WASHINGTON DRAMA SOCIETY INC
Mission Statement
As the largest producing theater to focus on American Voices, Arena Stage is dedicated to American plays and playwrights, with a mission to produce huge plays of all that is passionate, exuberant, profound, deep and dangerous in the American spirit. Having recently celebrated its 60th Anniversary season, Arena Stage enjoys a rich history of extraordinary “firsts” as the first theater in the nation’s capital to welcome racially integrated audiences; the first theater to have an integrated acting company; the first to establish a quality training program for individuals of color; the first to create audio-described performances for visually impaired patrons; the first regional theater to transfer a production to Broadway; the first regional theater to receive the coveted Tony Award; and most recently, the first theater to host the National Endowment for the Arts’ New Play Development Project. In the wake of each of these innovations, Arena’s colleague theaters have followed, and the field has advanced. Emphasizing process and product, Arena Stage works to combine a personal connection to the art - whether through playwriting, performance, or storytelling - with an educational experience that is interactive and engaging.
Financial Overview — FY 2023
Compared with Peers
FY 2023| Ratio | This org | Peer median | Position (P10 → P90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Program expense ratio
Program expenses / total expenses
· higher is better
|
82.8% | 79.6% |
P10P90
|
Above median |
|
Admin expense ratio
Management and general / total expenses
· lower is better
|
10.8% | 13.1% |
P10P90
|
Above median |
|
Fundraising expense ratio
Fundraising expenses / total expenses
· lower is better
|
6.5% | 6.0% |
P10P90
|
Below median |
|
Operating reserve
Months of expenses covered by net assets
· higher is better
|
39.9 mo | 28.2 mo |
P10P90
|
Above median |
|
Liabilities to assets
Total liabilities / total assets
· lower is better
|
40.9% | 13.6% |
P10P90
|
Bottom quarter |
|
Revenue concentration
Share of revenue from the largest source
· lower is better
|
70.6% | 72.1% |
P10P90
|
Above median |
|
Revenue growth
Year over year revenue growth
|
54.3% | -2.2% |
P10P90
|
|
|
Expense growth
Year over year expense growth
|
17.4% | 12.7% |
P10P90
|
|
|
Surplus margin
Surplus as a share of revenue
|
13.0% | 0.3% |
P10P90
|
Financial History
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Net Assets | Program % | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $29.8M | $25.9M | $86.0M | 82.8% | 372 |
| 2022 | $19.3M | $22.1M | $80.0M | 81.2% | 225 |
| 2021 | $10.9M | $13.5M | N/A | — | 358 |
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