To create vivid, entertaining theatrical experiences that invigorate and engage people of all ages and identities by illuminating the complexity, ambiguity, and wonder of our world. Shared humanity and unforgettable stories - now this is Chicago Shakespeare.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
84¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 2,635 volunteers and 399 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
1 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $1.7M a year · 11% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
84%
of spending
Looks good: 84% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.0M
to officers and key staff · 9% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 9% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $16.4M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 1.7 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $10K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$22.7M
40% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 40% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
51
of 53 voting members
Looks good: 51 of 53 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$17.2M
+32% vs prior year
Spent
$22.4M
To programs
84%
Net assets
$34.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$17.2M
FY2025▲ +32%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$16.0M
FY2021$8.3M
FY2022$17.2M
FY2023$16.1M
FY2024$13.1M
FY2025$17.2M
Expenses
$22.4M
FY2025▲ +25%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$17.7M
FY2021$9.1M
FY2022$12.5M
FY2023$18.4M
FY2024$18.0M
FY2025$22.4M
Net assets
$34.2M
FY2025▼ -10%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$38.1M
FY2021$40.8M
FY2022$42.1M
FY2023$40.9M
FY2024$37.8M
FY2025$34.2M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 1987.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

84 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 84% · $18.9M Management & general 11% · $2.6M Fundraising 4% · $961K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

62 people listed on the 990; $2.0M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Artistic Director
$423,129Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director
$409,223Pt VII · Sec A
Former Creative Producer
$245,441Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Development
$186,850Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Finance and Admin, Secretary
$133,865Pt VII · Sec A
Production Manager (as of 5/1/25)
$132,160Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Marketing (through 6/2/25)
$108,478Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Human Resources
$106,023Pt VII · Sec A

Edward Hall’s $423K as Artistic Director is at the 69th percentile of top reported officer pay among 749 $10–100M arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Barbara Gaines—$215,297$362,257$312,329$302,353$460,046
Criss Henderson—$358,193$362,038$299,217$285,879$433,449
Edward Hall$423,129$106,958————
Kimberly Motes$409,223$83,059————
Richard Boynton$245,441$185,733$172,830$147,183$146,143$161,591
E Brooke Flanagan————$163,858$219,514
Emily Hansen$186,850—————
Michael Ross—$178,644————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Produces bold Shakespearean plays, new theatrical works, and international performances on Chicago's Navy Pier to engage diverse audiences from all walks of life.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $18.9M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

A regional tony award recipient, chicago shakespeare theater is a leading international theater company that has delivered excellent, powerful, life-changing theater for forty years. With shakespeare at the heart of the artistic work, CST also produces compelling, contemporary stories from fresh artistic voices of today.

