philanthropy.org | 990 Resource | FAQ Verify yourself
Sign in

Hits Theatre

Tax-deductible

Houston, TX501(c)(3)Since 1980Arts & CultureEIN 74-2118224Revenue $946K in FY2025

On file with the IRShitstheatre.org311 W 18th St, 77008-3903 · Houston, TXTax-exempt since Feb 1981School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

This page gets seen. Tell your story. Claim this org.

HITS Theatre's compassionate approach engages student creators in professional training to find their passion and raise their unique voices.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
73¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 50 volunteers and 11 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
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $16K a year · 2% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
73%
of spending
Fine: 73% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$101K
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 89% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.2 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $108K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$169K
44% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 44% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 9 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$946K
+12% vs prior year
Spent
$994K
To programs
73%
Net assets
$215K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$946K
FY2025▲ +12%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$615K
FY2021$629K
FY2022$613K
FY2023$886K
FY2024$847K
FY2025$946K
Expenses
$994K
FY2025▲ +14%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$747K
FY2021$614K
FY2022$635K
FY2023$775K
FY2024$869K
FY2025$994K
Net assets
$215K
FY2025▼ -18%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$180K
FY2021$195K
FY2022$174K
FY2023$284K
FY2024$262K
FY2025$215K

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending September 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 Feb 1981.

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

Where the money goes

73 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 73% · $728K Management & general 20% · $200K Fundraising 7% · $65K

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

Something off? The org can add a note here. Claim this org to fix it.

Who runs it and what they're paid

11 people listed on the 990; $101K 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
Adam Wagner
Executive Director (thru 1/25)
$101,485Pt VII · Sec A
Rachel Applegate
Past President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Shelley Daly
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Katie Rushing
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Adam Wagner’s $101K as Executive Director (thru 1/25) is at the 89th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2216 $100K–1M 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 · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Adam Wagner$101,485$86,119$77,325$75,140$76,563$74,000
Troy Lubbers————$74,200$81,250
Shelley Daly———$2,000——

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.

See Hits Theatre executive salaries →

Are you one of these people? Claim this org to confirm your role

Something off? The org can add a note here. Claim this org to fix it.

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

Provides musical theater training and production experiences for youth ages 5-18.

Questions for Hits Theatre

Tap to ask. Hits Theatre sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Hits Theatre answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this organization? Claim it to add your story

1 program · $728K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

HITS Theatre served over 800 students in acting, voice, dance and technical theater during the year. Over 4,700 visitors attended over 40 live performances and cultural events at free or affordable admission prices.

$728Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
Houston Arts AllianceFY2024$62K
The Cullen Trust for the Performing ArtsFY2024$35K
The Cynthia & George Mitchell FoundationFY2024$10K
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$108K
See all 3 funders →
Grants paid · 1 grant · $42K · 2024–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$42,325

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$946K
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$570K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$331K
Other incomeLn 4–11$42K
Money outPt IX
$994K
Ln 25
Programscol B$728K
Managementcol C$200K
Fundraisingcol D$65K
Owns and owesPt X
$215K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$179K
Total assetsLn 16$384K
LiabilitiesLn 26$169K
PeoplePt VI, VII
11
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$331K
Government grantsLn 1e$23K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$8K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$24K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$570K
Investment incomeLn 3$4K
Other incomeLn 4–11$42K
Total revenueLn 12$946K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$50K
SavingsLn 2$129K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$179K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$101K
Other assetsLn 15$31K
Total assetsLn 16$384K
LiabilitiesLn 26$169K
Net assetsLn 32$215K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 511
VolunteersI 650
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
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$246K$179K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$120K$101K
Total assetsLn 16$419K$384K
LiabilitiesLn 26$157K$169K
Net assetsLn 32$262K$215K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$42K$42K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$104K$41K$60K$4K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$331K$257K$35K$39K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$40K$30K$5K$5K
Payroll taxesLn 10$35K$24K$7K$3K
Accounting feesLn 11c$15K$15K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$41K$5K$30K$6K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$9K$1K$7K$529
Office expensesLn 13$43K$16K$25K$1K
Information technologyLn 14$15K$12K$3K$401
RoyaltiesLn 15$13K$13K
OccupancyLn 16$28K$24K$3K$923
TravelLn 17$5K$4K$1K$170
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$1K$861$73$185
InterestLn 20$2K$2K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$19K$17K$1K$564
InsuranceLn 23$27K$23K$4K$733
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$224K$218K$2K$3K
Total functional expensesLn 25$994K$728K$200K$65K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $946K$994K−$47K$215K 990 PDF
FY2024 $847K$869K−$22K$262K 990 PDF
FY2023 $886K$775K$111K$284K 990 PDF
FY2022 $613K$635K−$22K$174K 990 PDF
FY2021 $629K$614K$15K$195K 990 PDF
FY2020 $615K$747K−$132K$180K 990 PDF

Want to add your own materials alongside these filings? Claim this org

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 FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $946,289 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $303,366$330,601
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $512,364$569,669
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,000$4,022
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $30,480$41,997
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $847,210$946,289
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $45,529$42,325
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $467,249$510,549
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $356,523$440,768
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $869,301$993,642
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$22,091−$47,353
Part VI · Governance 9 of 9 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members9
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 $946,289 across 10 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $5,888 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$23,624
VIII-1e Government grants$22,665
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$284,312
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$8,426
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$330,601
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $569,669$569,669
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $4,022$4,022
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $36,156$36,156
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$47−$47
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $575,557 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $40,131$946,289
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $993,642 across 18 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $42,325$42,325
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $40,755 · Management $59,565 · Fundraising $4,180$104,500
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $257,159 · Management $34,999 · Fundraising $38,778$330,936
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $30,181 · Management $5,449 · Fundraising $4,503$40,133
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $24,133 · Management $7,356 · Fundraising $3,491$34,980
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $14,650$14,650
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $4,503 · Management $29,705 · Fundraising $6,329$40,537
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,219 · Management $7,425 · Fundraising $529$9,173
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $16,467 · Management $24,892 · Fundraising $1,234$42,593
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $11,814 · Management $2,948 · Fundraising $401$15,163
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $12,701$12,701
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $23,986 · Management $3,408 · Fundraising $923$28,317
IX-17 TravelPrograms $3,727 · Management $1,266 · Fundraising $170$5,163
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $861 · Management $73 · Fundraising $185$1,119
IX-20 InterestManagement $1,756$1,756
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $16,931 · Management $1,317 · Fundraising $564$18,812
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $22,852 · Management $3,562 · Fundraising $733$27,147
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $218,409 · Management $1,893 · Fundraising $3,335$223,637
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $728,023 · Management $200,264 · Fundraising $65,355$993,642
Part X · Balance sheet $383,894 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $120,633$49,648
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $125,091$129,115
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $33,218$46,530
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $19,021$26,934
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $119,866$101,054
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,207$30,613
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $419,036$383,894
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $22,155$27,582
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $89,754$87,028
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,207$30,213
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $156,639$168,850
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $242,627$205,543
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $19,770$9,501
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $262,397$215,044
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $419,036$383,894
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $215,044 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$946,289
XI-2 Total expenses$993,642
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$47,353
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$262,397
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$215,044

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

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

If you ARE the filing organization, claim this org and add context

Made it to the end? Claim this organization

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.