National Research

TCG is the leading national organization that conducts research on the fiscal state of the American not-for-profit theatre. Through two annual national surveys, the Fiscal Survey and Salary Survey, we analyze industry finances and productivity, employment trends and employee compensation levels. Survey results serve as benchmarks for theatre managers, as well as advocacy and policy tools for trustees, foundation and corporate executives, policy makers, the media and others who need to understand the nature and financial realities of the American not-for-profit theatre.

Results of the 2004 Fiscal Survey were incorporated into Theatre Facts 2004 and published in June 2005. The 30th edition of this report provides a detailed analysis of the cumulative data extracted from several universes: examining an overview of 1,477 theatres—258 theatres that completed survey information and 1,219 theatres that filed IRS Form 990.

Written by Zannie Giraud Voss and Glenn B. Voss with the assistance of Christopher Shuff and Ilana Rose, Theatre Facts 2004 includes both current information and year-to-year comparisons. After surviving several years of fiscal crisis and uncertainty, theatre companies across America are slowly beginning to show signs of economic recovery. In 2004, funding for theatre from federal, state, corporate and, most impressively, individual sources all increased over the past year.

A narrative version, written by Ben Pesner, is available in the November 2005 issue of American Theatre. Key findings from Theatre Facts 2004 include:

In addition, TCG conducts Snapshot Surveys that focus on various topics such as employee benefits, software and technology, and touring. This format allows TCG to gather and disseminate information quickly and to identify new areas for investigation. Some Snapshot Surveys are more comprehensive and are administered at regular intervals. These include the Employee Fringe Benefits Survey and Governing Boards Survey, which are available on the TCG website.

Since 1998, TCG has surveyed member theatres about their education programs. The results of the survey are published in our annual Education Survey and featured in our Education Centerpieces. For more information on TCG Education programs please refer to the Education section of the annual report.

TCG has also been involved in the interdisiplinary Nonprofit Listening Post Project. Organized by the Johns Hopkins University, the project involves over 500 not-for-profit organizations from various fields including social services, health, environment, community and economic development, and arts and culture (represented by members of TCG and the American Association of Museums). These organizations serve as "listening posts" on the major developments in the not-for-profit field. Periodic surveys are administered covering a variety of subjects, including indicators of financial health, partnering, governance, capital development and technology, with regular "soundings" of findings that will be disseminated over the next seven years.

The "sounding" on health benefits examined a nationwide sample of over 250 not-for-profits and revealed that not-for-profit organizations are being especially hard hit by escalating health benefit costs. A striking 93 percent of sampled organizations reported providing health insurance coverage for their employees and nearly two-thirds of these organizations reported health benefit cost increases of 11 percent or more over the past year, well above the reported increases for all firms. Determined to avoid negative impacts on those they serve and unable to raise additional funds, more than 60 percent of organizations reported being forced to shift more costs onto their employees, while others eliminated raises or reduced other employee benefits. The full report is available on the TCG website.