Transport Group Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PRODUCING AND DEVELOPING PLAYS AND MUSICALS.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 8.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 49%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $112,400, artistic dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 37% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 2522 of 22 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
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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)
- $960,573 spent. Transport Group is a New York-based off-Broadway theatre company that stages new works and radically reimagined revivals by American writers. Co-founded in 2001 by Jack Cummings III and Robyn Hussa, Transport Group is currently led by Cummings as Artistic Director and Denise Dickens as Executive Director. Since our founding, Transport Group has crafted risk-taking, thoughtful, and acclaimed productions of plays and musicals that invite audiences and artists to collaboratively explore what we mean by "American identity." We have produced a total of 37 shows (16 new works and 21 revivals), including 5 commissioned works, 12 world premieres, and 3 New York premieres, featuring work by innovative theater-makers as well as industry luminaries such as Eugene O'Neill, Tennessee Williams, William Inge, and Edward Albee.Each year, Transport Group aims to mount two American plays or musicals in mainstage off-Broadway productions. When planning our season, we take into account the scope and scale of each work, always prioritizing artistic integrity and high-quality production values. Each season also includes extensive development processes including readings, developmental labs, workshops, concerts, and other special events that put artistic exploration at the forefront. Productions are attended by 4,000 to 8,000 people annually, with concerts, events, and workshops drawing an additional 500 to 800. Our audiences are theatergoers in the New York tri-state area.Transport Group invests deeply in artists. We are one of the few companies commissioning both plays and musicals, and we approach revivals with the same rigor as new works, reimagining canonical texts so that each production could only have emerged from the specific voices and imaginations of the artists in the room. Our development process is customized for each project, and we commit fully to the journey from commission to premiere, allowing a uniquely American voice to emerge.ARTISTIC PROGRAMMING | Our annual programming includes:MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS: Each year, Transport Group aims to mount 1 to 2 American plays or musicals in mainstage Off-Broadway productions. Our new works tackle challenging, provocative topics relevant to contemporary audiences, while our revivals provide a springboard to encounter rarely-produced classic material.THE 20TH CENTURY PROJECT: Launched in 2011, this initiative excavates our countrys growth and change in the last 100 years through a multi-year, ten-production cycle to explore the American experience and identity particular to each decade of the 20th century.ANNE L. BERNSTEIN CONCERT SERIES: This series celebrates treasured American musicals through one-night only events, featuring full orchestras performing original orchestrations of classic works. THE JOANNA & STEVEN SANDERS NEW WORKS PROGRAM: This program supports playwrights, librettists, and composers throughout the creative process, culminating in a fully realized production.2025-26 SEASON | Transport Group has demonstrated strong commitment to commissioning, developing, and producing new pieces by American writers and composers. Since our founding, about half our artistic output has been world or New York City premieres. Our 2025-26 season focuses on the development of a new works pipeline and resource-intensive musicals, providing as much public access as possible to these works-in-progress. Already this season, we returned to the New London Barn Playhouse in Sept. 2025 with five public performances of THE PET PROJECT, book by Laurie Graff and score by Nancy Shayne. Also in Sept. 2025, MOURNING SONGS by Ryan Langer was featured in the Aspen Solo Flights Festival. In Oct. 2025, Transport Group commissioned a new play from Mona Pirnot, an acclaimed playwright whose work has been celebrated across the country. On Feb. 13, 2026, we presented a 29-hour reading of Kirsten Guenthers OUR TABLE, building on development begun in June 2025. Also in February, Transport Group presented a 29-hour reading and public presentation of THE FLOWERS by Obie Award winner Adam Bock, giving audiences a first look at new creative developments and providing the author and director with insights for a potential future production.In March 2026, Transport Group conducted a two-week workshop of OUR TABLE, culminating in two public presentations. In May 2026, Transport Group will record demos for THE PET PROJECT. This process includes 5 musicians and helps the authors and musical director assess pacing, tone, and musical transitions as well to refine the score, orchestrations, and overall musical storytelling. Finally, we will return to Carnegie Hall on June 25, 2026 for our next installation of our Anne L. Bernstein Concert series: LIZA AT 80: A CELEBRATION IN SONG AND DANCE, a tribute to Liza Minelli. We expect to reach more than 4,000 total audience members this year, with an estimated 80% residing in NYC.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2003.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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