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Northern Stage Company

EIN 04-3387268 · White Riv Jct, VT

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO CHANGE LIVES ONE STORY AT A TIME. ITS PURPOSE IS TO CREATE, PRODUCE AND PROMOTE THE ARTS BY PRESENTING PROFESSIONAL THEATER IN AN INTIMATE SETTING. THE ORGANIZATION IS ALSO COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG ARTISTS THROUGH PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES AND PRODUCTION EXPERIENCES.

Income
$7.7 million
Spending
$6.4 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-15.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
88
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$136,464, prod. artist

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 19 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $4.8 million spent. THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS - THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS 4-6 MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS FROM JUNE TO MAY. OPERATING UNDER A LORT-D CONTRACT WITH ACTORS' EQUITY, THE ORGANIZATION DRAWS TALENT FROM THE REGION AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING MANY WITH BROADWAY, REGIONAL THEATER, AND NATIONAL TOUR CREDITS. SEASONS INCLUDE COMEDIES, DRAMAS, MUSICALS FROM THE CLASSIC CANNON, NEW SHOWS FRESH FROM BROADWAY AND LONDON'S WEST END, AND WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTIONS. THE ORGANIZATION IS ALSO COMMITTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW WORKS FOR THE AMERICAN THEATER WITH ITS NEW WORKS NOW FESTIVAL OF STAGED READINGS AND NEW PLAY READINGS AND WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. THE THEATER ALSO HOSTS, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, THE BOLD THEATER WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CIRCLE WHICH NURTURES EMERGING WOMEN DIRECTORS, PLAYWRIGHTS AND DESIGNERS IN A MAJOR NATIONAL PROGRAM. BOLD ARTISTS WORK FREQUENTLY ON AND OFFSTAGE AT NORTHERN STAGE. THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS - THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS 4-6 MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS FROM JUNE TO MAY. OPERATING UNDER A LORT-D CONTRACT WITH ACTORS' EQUITY, THE ORGANIZATION DRAWS TALENT FROM THE REGION AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING MANY WITH BROADWAY, REGIONAL THEATER, AND NATIONAL TOUR CREDITS. SEASONS INCLUDE COMEDIES, DRAMAS, MUSICALS FROM THE CLASSIC CANNON, NEW SHOWS FRESH FROM BROADWAY AND LONDON'S WEST END, AND WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTIONS. THE ORGANIZATION IS ALSO COMMITTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW WORKS FOR THE AMERICAN THEATER WITH ITS NEW WORKS NOW FESTIVAL OF STAGED READINGS AND NEW PLAY READINGS AND WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. THE THEATER ALSO HOSTS, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, THE BOLD THEATER WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CIRCLE WHICH NURTURES EMERGING WOMEN DIRECTORS, PLAYWRIGHTS AND DESIGNERS IN A MAJOR NATIONAL PROGRAM. BOLD ARTISTS WORK FREQUENTLY ON AND OFFSTAGE AT NORTHERN STAGE.
  2. $431,322 spent. EDUCATION - AT THE HEART OF NORTHERN STAGE'S MISSION TO CHANGE LIVES ONE STORY AT A TIME, IS OUR WORK WITH STUDENTS OF ALL AGES. WE VALUE EDUCATION AND OFFER PROGRAMS THAT NURTURE, DELIGHT, AND CHALLENGE THE GENERATIONS OF THEATER LOVERS. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS STUDENTS OF ALL AGES A YEAR-ROUND SCHEDULE OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING WORKSHOPS, CLASSES, AND SUMMER CAMPS. THE PROGRAMS ARE TAUGHT BY WORKING THEATER PROFESSIONALS. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION PRODUCES A THEATER INTENSIVE EACH SUMMER FOR STUDENTS AGES 12-18, WHICH INCLUDES FOUR WEEKS OF REHEARSAL AND CULMINATES IN A ONE-TWO WEEK RUN OF A FULLY-STAGED, FULY-REALIZED THEATER WORK. INTEGRAL TO THE ORGANIZATION'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS IS THE YOUTH ENSEMBLE STUDIO YES), A GROUP OF YOUNG ACTORS WHO DEVELOP, REHEARSE, AND PERFORM WORK AT THE ORGANIZATION.BRIDGEUP: THEATER IN THE SCHOOLS HAS OPERATED SINCE 2017. BRIDGEUP IS AN EIGHT-WEEK IN-SCHOOL THEATER PROGRAM WITH A MISSION TO INCREASE THEATER ACCESS AND LEARNING RESOURCES THROUGH SHAKESPEARE IN THE SCHOOLS AND MUSICAL THEATRE IN THE SCHOOLS RESIDENCIES. ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND REPORT DIRECTLY THE PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR. EDUCATION - AT THE HEART OF NORTHERN STAGE'S MISSION TO CHANGE LIVES ONE STORY AT A TIME, IS OUR WORK WITH STUDENTS OF ALL AGES. WE VALUE EDUCATION AND OFFER PROGRAMS THAT NURTURE, DELIGHT, AND CHALLENGE THE GENERATIONS OF THEATER LOVERS. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS STUDENTS OF ALL AGES A YEAR-ROUND SCHEDULE OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING WORKSHOPS, CLASSES, AND SUMMER CAMPS. THE PROGRAMS ARE TAUGHT BY WORKING THEATER PROFESSIONALS. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION PRODUCES A THEATER INTENSIVE EACH SUMMER FOR STUDENTS AGES 12-18, WHICH INCLUDES FOUR WEEKS OF REHEARSAL AND CULMINATES IN A ONE-TWO WEEK RUN OF A FULLY-STAGED, FULY-REALIZED THEATER WORK. INTEGRAL TO THE ORGANIZATION'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS IS THE YOUTH ENSEMBLE STUDIO YES), A GROUP OF YOUNG ACTORS WHO DEVELOP, REHEARSE, AND PERFORM WORK AT THE ORGANIZATION.BRIDGEUP: THEATER IN THE SCHOOLS HAS OPERATED SINCE 2017. BRIDGEUP IS AN EIGHT-WEEK IN-SCHOOL THEATER PROGRAM WITH A MISSION TO INCREASE THEATER ACCESS AND LEARNING RESOURCES THROUGH SHAKESPEARE IN THE SCHOOLS AND MUSICAL THEATRE IN THE SCHOOLS RESIDENCIES. ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND REPORT DIRECTLY THE PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1998.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.