FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE (EIN 391634828) - Form 990 Financial Analysis & Trantor Score

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1987

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

JEFF SPENCE

Phone

4142672940

Tax Period

2023-07-01 to 2024-06-30

FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE, founded in 1987, is a community nonprofit in the Arts, Culture & Humanities sector that reported $5.2M in total revenue in fiscal year 2023. Revenue surged 25% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum. Expenses of $5.8M exceeded revenue, resulting in a 11% operating deficit.

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 THROUGH OUR THREE MAIN ACTIVITIES:1) OUR PROFESSIONAL THEATER PRODUCTIONS ENGAGE, ENLIGHTEN, AND ENTERTAIN.2) OUR THEATER ACADEMY TRAINING FOSTERS LIFE SKILLS (E.G. CONFIDENCE, RESPECT, FRIENDSHIP, SUPPORT, MOTIVATION, ETC.) WHILE IT TEACHES STAGE SKILLS. 3) OUR DYNAMIC THEATER-IN-EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROMOTE LEARNING THROUGH THEATER.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2023)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $3,505,455

Program Service Revenue $1,500,309

Investment Income $111,092

Other Revenue $100,079

TOTAL REVENUE $5,216,935

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $3,386,690

Fundraising Expenses $550,429

Program Expenses $4,425,328

Other Expenses $2,414,910

TOTAL EXPENSES $5,801,600

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2023	2022	Change
Revenue	$5,216,935	$4,165,463	+0.3%
Expenses	$5,801,600	$5,230,270	+0.1%
Net Income	$-584,665	$-1,064,807	-0.5%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

250

Volunteers

100

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$344,820

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
CHRISTOPHER MARSCHKA	PRESIDENT	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
DARREN GOLDSTEIN	TREASURER	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
ELLEN BASTING DIZARD	SECRETARY	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
LAURA ORR	VICE PRESIDENT	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
CHRISTINE BESTOR TOWNSEND	VICE PRESIDENT	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
ALEXIS DAHMER	DIRECTOR	0.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
ALICIA PILARSKI DO	DIRECTOR	0.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
ASHLEY WROBLEWSKI	DIRECTOR	0.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
BRENT SULLIVAN	DIRECTOR	0.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
BRIAN GILPIN	DIRECTOR	0.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
CORRIE PRUNUSKE	DIRECTOR	0.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
DAN KEMPKEN	DIRECTOR	0.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
JEFF SPENCE	DIRECTOR	0.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
JEREMY TARDY	DIRECTOR	0.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
JOHN EAST-SCOTT	STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE	0.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
JUSTIN MERTZ	DIRECTOR	0.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
MELISSA NELSEN	DIRECTOR	0.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
SAGAR MURTHY	DIRECTOR	0.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
SALLY CARTWRIGHT	DIRECTOR	0.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
SCOTT STIVERSON	DIRECTOR	0.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
SHANTANU SINGH	DIRECTOR	0.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
SUZANNE CLAUSING	DIRECTOR	0.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
TIM LANTZ	DIRECTOR	0.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
KATE SCHMITT	FINANCE DIR	40.00	Officer	$44,536	$5,344	$49,880
ELIZABETH CORRY	PAST MANAGING DIR	40.00	Officer	$90,595	$0	$90,595
JEFF FRANK	ART DIRECTOR	40.00	Officer	$143,588	$25,648	$169,236
DANIEL GRAMBOW	MANAGING DIR	40.00	Officer	$30,221	$4,888	$35,109

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2025	No data	No data	No data	No data
2024	$5,216,935	$5,801,600	$5,942,910	$-584,665
2023	$4,165,463	$5,230,270	$6,022,273	$-1,064,807
2022	$5,096,921	$4,422,789	$6,582,986	$674,132
2021	$4,479,947	$2,890,660	$6,621,805	$1,589,287
2020	$5,153,656	$5,302,518	$4,489,826	$-148,862
2019	$5,559,949	$6,135,163	$4,406,765	$-575,214
2018	$5,550,401	$6,024,955	$4,974,851	$-474,554

FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE