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Theatre for a New Audience Inc

EIN 13-3059081 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

As a New York home for Shakespeare and other contemporary playwrights, the author is at the heart of our mission. Theatre for a New Audience (TFANA) creates a dialogue between the language and ideas of Shakespeare and diverse authors, past and present, exploring the ever-changing forms of world theatre and expanding what is considered canonical. We build long-term associations with artists from around the world and support their development through productions, commissions, and residencies.

Income
$6.7 million
Spending
$8.7 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
293
Highest pay
$566,607, pres/ad/ceo

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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 36 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

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or 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)
  1. $7.1 million spent. THE THEATRES 2024-2025 ARTISTIC SEASONIn 2024-2025, the Theatre celebrated its 46th Season with four thrilling productions: the World Premiere of Ethan Liptons We Are Your Robots, directed by Leigh Silverman and co-produced with Rattlestick Theater; William Shakespeares Henry IV, adapted by Dakin Matthews into one three-act play, directed by Eric Tucker; the Off-Broadway Premiere of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinkas The Swamp Dwellers, directed by Awoye Timpo; and the World Premiere of Taylor Macs Prosperous Fools, directed by Darko Tresnjak and starring Mac. In addition, the Theatres 2022 production of The Merchant of Venice, directed by Arin Arbus and featuring John Douglas Thompson as Shylock, toured to the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh. Overall in the 2024-2025 Season, the Theatres productions and programs served a diverse audience of nearly 21,000 people in the New York region and over 14,000 in Edinburgh.ARTS IN EDUCATIONIn the 2024-2025 Season, the Theatre continued its nearly four-decade-long partnership with the New York City Department of Education by providing its two 10-week arts in education programsWorld Theatre Project (WTP) and New Voices Project (NVP) to students and teachers throughout New York City. The programs served 1,184 students and 83 teachers in 55 classrooms at 13 New York City Public Schools.ACCESS, ENGAGEMENT AND HUMANITIESThe Theatre is dedicated to providing access to a broad and diverse audience through a variety of low-cost ticket initiatives. the Theatre offers open-captioned performances for the deaf and hard of hearing at one weekend performance per production.The Theatre invites audiences of all ages to engage with the language and ideas of the Theatres productions through its free Humanities Programs. In the 2024-2025 Season, the Theatre engaged 1,196 people with 14 TFANA Talks post-show discussions with the productions casts, creative teams, and eminent scholars. These included four New Deal Night talkbacks for young audiences, and community affinity nights including Africa Night, Black Theatre Night, and Pride Night, which were each followed by a free post-show celebration. For each mainstage production, the Theatres online dramaturgical publication and digital program the 360 Viewfinder offered context on the plays themes and interviews with the creative teams. The four 360 Viewfinders for the 2024-2025 Season were read online 16,289 times.THE STUDIOThrough the Merle Debuskey Studio program, the Theatre offered Reasons to Go Places, a free two-day directing seminar for 12 early-career directors, led by Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher. Project in development in the 2024-2025 Season included workshops for the World Premiere of Prosperous Fools by Taylor Mac and for a new production of Shakespeares Coriolanus directed by Ash Tata.

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

  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 November 6, 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 August 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 December 1981.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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