DELAWARE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL INC
Mission Statement
Delaware Shakespeare’s mission is to bring our community together for vibrant theatre and learning experiences. We fulfill our mission through two core programs: the Summer Festival (SF) and the Community Tour (CT). The SF is our take on the classic “Shakespeare under the stars” experience: an outdoor show brought to life by a company of professional theatre artists and emerging college apprentices. The CT removes barriers which make accessing Shakespeare a challenge: price, location, and relatability. This program brings a fully-realized production to every county in Delaware, with a focus on serving people with limited access to the arts. Performances are presented through free and highly subsidized tickets. The tour visits non-traditional performance spaces such as community centers, libraries, and prisons. We also provide educational programs throughout the year, and are currently expanding our offerings to schools. We believe that the arts are a fundamental human right.
Financial Overview — FY 2025
Compared with Peers
FY 2025| Ratio | This org | Peer median | Position (P10 → P90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Program expense ratio
Program expenses / total expenses
· higher is better
|
61.9% | 81.9% |
P10P90
|
Bottom quarter |
|
Admin expense ratio
Management and general / total expenses
· lower is better
|
22.9% | 13.7% |
P10P90
|
Below median |
|
Fundraising expense ratio
Fundraising expenses / total expenses
· lower is better
|
15.3% | 0.0% |
P10P90
|
Bottom quarter |
|
Fundraising efficiency
Fundraising expenses / gross fundraising income
· lower is better
|
2514.4% | 27.4% |
P10P90
|
Bottom quarter |
|
Operating reserve
Months of expenses covered by net assets
· higher is better
|
1.8 mo | 9.4 mo |
P10P90
|
Bottom quarter |
|
Liabilities to assets
Total liabilities / total assets
· lower is better
|
0.0% | 1.5% |
P10P90
|
Top quarter |
|
Revenue concentration
Share of revenue from the largest source
· lower is better
|
74.8% | 77.2% |
P10P90
|
Above median |
|
Revenue growth
Year over year revenue growth
|
2.2% | 6.7% |
P10P90
|
|
|
Expense growth
Year over year expense growth
|
12.2% | 5.9% |
P10P90
|
|
|
Surplus margin
Surplus as a share of revenue
|
-31.5% | 2.4% |
P10P90
|
Impact
1 program| Outcome / Program | People Served | Cost / Service | # Completed | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increased empathy, opened mind, inspired imagination | 4,000 | $25.00 | — | Per Day |
Financial History
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Net Assets | Program % | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $388K | $510K | $76K | 61.9% | 5 |
| 2024 | $380K | $455K | N/A | — | 4 |
| 2023 | $514K | $422K | $265K | 58.8% | 6 |
| 2022 | $396K | $537K | $173K | 77.6% | 4 |
| 2021 | $420K | $390K | N/A | — | 5 |
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