Nonprofit · EIN 39-1634828
FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE INC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Tax-exempt · MILWAUKEE, WI 53212
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $5,000,483 | $6,122,936 | -$1,122,453 | $4,836,113 | $2,008,895 | $2,827,218 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $5,216,935 | $5,801,600 | -$584,665 | $5,942,910 | $1,699,443 | $4,243,467 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $4,165,463 | $5,230,270 | -$1,064,807 | $6,022,273 | $1,362,318 | $4,659,955 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $2,443,527
- of which government grants
- $32,889
- Program service revenue
- $1,924,908
- Investment income
- $579,295
- Royalties
- $240
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $499,608
- Net income from fundraising events
- $10,973
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $26,102
- Other revenue
- $52,753
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $388,933
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,984,664
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $2,941,011
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $18,335
- Occupancy
- $751,144
- Travel
- $60,342
- Depreciation
- $187,383
- Program services (functional)
- $4,122,121
- Management and general (functional)
- $1,477,966
- Fundraising (functional)
- $522,849
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $5,942,910
- Total assets, end of year
- $4,836,113
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $2,008,895
- Net assets, end of year
- $2,827,218
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $573,492
- Publicly traded securities
- $2,598,156
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $1,113,686
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $1,713,532
- Gross receipts
- $5,159,353
- Employees
- 213
- Volunteers
- 100
- Year formed
- 1987
- State of legal domicile
- WI
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEFF FRANK | EXECUTIVE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $111,454 | $30,065 |
| DANIEL GRAMBOW | PART YEAR MANAGING DIR Officer | 40 | $111,612 | $29,459 |
| KATE SCHMITT | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Officer | 40 | $76,814 | $29,459 |
| JEFF SPENCE | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SCOTT STIVERSON | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TIM LANTZ | VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNANCE Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ELLEN BASTING DIZARD | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRISTINE BESTOR TOWNSEND | VICE PRESIDENT AT LARGE Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LEIF BERGQUIST | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| COLLEEN BOTTING | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| SALLY CARTWRIGHT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ALEXIS DAHMER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN EASH-SCOTT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| IAN GONZALEZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DANIELLE MACHATA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
11 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JULIA MAGNASCO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| DANIEL MALONEY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| JUSTIN MERTZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| JACK MILLER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| MELISSA NELSEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| LAURA ORR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| CORRIE PRUNUSKE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| SHANTANU SINGH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| ANNALIESE SCHAEFER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| JEREMY TARDY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| ASHLEY WROBLEWSKI | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 27 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEFF FRANK | ART DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $143,588 | $25,648 |
| ELIZABETH CORRY | PAST MANAGING DIR Officer | 40 | $90,595 | $0 |
| KATE SCHMITT | FINANCE DIR Officer | 40 | $44,536 | $5,344 |
| DANIEL GRAMBOW | MANAGING DIR Officer | 40 | $30,221 | $4,888 |
| CHRISTOPHER MARSCHKA | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DARREN GOLDSTEIN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ELLEN BASTING DIZARD | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LAURA ORR | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRISTINE BESTOR TOWNSEND | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ALEXIS DAHMER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ALICIA PILARSKI DO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ASHLEY WROBLEWSKI | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRENT SULLIVAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN GILPIN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CORRIE PRUNUSKE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN KEMPKEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFF SPENCE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JEREMY TARDY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN EAST-SCOTT | STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JUSTIN MERTZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MELISSA NELSEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| SAGAR MURTHY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| SALLY CARTWRIGHT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| SCOTT STIVERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| SHANTANU SINGH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| SUZANNE CLAUSING | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TIM LANTZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 26 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELIZABETH CORRY | MANAGING DIR Officer | 40 | $121,973 | $21,942 |
| JEFF FRANK | ART DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $110,835 | $22,714 |
| DEBBIE MOODY | FINANCE DIR Officer | 40 | $44,323 | $4,350 |
