Opening Act Inc.

“Form 990, Part III, Line 4a - Program Service Accomplishments: The Organization was founded to address a clear need for teens attending the most underserved public high schools in New York City to feel a greater sense of empowerment and purpose in life. Their vision is to offer an accessible high-quality arts education program to the citys most underserved students - those who could benefit the most from their program. Since its founding, the Organization has reached more than 3,000 teens attending more than 70 high schools on 32 educational campuses in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx. The Organizations core After School Theater Program (ASTP) uses theater training to help young people in unstable school environments develop their leadership and collaboration skills. Their innovative, high quality, free, theater programming employs its signature tools of improvisation, acting, and original writing to help young people develop a greater sense of empowerment and purpose in life. Teens in grades 6-12 make a voluntary commitment to attend the 30 weekly 2-hour sessions. Each program serves approximately 25 students, led by teams of 2-3 teaching artists including one lead teacher who has had at least one full year of training and in-classroom experience with the Organization. The culmination of each core after school program is an original production, created and performed by the students in professional theaters. The Organization intentionally targets schools located in traditionally under-resourced communities including Brownsville, East New York, and the South Bronx. They specifically reach out to schools with lower than average graduation rates and an evident lack of theater programming. Many of their partnering schools have been flagged by the Department of Education (DOE) as under-performing and are at risk of closure; these sites lack the resources needed to provide their students with comprehensive arts programming. Through a partnership with District 79, NYC Department of Educations Alternative High School program, the Organization is also working with some of the citys most vulnerable youth including those who are homeless, teen parents, or formerly incarcerated. Key to their mission is a steadfast commitment to ensuring that all of their programs continue to be offered free of charge to both schools and students so that they may remain a consistent and positive force in their students lives, regardless of fluctuating school budgets and priorities. The Organization offers all participants opportunities to develop social emotional competencies-key indicators of long-term success-such as positive self identity, social skills, and self management. They provide ancillary programming designed to support students and address their concrete needs beyond the artistic training they receive in the core after school program - services that not only reinforce and deepen the core programming, but encourage students to think more expansively about applying their newly acquired skills to build careers and to pursue further learning and leadership opportunities beyond their familiar everyday environment. These programs include the Student Leadership Company and the Summer Arts and Leadership Conservatory, as well as the Act 2: College and Career Readiness Program, which further supports program participants as they navigate the transition from high school into college and the world of work. The Organization also recognizes and honors its students - they are some of NYCs most passionate, imaginative, and engaging young people who, while story-rich, are poorly served by the inequitable and under-resourced public education system. From Brooklyn and Manhattan to the Bronx and Queens, the student population includes immigrant youth, NYC natives, English language learners, and students from families with deep roots in the communities into which the Organization has been invited. Their students are primarily young people of color (47%”

“After management reviewed and approved the Form 990, it was sent to the entire Board via email for a review period. At the end of the review period, the board met and discussed any comments about the Form 990 and formally approved the documents filing at the end of the discussion. The approval of the Form 990 was documented in the meetings minutes.”

“Conflicts of interest are consistently monitored over time by annual statements disclosing potential interests signed by board members and staff.”

“The compensation arrangement must be approved in advance (before any payment is made) by the Board composed entirely of individuals who do not have a conflict of interest with respect to the compensation arrangement (example: neither the executive whose compensation is being determined nor any of his/her family members may be present during the discussion/debate or participate in the vote). When the Board is considering compensation to covered individuals, it must rely on comparability data that demonstrate the fair market value of the compensation in question. Any discussion and all decisions are documented in board meeting minutes.”

“The salaries of other key employees are determined by the board of directors. Comparable data is presented in the form of the Salary Survey from the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York. Any discussion and all decisions are documented in board meeting minutes.”

“The Federal Forms 1023 and 990, and the NY CHAR500 are available in accordance with Federal and State regulations. The audited financial statements, and the conflict of interest policy are available on Guidestar.”