New York Shakespeare Festival
New York Shakespeare Festival shows strong asset growth but faced an $11 million deficit in 22-23 fiscal year.
EIN: 131844852 · New York, NY · NTEE: A650 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $91.1M |
| Total Expenses | $61.7M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $117.1M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is New York Shakespeare Festival Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
New York Shakespeare Festival directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About New York Shakespeare Festival
New York Shakespeare Festival (EIN: 131844852) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code A650. The organization reported total revenue of $91.1M and total assets of $175.0M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of New York Shakespeare Festival's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
New York Shakespeare Festival is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 70 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 6.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $50.4M |
| Total Expenses | $61.7M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-11,285,650 |
| Total Assets | $147.7M |
| Total Liabilities | $30.6M |
| Net Assets | $117.1M |
| Operating Margin | -22.4% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 20.7% |
| Months of Reserves | 28.7 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, New York Shakespeare Festival reported a deficit of $11.3M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 28.7 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 20.7% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), New York Shakespeare Festival's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -28.5% | -2.7% | +8.2% |
| 2022 | +48.8% | +67.4% | -3.8% |
| 2021 | -14.6% | -27.3% | +18.8% |
| 2020 | -37.4% | -8.5% | +3.3% |
| 2019 | +30.2% | +16.7% | +35.7% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1956 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates New York Shakespeare Festival with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, New York Shakespeare Festival allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 10%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $11.3M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 20.7%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The New York Shakespeare Festival consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no compensation was paid to officers, directors, trustees, or key employees, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size and revenue, suggesting either a volunteer leadership structure or compensation is reported differently.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of New York Shakespeare Festival's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant deficit in the most recent fiscal year (2023), with expenses exceeding revenue by over $11 million.
- Unusually consistent 0% officer compensation reported across all filings for an organization of this size, which may warrant further inquiry into how leadership is compensated or structured.
- Increasing trend in liabilities, from $5.5 million in 2014 to $30.5 million in 2023, which, while accompanied by asset growth, should be monitored.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for New York Shakespeare Festival:
- Strong asset growth over the past decade, from $47.4 million in 2014 to $147.7 million in 2023, indicating robust financial health and capacity.
- Demonstrated ability to generate substantial revenue, with several years exceeding $50 million and a peak of $88.7 million in 2019.
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, indicating good transparency and compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Positive net assets, with assets significantly exceeding liabilities, even with the recent increase in liabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions about New York Shakespeare Festival
Is New York Shakespeare Festival a legitimate charity?
New York Shakespeare Festival (EIN: 131844852) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $91.1M. 3 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does New York Shakespeare Festival spend its money?
New York Shakespeare Festival directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to New York Shakespeare Festival tax-deductible?
New York Shakespeare Festival is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131844852). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of New York Shakespeare Festival's spending goes to programs?
New York Shakespeare Festival directs 80% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does New York Shakespeare Festival compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), New York Shakespeare Festival is above average for NTEE category A650 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is New York Shakespeare Festival located?
New York Shakespeare Festival is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 131844852. It is classified under NTEE code A650.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does New York Shakespeare Festival have?
New York Shakespeare Festival has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $91.1M in total revenue.
Why did the New York Shakespeare Festival incur an $11 million deficit in the 2023 fiscal year?
In the 2023 fiscal year, the organization reported $50,409,452 in revenue against $61,695,102 in expenses, resulting in a deficit of $11,285,650. This contrasts with surpluses in prior years, such as $7.1 million in 2022 and $9.5 million in 2021. Further investigation into the specific expense categories for 2023 would be needed to understand the cause.
How has the organization managed to report 0% officer compensation consistently?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all 13 filings is highly unusual for an organization with annual revenues often exceeding $50 million. This could indicate that leadership roles are entirely volunteer-based, or that compensation for key personnel is categorized differently within the financial statements, such as under program or administrative expenses, rather than directly as officer compensation.
What is the trend in the organization's liabilities?
The organization's liabilities have shown a significant upward trend, increasing from $5,517,330 in 2014 to $30,595,941 in 2023. While assets have also grown substantially, this increase in liabilities warrants monitoring to ensure financial stability.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for New York Shakespeare Festival showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), New York Shakespeare Festival's revenue has grown by 112.2%, moving from $23.8M to $50.4M. Total assets increased by 239.7% over the same period, from $43.5M to $147.7M. Total functional expenses rose by 179.6%, from $22.1M to $61.7M. In its most recent filing year (2023), New York Shakespeare Festival reported a deficit of $11.3M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $30.6M in liabilities against $147.7M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 20.7%), resulting in net assets of $117.1M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $50.4M | $61.7M | $147.7M | $30.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $70.5M | $63.4M | $136.5M | $11.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $47.4M | $37.9M | $141.9M | $24.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $55.5M | $52.1M | $119.4M | $19.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $88.7M | $56.9M | $115.5M | $15.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $68.1M | $48.8M | $85.1M | $11.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $54.0M | $43.0M | $62.3M | $5.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $33.4M | $36.2M | $49.6M | $5.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $40.1M | $32.7M | $52.8M | $4.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $35.2M | $30.8M | $47.4M | $5.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $26.5M | $27.4M | $44.1M | $7.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $26.2M | $22.7M | $47.1M | $9.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $23.8M | $22.1M | $43.5M | $10.4M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $50.4M, expenses of $61.7M, and assets of $147.7M (revenue -28.5% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $70.5M, expenses of $63.4M, and assets of $136.5M (revenue +48.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $47.4M, expenses of $37.9M, and assets of $141.9M (revenue -14.6% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $55.5M, expenses of $52.1M, and assets of $119.4M (revenue -37.4% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $88.7M, expenses of $56.9M, and assets of $115.5M (revenue +30.2% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $68.1M, expenses of $48.8M, and assets of $85.1M (revenue +26.1% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $54.0M, expenses of $43.0M, and assets of $62.3M (revenue +61.6% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $33.4M, expenses of $36.2M, and assets of $49.6M (revenue -16.6% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $40.1M, expenses of $32.7M, and assets of $52.8M (revenue +14.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $35.2M, expenses of $30.8M, and assets of $47.4M (revenue +32.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $26.5M, expenses of $27.4M, and assets of $44.1M (revenue +1.0% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $26.2M, expenses of $22.7M, and assets of $47.1M (revenue +10.3% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $23.8M, expenses of $22.1M, and assets of $43.5M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for New York Shakespeare Festival:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for New York Shakespeare Festival is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.