WACO (WHERE ART CAN OCCUR) THEATER CENTER IS A PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT PRESENTS, COMMISSIONS AND DEVELOPS ARTISTIC WORKS DEDICATED TO STORIES OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA. CO-FOUNDED BY RICHARD LAWSON AND TINA KNOWLES, WACO PROVIDES ARTISTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE A PLATFORM TO VOICE AND SHOWCASE THEIR CREATIVITY TO CONNECT AND INSPIRE OTHERS. WACO'S ARTISTIC AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE DRIVEN BY FOUR VALUES. WE CREATE WORK THAT UNAPOLOGETICALLY: CENTERS BLACK ART AND CULTURE FROM A DIASPORIC LENS AND VOICE; INCUBATES AND LAUNCHES NEW CREATIVE IDEAS TO MEMORIALIZE THE PAST AND ENVISION THE FUTURE OF BLACK LIFE; IS COLLABORATIVE AND LEADS WITH AN UBUNTU MINDSET, "I AM, BECAUSE WE ARE- AND SERVES THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND CIVIC PRIORITIES OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND BLACK LOS ANGELES. NOW IN OUR EIGHTH SEASON, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO ELEVATE AN EMPHASIS ON THE HISTORY OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA AND CULTURE IN OUR PROGRAMMING. WE FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THE POWER
Executive compensation
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 2 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California.
| Position | Total |
|---|---|
President Median to 75th percentile | $125k $138k |
Vice-preside Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $125k $138k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 5 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at WACO THEATER CENTER equaled 6% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
Based on 17,098 arts, culture & humanities organizations, each measured at its most recent filing year with reported expenses and compensation.
Funded by
Private foundations whose Form 990-PF Part XV grants matched this organization.
Held steady
from 2022
From $125k in 2022 to $125k in 2023.
Estimated with Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Vice President pay held roughly steady from 2022 to 2023, while revenue fell 28%.
- Chief Executive Officer pay held roughly steady from 2022 to 2023.
Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2022 and 2023.
Among peers
Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.
Common questions about WACO THEATER CENTER
What does the Chief Executive Officer of WACO THEATER CENTER earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of WACO THEATER CENTER received $125,000 in total compensation. This pay is above the median (the midpoint) for Chief Executive Officer roles among Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California, within the top half of comparable filings. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at WACO THEATER CENTER compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at WACO THEATER CENTER falls between the median and the 75th percentile. In 2023, the highest total compensation at WACO THEATER CENTER equaled 6% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
What are WACO THEATER CENTER's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, WACO THEATER CENTER reported $1.3M in total revenue and $2M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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