$18.9Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$10K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$17.2M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$10.7M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$287K
Money outPt IX
$22.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$18.9M
Managementcol C$2.6M
Fundraisingcol D$961K
Owns and owesPt X
$34.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.2M
Total assetsLn 16$56.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$22.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
62
listed · VII A
PaidVII A10
Voting boardVI 1a53
IndependentVI 1b51
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$180K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$300K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$720K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$10.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$287K
Other incomeLn 4–11$247K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$308K
Total revenueLn 12$17.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$3.2M
SavingsLn 2$507
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$16.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4.1M
Other assetsLn 15$28K
Total assetsLn 16$56.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$22.7M
Net assetsLn 32$34.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5399
VolunteersI 62,635
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.9M$3.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$16.5M$16.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$21.2M$4.1M
Total assetsLn 16$51.8M$56.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$14.0M$22.7M
Net assetsLn 32$37.8M$34.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.2M$464K$579K$189K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$8.5M$7.5M$613K$352K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$350K$343K$5K$898
Other employee benefitsLn 9$1.2M$1.0M$124K$47K
Payroll taxesLn 10$769K$642K$88K$39K
Legal feesLn 11b$128K$122K$7K
Accounting feesLn 11c$159K$159K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$0$0$0$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$1.1M$1.1M
Office expensesLn 13$68K$40K$18K$9K
Information technologyLn 14$271K$40K$207K$24K
RoyaltiesLn 15$552K$552K
OccupancyLn 16$1.6M$1.5M$84K$27K
TravelLn 17$19K$17K$2K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$17K$11K$7K
InterestLn 20$222K$222K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1.3M$903K$365K
InsuranceLn 23$248K$40K$188K$20K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$4.2M$4.2M
All other expensesLn 24e$458K$123K$90K$245K
Total functional expensesLn 25$22.4M$18.9M$2.6M$961K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $17.2M$22.4M−$5.2M$34.2M 990 PDF
FY2024 $13.1M$18.0M−$4.9M$37.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $16.1M$18.4M−$2.3M$40.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $17.2M$12.5M$4.7M$42.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 $8.3M$9.1M−$869K$40.8M 990 PDF
FY2020 $16.0M$17.7M−$1.7M$38.1M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $17,242,699 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,342,117$5,980,627
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $7,388,960$10,728,324
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $393,899$286,719
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $982,317$247,029
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $13,107,293$17,242,699
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $9,879,090$11,982,983
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $8,080,429$10,425,785
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $17,959,519$22,408,768
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$4,852,226−$5,166,069
Part VI · Governance 51 of 53 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body53
VI-1b Independent voting members51
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $17,242,699 across 16 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $325,133 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$720,322
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$180,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,080,305
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$300,073
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$5,980,627
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $10,728,324$10,728,324
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $594,998$594,998
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $34,076$34,076
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossUnrelated business −$9,168−$9,168
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$308,279−$308,279
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$134,272−$134,272
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Unrelated business $24,978 · Excluded from tax $6,282$31,260
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $10,762,400 · Unrelated business $15,810 · Excluded from tax $483,862$17,242,699
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $22,408,768 across 20 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $464,202 · Management $579,018 · Fundraising $188,700$1,231,920
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $7,492,431 · Management $612,507 · Fundraising $351,994$8,456,932
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $343,243 · Management $5,474 · Fundraising $898$349,615
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,004,467 · Management $123,881 · Fundraising $47,179$1,175,527
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $641,972 · Management $87,700 · Fundraising $39,317$768,989
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $121,501 · Management $6,729$128,230
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $159,120$159,120
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,141,863$1,141,863
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $40,168 · Management $18,351 · Fundraising $9,421$67,940
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $40,480 · Management $206,828 · Fundraising $23,800$271,108
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $552,363$552,363
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,515,208 · Management $84,441 · Fundraising $26,545$1,626,194
IX-17 TravelManagement $17,054 · Fundraising $2,419$19,473
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsManagement $10,794 · Fundraising $6,578$17,372
IX-20 InterestPrograms $221,552$221,552
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $903,273 · Management $364,580$1,267,853
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $40,000 · Management $187,798 · Fundraising $20,000$247,798
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $4,247,186$4,247,186
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $123,353 · Management $89,733 · Fundraising $244,647$457,733
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $18,893,262 · Management $2,554,008 · Fundraising $961,498$22,408,768
Part X · Balance sheet $56,831,944 assets, 19 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,853,295$3,217,467
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $339$507
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $3,077,681$2,317,734
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $356,490$448,406
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $1,480,265$1,224,086
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $21,167,124$4,119,167
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $16,549,891$16,374,145
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $6,244,156$29,102,333
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $57,045$28,099
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $51,786,286$56,831,944
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,691,040$3,056,601
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,674,085$1,585,127
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $4,005,362$4,031,590
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $5,583,540$13,998,140
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $13,954,027$22,671,458
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $28,677,866$24,459,462
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $9,154,393$9,701,024
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $37,832,259$34,160,486
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $51,786,286$56,831,944
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $34,160,486 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$17,242,699
XI-2 Total expenses$22,408,768
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$5,166,069
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$37,832,259
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,510,240
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$31,328
XI-8 Prior period adjustments−$47,272
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$34,160,486

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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