| CHRISTOPHER MARSCHKA | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DARREN GOLDSTEIN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ELLEN BASTING DIZARD | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LAURA ORR | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRISTINE BESTOR TOWNSEND | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CARYN ESTEN | PAST PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ALEX KRAMER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ALICIA PILARSKI DO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ASHLEY WROBLEWSKI | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRENT SULLIVAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN GILPIN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRYN DRESSELHUYS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CORRIE PRUNUSKE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN KEMPKEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ERIC MAASSEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFF SPENCE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| LAUREN PAGENKOPF | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| SALLY CARTWRIGHT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| SCOTT STIVERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| SHANTANU SINGH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| SUZANNE CLAUSING | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TAMI MARTIN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TIM LANTZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 325 W WALNUT ST, MILWAUKEE, WI 53212-3868
- In care of
- % DEB MOODY
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- JEFF SPENCE, 325 W WALNUT STREET, MILWAUKEE, WI 53212
- Signed the 990
- SCOTT STIVERSON, TREASURER
- Phone
- (414) 267-2940
- Website
- WWW.FIRSTSTAGE.ORG
- Return prepared by
- RITZ HOLMAN LLP
Mission
FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE, INC. DOES BUSINESS AS FIRST STAGE. OUR MISSION IS TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BY CREATING EXCEPTIONAL THEATER EXPERIENCES
Program accomplishments
- DURING THE 2024/25 SCHOOL YEAR, FIRST STAGE OFFERED ITS THEATER IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO 76 SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS, 58% OF WHICH ARE WITHIN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE. THEATER IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDED FIELD TRIP PACKAGES, WHICH PAIR A CLASSROOM'S FIELD TRIP TO A WEEKDAY MATINEE THEATER PERFORMANCE WITH IN-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS; ARTS-INTEGERATED WORKSHOPS, WHICH INCORPORATE DRAMA-CENTRIC ARTS INTO THE CURRENT CLASSROOM CURRICULUM TO HELP STUDENTS MAKE A DEEPER CONNECTION TO THE MATERIAL AND HELP THEM EXPLORE THEIR CREATIVITY; THEATER SKILLS WORKSHOPS, CUSTOMIZABLE SESSIONS WHICH INCLUDE TRAINING IN ACTING, IMPROVISATION, MUSICAL THEATER, CREATIVE DRAMA, AND STORY DRAMA; AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, WHICH PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CLASSROOM TEACHERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DRAMATIC ARTS AND THEIR UNIQUE ABILITY TO INSTILL PASSION FOR LEARNING AND TRANSFORM YOUNG MINDS WITH LIFE SKILLS THROUGH STAGE SKILLS. OVER 1,100 WORKSHOPS WERE OFFERED, PROVIDING LEARNING OPPORTUNITES TO 6,873 STUDENTS.Expenses $379,050 · revenue $123,226
- OUR FIRST STAGE THEATER ACADEMY REMAINS ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST HIGH-IMPACT THEATER TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH, TEACHING LIFE SKILLS THROUGH STAGE SKILLS TO YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 3-18 WITH A STAFF OF PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS. TOTAL ENROLLMENTS IN THE 2024/25 SEASON WAS 1,961 WITH A TOTAL OF 1,326 UNIQUE STUDENTS OVER 170 UNIQUE CLASS OFFERINGS. FIRST STAGE OFFERS THE NEXT STEPS PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM AS PART OF OUR THEATER ACADEMY. FIRST STAGE WILL NOT TURN ANYONE AWAY FROM THE THEATER ACADEMY DUE TO INABILITY TO PAY. WE OFFER THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM OFFERING FINANCIAL AID SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AS NEEDED. IN 2024/25, 196 SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED TOTALING MORE THAN $77,400.Expenses $582,115 · revenue $582,018
- THE FIRST STAGE PROFESSIONAL THEATER PRODUCTIONS WELCOMED 68,974 AUDIENCE MEMBERS ACROSS 419 PERFORMANCES DURING THE 2024/25 SEASON. AMONG THESE PERFORMANCES INCLUDED OUR SENSORY FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES, WITH ONE OFFERED PER PRODUCTION. MORE THAN 1,000 AUDIENCE MEMBERS WERE SERVED THROUGH OUR SENSORY FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES. FIRST STAGE ALSO PROVIDED THEATER PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE AT NO OR LITTLE COST TO 3,436 YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES THROUGH OUR "PAY WHAT YOU CHOOSE" PERFORMANCES, $10 TICKETS FOR FAMILIES WITH AN ACCESS FOR ALL PASSPORT, AND A SELECT NUMBER OF FREE PREVIEW PERFORMANCE TICKETS GIVEN TO OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS.Expenses $3,160,956 · revenue $1,261,204
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 39-1634828
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1989
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A65Z)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $4,836,113
- Income (IRS master file)
- $5,159,353
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $5,000,483 | $6,122,936 | $4,836,113 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $5,216,935 | $5,801,600 | $5,942,910 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $4,165,463 | $5,230,270 | $6,022,273 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | $5,096,921 | $4,422,789 | $6,582,986 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 39-1634828).
Questions about FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE INC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
- What is the EIN of FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE INC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE INC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER is 39-1634828.
- Is FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE INC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1989.
- Are donations to FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE INC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE INC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE INC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE INC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE INC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names JEFF SPENCE.
- Who are the officers and directors of FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE INC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 26 people; 3 received compensation from the organization, the highest $111,454 (JEFF FRANK, EXECUTIVE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE INC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $5,000,483, expenses of $6,122,936 and total assets of $4,836,113 at year end.
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