Second Stage Theatre
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
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 THEATRE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE IS TO GIVE NEW LIFE TO CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN PLAYS AND TO PRODUCE THE WORLD PREMIERES OF NEW PLAYS BY BOTH ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING PLAYWRIGHTS. A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF ITS PURPOSE IS THEATRE EDUCATION, WHICH IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH SPECIAL PERFORMANCES FOR NEW YORK CITY SCHOOL CHILDREN, SUBSCRIBER DISCUSSIONS WITH THEATRE ARTISTS AND AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.
- Income
- $24.6 million
- Spending
- $25.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- -3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 65%
- Employees
- 946
- Volunteers
- 836
- Highest pay
- $638,145, president/art dir. thru 8/2024
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 37% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2534 of 35 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (1)
- $18.6 million spent. Second Stage presented five shows during the 2024-2025 season. The season opened with "WALDEN" by Amy Berryman, which ran at the Tony Kiser Theater from October 17 to November 24, 2024. This play explored themes of environmental stewardship and human ambition through the story of two sisters confronting their diverging paths. Helmed by Whitney White, this production reached 11,532 theatergoers. Next, Leslye Headlan's "CULT OF LOVE" ran at the Helen Hayes Theater from November 20, 2024 to February 2, 2025. Directed by Trip Cullman, this play followed the Dahl family during the holiday season. Inquiring about the forces that separate and hold families together, the play followed the return of the family's adult children to their childhood home along with their partners. Old conflicts resurface, new issues battled, and dinner is taking forever. It welcomed 43,619 audience members. In early spring, we co-presented the Steppenwolf Theater Company production of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' "PURPOSE, which ran at the Helen Hayes Theater from February 25 to August 31, 2025 and reached 83,293 people. Directed by Phylicia Rashad, this epic family drama followed the Jasper family, a pillar of Black American Politics. When the youngest son returns home, the family is forced into a reckoning with itself, its faith and the legacies of Black radicalism. This production received the Tony Award for Original Play and for Actress in a Featured Role (Kara Young). To finish the season, we produced Donald Margulies' "LUNAR ECLIPSE", directed by Kate Whoriskey. This production took place at the Irene Diamond Theater at the Pershing Square Signature Center between May 14 to June 22, 2025, and had 11,560 attendees. This moving play followed George and Em, a long-married couple watching a lunar eclipse. The play explored what it means to grow old together through the themes of legacy, children, and dogs. Each production was accompanied by a variety of activities, including post-show talkbacks and conversations with cast members and creative teams. A TOTAL OF 152,924 ATTENDEES ENGAGED WITH THE PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES MENTIONED ABOVE. We also distributed 13,794 free tickets and 29,482 discounted tickets via the Affordable Ticket Initiative. Finally, our student matinee reached 271 students throughout our productions. Student matinees also include a study guide and a talk-back with the cast and creative team after the show. Throughout the season, we continued our new play development initiatives via a full production of one play for a four-week run, four free public readings, a reading of a musical in development, and a writer-focused development lab. We produced "ON THE EVOLUTIONARY FUNCTION OF SHAME" by D.A. Mindel, and hosted readings of "THE SINGULARITY PLAY" by Jay Stull, "WIPEOUT" by Real De Asua, and "YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO THE END OF THE WORLD" by Keiko Green. We also hosted a one-night-only reading of the new musical INSIDE VOICES by Ross Golan and Danielle Koenig. FY25 marked our third year hosting the Lark Playwright's Workshop, a playwright's group where six writers work on new plays. Across multiple sessions over three months, professional actors read scenes and new pages followed by feedback from other writers, actors, and mentors.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1980.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.