO EXPLORE THE CLEVER CREATION OF CHARACTERS IN THE COMEDY OF ERRORS USING RECORDED VIDEO, PUPPETS, AND THE SAME ACTOR PLAYING THEIR OWN TWIN. THEY ALSO INQUIRED ABOUT THE VIOLENCE "MASTER AND "SERVANT" RELATIONSHIPS AND HOW THAT IS PERCEIVED IN OUR MODERN WORLD. FOR ROMEO AND JULIET, THERE WAS MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT THE DECISION TO APPROACH THE SHOW AS A MEMORY PLAY AND HOW THE SHOW REFLECTS THE POLARIZATION IN OUR PRESENT SOCIETY. TO THAT END, THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO BRING 400 YEAR-OLD TEXTS INTO MODERN LIFE WITH A RECOGNITION THAT EMOTIONS SUCH AS GRIEF AND LOVE ARE STILL EVERPRESENT. ADDITIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS INCLUDED FIVE SUNDAY MORNING PANEL DISCUSSIONS AT A LOCAL COFFEE HOUSE. EACH FEATURED A DIFFERENT ASPECT OF THEATRICAL PRODUCTION AND VARIED MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY. AIRED ON FACEBOOK LIVE, EACH PANEL TOOK QUESTIONS FROM THE LIVE AUDIENCE AS WELL AS ONLINE PARTICIPANTS. DEDICATED PERFORMANCES WERE SET UP AS "FIDGET FRIENDLY AND TWO PERFORMANCES WERE TRANSLATED IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AND AUDIO DESCRIBED FOR THE DEAF.

    Expenses $64,340 · Revenue $14,304

  • EDUCATION: THREE COURSES WERE OFFERED: WILL'S CREATIVE DRAMA (FOR AGES 4 - 2ND GRADE), WILL'S POWER PLAYERS (FOR 3RD - 6TH GRADE), AND SHAKESPEARE FOR YOUNG ACTORS (FOR 7TH - 12TH GRADE). TOTAL ENROLLMENT OF 38 STUDENTS. ALL OF THE CLASSES WERE TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF MEMBERS OF THE ACTING COMPANY AT THE FESTIVAL. A 90-MINUTE PRODUCTION OF TWELFTH NIGHT (CREATED AND PERFORMED BY THE 7TH - 12TH GRADERS) WAS PRESENTED TO AN AUDIENCE OF 200 FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. SEVEN STUDENTS RECEIVED FULL OR PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT IN 2025, THE SAME NUMBER AS IN 2024. EVERYONE WHO REQUESTED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE RECEIVED IT. ENROLLMENT FOR THE YOUNGER-AGED PROGRAMS WAS DOWN FROM LAST YEAR. SEPARATELY, THE FESTIVAL RAN A FRIDAY AFTERNOON PROGRAM, CHILL WITH WILL, THAT FEATURED A THEATRICAL WORKSHOP PAIRED WITH A PERFORMANCE OF ONE OF THE TWO MAINSTAGE SHOWS. THIS ACTIVITY, FREE FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL-AGED STUDENTS, ATTRACTED 58 YOUTHS OVER FOUR WEEKS. WORKSHOPS FOCUSED ON STAGE COMBAT, CLOWNING, CREATING TWINS ONSTAGE USING THE SAME ACTOR, AND EXPLORING THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE AND GRIEF.

    Expenses $23,421 · Revenue $11,300

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Alan Leonhardt

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Amy Jo Marks

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Beth Forkner Moe

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Cherisa Broadwater

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Gaby Peterson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Gary Diomandes

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jack Hedin

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jacquelyn Banicki

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jill Krase

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kelley Olson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kris Blanchard

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Mary Adams

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mary Alice Anderson

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Paul Mundt

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Tom Stoa

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Aaron Young

    MANAGING DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $89,943
    From this org
    $89,943
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    50

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.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
7 July 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.5
Source object
202631979349301763

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