Theater League Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Kansas City, Missouri, established in 1976. The organization produces and presents Broadway musicals, plays, and new works in local performing arts centers while providing cultural and educational resources to enhance quality of life in the communities it serves.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.2M
-44.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$13.5M
+1429.5% YoY
Grant Count
88
+46.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$154K
+942.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Enhancing the quality of life in the communities we serve with the thrill of live theater.
Theater League operates two primary program areas:
Producing and Presenting Theater — Producing and presenting Broadway musicals, plays, and new works in local performing arts centers.
Theater Rocks Reach Out to Kids — An educational outreach program targeting students in Title I schools and similarly disadvantaged youth. Working with local service organizations, the program provides free or subsidized tickets to Theater League performances and other professional performing arts events. Students participate in question and answer sessions with theater professionals, post-show discussions, and classroom activities including arts and crafts projects to expand the impact of their theater-going experience.
Grantmaking
Theater League is an active grantmaker supporting theater organizations in its region. Recent grants awarded include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Theater League primarily funds organizations in Kansas City, Missouri and the surrounding region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $15,242,722
- Total Revenues: $2,101,531
- Total Expenses: $14,317,609
- Program Expenses: $509,783 (producing and presenting) and $13,566,151 (Theater Rocks educational outreach)
Charity Rating: Theater League holds a Three-Star rating from independent charity evaluators, with an overall score of 81%.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,242,722 | $27,501,277 | $27,534,408 |
| Revenue | $2,101,531 | $5,419,516 | $1,974,369 |
| Expenses | $14,317,609 | $5,522,607 | $6,853,217 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $569,601 | $548,493 | $-4,337,326 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
121 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City Theater Fund ($12,214,750), Musical Theatre Heritage ($80,000), Heart of America Shakespeare Festival ($55,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| African-American Shakespeare Company San Francisco, CA | — | $10,000 |
| Arts Asylum East Meyer Blvd Kansas, MO | — | $10,000 |
| Arts Engagement Foundation of Kansas City E Gregory Blvd Kansas, MO | — | $10,000 |
| Atlanta Shakespeare Company Peachtree St Atlanta G, GA | — | $10,000 |
| Bishop Arts Theatre Center S Tyler St Dallas TX, TX | — | $10,000 |
| Black Ensemble Theater N Clark St Chicago IL, IL | — | $10,000 |
| Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City W th Street Kansas Cit, MO | — | $15,000 |
| Cara Ma Theatre Dallas, TX | — | $10,000 |
| Classical Theatre of Harlem Amsterdam New York Cit, NY | — | $10,000 |
| Congo Square Theatre NORTH DEARBORN STREET, IL | — | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Mark Howard Edelman serves as Principal Officer of the organization.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDELMAN MARK HOWARD | PRESIDENT | 25 | — |
| CAROZZA PHYLLIS PHD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HOLLAND JACK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LENTZ MATT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROLLINS SUSAN E | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SCHERMER ELLEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TRAGER NANCY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GOLDMAN ELLEN | SECRETARY DIR EMERITUS | 1 | — |
| AZORSKY MICHAEL | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| ACHTENBERG ALICE JACKS | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Mark Edelman Theater Fund, associated with Theater League leadership, donated $1 million to the UMKC Conservatory, supporting theater education and training in the region.
Arts Brief: Mark Edelman Theater Fund Donates $1 million to UMKC ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Theater League Inc fund?
**Mission:** Enhancing the quality of life in the communities we serve with the thrill of live theater. Theater League operates two primary program areas: 1. **Producing and Presenting Theater** — Producing and presenting Broadway musicals, plays, and new works in local performing arts centers. 2. **Theater Rocks Reach Out to Kids** — An educational outreach program targeting students in Title I schools and similarly disadvantaged youth. Working with local service organizations, the program pro…
How do I apply for a grant from Theater League Inc?
Theater League is an active grantmaker supporting theater organizations in its region. Recent grants awarded include: • Kansas City Actors Theatre: $45,000 (2024) • Unicorn Theatre: $124,200 (2024) • Musical Theater Heritage: $80,000 (2024) • The Coterie: $65,000 (2024) • Winona Post Community (GRSF): $10,000
Where does Theater League Inc make grants?
Theater League primarily funds organizations in Kansas City, Missouri and the surrounding region.
What size grants does Theater League Inc award?
In 2024, Theater League Inc awarded 88 grants totaling $13.5M — an average of about $154K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Theater League Inc's EIN?
Theater League Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0196231. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Theater League Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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