Imagination Stage INC FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Bethesda, MD501(c)(3)Since 1979Arts & CultureEIN 52-1164889Revenue $5.2M in FY2021

On file with the IRSimaginationstage.org4908 Auburn Ave, 20814-2629 · Bethesda, MDTax-exempt since Jan 1981School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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We inspire creativity & empowerment for children & youth through theatre & arts education programs

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
69¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$189K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2021 · 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
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $107K a year · 2% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
69%
of spending
Fine: 69% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$189K
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
9 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 9.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $1K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.4M
17% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 17% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
33
of 35 voting members
Looks good: 33 of 35 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$5.2M
+78% vs prior year
Spent
$3.5M
To programs
69%
Net assets
$6.7M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$5.2M
FY2021▲ +78%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.9M
FY2021$5.2M
FY2022$5.0M
FY2023$5.2M
FY2024$5.1M
FY2025$7.8M
Expenses
$3.5M
FY2021▼ -13%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$4.0M
FY2021$3.5M
FY2022$4.8M
FY2023$5.9M
FY2024$7.1M
FY2025$6.5M
Net assets
$6.7M
FY2021▲ +33%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$5.1M
FY2021$6.7M
FY2022$7.0M
FY2023$6.2M
FY2024$4.2M
FY2025$5.5M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending August 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jan 1981.

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

Where the money goes

69 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 69% · $2.4M Management & general 17% · $591K Fundraising 15% · $507K

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

35 people listed on the 990; $189K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director Until 12/31/20
$101,093Pt VII · Sec A
Founding Artistic Director
$87,693Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Joanne Lamparter’s $104K as Chief Artistic Programming Officer is at the 36th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3924 $1–10M 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 · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Janet Stanford—$104,729$97,671$87,983$87,693$105,277
Bonnie Fogel——$20,006$36,671$101,093$104,870
Joanne Lamparter$104,140—————
Jason Najjoum—$100,514$71,094———
Layne Holley as of Nov 2024$13,150—————

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 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Inspires creativity and empowers children through theatre and arts education.

Provided by the organization

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1 program · $2.4M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Imagination stage, inc. The washington region's leading theatre dedicated to children, presents programs that reflect the institution's deep commitment to innovation, inclusion, diversity, and artistry. These programs include professional theatre productions, arts education classes, access and inclusion.

$2.4Mprogram 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$1K

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$21K
Money outPt IX
$3.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.4M
Managementcol C$591K
Fundraisingcol D$507K
Owns and owesPt X
$6.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.6M
Total assetsLn 16$8.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
35
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a35
IndependentVI 1b33
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.9M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$13K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$7
Other incomeLn 4–11$21K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$5.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2.4M
SavingsLn 2$258K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4.9M
Other assetsLn 15$32K
Total assetsLn 16$8.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M
Net assetsLn 32$6.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5354
VolunteersI 6350
Fiscal year endsHeaderAugust
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$611K$2.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5.3M$4.9M
Total assetsLn 16$6.4M$8.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M$1.4M
Net assetsLn 32$5.1M$6.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$15K$15K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$159K$90K$3K$65K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.6M$1.1M$258K$222K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$170K$118K$29K$23K
Payroll taxesLn 10$150K$99K$28K$23K
Accounting feesLn 11c$45K$45K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$250K$200K$41K$9K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$64K$64K
Office expensesLn 13$120K$83K$19K$18K
Information technologyLn 14$114K$72K$18K$24K
OccupancyLn 16$122K$96K$11K$15K
TravelLn 17$8K$6K$845$706
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$437K$297K$67K$73K
InsuranceLn 23$76K$50K$13K$13K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$188K$114K$56K$18K
All other expensesLn 24e$22K$16K$2K$4K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.5M$2.4M$591K$507K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $7.8M$6.5M$1.3M$5.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $5.1M$7.1M−$2.0M$4.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $5.2M$5.9M−$739K$6.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $5.0M$4.8M$243K$7.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $5.2M$3.5M$1.7M$6.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.9M$4.0M−$1.1M$5.1M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $5,159,668 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,460,497$4,038,621
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,511,499$1,100,454
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $20$7
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$67,319$20,586
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,904,697$5,159,668
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $12,510$15,202
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,312,288$2,031,877
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,678,338$1,445,932
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $4,003,136$3,493,011
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$1,098,439$1,666,657
Part VI · Governance 33 of 35 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body35
VI-1b Independent voting members33
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
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 $5,159,668 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1d Related organizations$88,367
VIII-1e Government grants$2,853,773
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,096,481
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$13,337
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,038,621
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,100,454$1,100,454
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $7$7
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $830$830
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $19,756$19,756
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,120,210 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $837$5,159,668
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,493,011 across 16 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $15,202$15,202
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $89,997 · Management $3,320 · Fundraising $65,290$158,607
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,074,297 · Management $258,004 · Fundraising $221,540$1,553,841
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $117,896 · Management $29,176 · Fundraising $22,604$169,676
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $98,752 · Management $27,811 · Fundraising $23,190$149,753
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $44,993$44,993
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $200,407 · Management $40,578 · Fundraising $9,145$250,130
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $63,592$63,592
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $83,243 · Management $19,046 · Fundraising $17,863$120,152
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $72,315 · Management $18,040 · Fundraising $23,941$114,296
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $95,690 · Management $11,176 · Fundraising $14,784$121,650
IX-17 TravelPrograms $6,375 · Management $845 · Fundraising $706$7,926
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $296,828 · Management $66,975 · Fundraising $73,235$437,038
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $50,341 · Management $12,612 · Fundraising $12,800$75,753
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $113,708 · Management $56,408 · Fundraising $18,379$188,495
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $16,365 · Management $1,580 · Fundraising $3,962$21,907
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,395,008 · Management $590,564 · Fundraising $507,439$3,493,011
Part X · Balance sheet $8,098,425 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $604,011$2,391,226
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $6,706$257,585
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $362,621$376,531
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $52,544$41,511
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $77,479$93,576
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $5,278,744$4,905,579
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $7,417$32,417
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $6,389,522$8,098,425
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $28,642$47,886
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $667,121$777,290
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $622,951$535,784
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,318,714$1,360,960
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $4,807,595$6,441,710
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $263,213$295,755
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $5,070,808$6,737,465
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $6,389,522$8,098,425
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $6,737,465 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,159,668
XI-2 Total expenses$3,493,011
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,666,657
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$5,070,808
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$6,737,465

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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