SYNERGY THEATER
Cite this
Plain text SYNERGY THEATER. Strategy Studio, nonprofit organization profile, tax years 2020–2025. https://strategystudio.org/org/384116407. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
APA Strategy Studio. (n.d.). SYNERGY THEATER [Nonprofit organization profile; tax years 2020–2025]. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://strategystudio.org/org/384116407
MLA “SYNERGY THEATER.” Strategy Studio, tax years 2020–2025, https://strategystudio.org/org/384116407. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.
Retrieved 2026-10-19; covers tax years 2020–2025. Data: Strategy Studio, CC BY 4.0.
2025 · Form 990EZ · revenue $157K · expenses $140K · assets $41K
- EIN
- 38-4116407
- Address
- 311 LAKE MEADOW CT, MARTINEZ, CA 94553-5481
- Website
- SynergyTheater.com
- NTEE code
- A61
- Subsection
- 501(c)(3)
- Ruling year
- 2019
- Cross-check
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Mission
Our mission is to build a better world through improvisational theater. We strive to do this in three different ways. First, by performing our shows. With each performance, we invite our community to come together and celebrate its common humanity through laughter, insight and understanding. Second, by teaching improvisation to others. In our renowned School of Improvisation, we foster the collaborative philosophy unique to our form of art. And finally, by reaching out to the next generation. Our ongoing theater enrichment programs in schools and libraries offer our kids the invaluable life skills, such as teamwork, acceptance, and cooperation, that are inherent to the practice of all live theater and especially to improvisation.
Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).
People paid by the organization
2 people paid across every filing: current people first, then by total pay from this organization. Organizations counts every nonprofit each person appears on.
| Name | Latest title | Years | Latest year pay | Total pay from here | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenn Adams | President | 2020-2025 | $77,161 | $336,231 | 1 |
| Nikki Vilas | Treasurer | 2020-2025 | $0 | $2,199 | 1 |
Officers and directors, no compensation reported
2 people listed on the returns with $0 (or no amount) in every compensation column: current people first. Hours are as filed on the latest return each person appears on.
| Name | Latest title | Years | Hrs/wk (latest) | Compensation | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karen Adams | Secretary | 2025 | 4 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Karen Harrell (former) | Secretary | 2020-2024 | 4 | $0 reported | 1 |
People by year
2025 · 3 people listed · 1 paid, $77K
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenn Adams | President | 40 | $77,161 | - | - | $77,161 | 1 |
| Nikki Vilas | Treasurer | 4 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 1 |
| Karen Adams | Secretary | 4 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 1 |
2024 · 3 people listed · 1 paid, $50K
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenn Adams | President | 40 | $49,869 | - | - | $49,869 | 1 |
| Nikki Vilas | Treasurer | 4 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 1 |
| Karen Harrell | Secretary | 4 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 1 |
2023 · 3 people listed · 2 paid, $69K
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenn Adams | President | 40 | $67,338 | - | - | $67,338 | 1 |
| Nikki Vilas | Treasurer | 4 | $1,622 | - | - | $1,622 | 1 |
| Karen Harrell | Secretary | 4 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 1 |
2022 · 3 people listed · 2 paid, $42K
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenn Adams | President | 40 | $41,985 | - | - | $41,985 | 1 |
| Nikki Vilas | Treasurer | 4 | $457 | - | - | $457 | 1 |
| Karen Harrell | Secretary | 4 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 1 |
2021 · 3 people listed · 2 paid, $54K
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenn Adams | President | 40 | $54,284 | - | - | $54,284 | 1 |
| Nikki Vilas | Treasurer | 4 | $120 | - | - | $120 | 1 |
| Karen Harrell | Secretary | 4 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 1 |
2020 · 3 people listed · 1 paid, $46K
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenn Adams | President | 40 | $45,594 | - | - | $45,594 | 1 |
| Nikki Vilas | Treasurer | 4 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 1 |
| Karen Harrell | Secretary | 4 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 1 |
Highest-paid independent contractors
No independent contractors reported.
Who gave
Contributor names are not public for this form type.
Public charities filing Form 990 or 990-EZ report large donors on Schedule B, but the IRS withholds their names and addresses from public copies. Private foundations (990-PF) are different: their contributors are public.
Finances
Newest first. Each filing: its name on one row, its figures on the row beneath. Greyed filings are superseded by a later return for the same period and are left out everywhere else on this page.
| Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Net assets | Contributions | Program revenue | Officer pay | Employees | Volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 · Form 990EZ | ||||||||
| $156,778 | $140,149 | $40,884 | $38,602 | $9,638 | $147,037 | - | - | - |
| 2024 · Form 990EZ | ||||||||
| $136,859 | $135,442 | $23,880 | $21,973 | $12,887 | $122,773 | - | - | - |
| 2023 · Form 990EZ | ||||||||
| $156,110 | $174,300 | $31,348 | $20,556 | $11,448 | $144,503 | - | - | - |
| 2022 · Form 990EZ | ||||||||
| $169,055 | $133,808 | $39,946 | $39,946 | $39,342 | $129,713 | - | - | - |
| 2021 · Form 990EZ | ||||||||
| $86,006 | $83,885 | $4,699 | $4,699 | $25,287 | $60,719 | - | - | - |
| 2020 · Form 990EZ | ||||||||
| $98,740 | $101,309 | $2,807 | $2,226 | $11,596 | $86,899 | - | - | - |
Funders of this organization
1 grantor reported grants to this organization, $61 in all, tax years 2022 to 2023. Exact: the grantor wrote this organization's EIN. Fuzzy: the grantor wrote only a name (foundations' 990-PF has no EIN field), matched to the same or a near-identical name in the same state; the name as filed is shown. From the latest return for each grantor and year, so amended returns aren't counted twice. CSV
| Grantor | Type | Match | Years given | Grants | Total | Latest year | Latest year's amount | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMAZONSMILE FOUNDATION | Private foundation | Fuzzy filed as “SYNERGY THEATER” | 2022-2023 | 2 | $61 | 2023 | $37 | show |
Similar organizations
Ranked without any AI: same NTEE code first, then the same NTEE group; then revenue within 2x, 5x or 10x; then the same state; then similar name and mission text. Same state only · More (100)
| Organization | State | NTEE | Latest revenue | Latest expenses | Top-paid title | Top pay | Why similar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THEATER 150 | CA | A61 | $255,963 | $230,159 | Artistic Director | $0 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x, same state, similar name |
| ARENA THEATER ASSOCIATION | CA | A61 | $294,804 | $297,724 | Director | $0 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x, same state |
| OJAI PERFORMING ARTS THEATER FOUNDATION | CA | A61 | $101,640 | $90,781 | Artistic Director | $3,500 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x, same state |
| SCOTTS VALLEY COMMUNITY THEATER GUILD INC | CA | A61 | $105,936 | $129,161 | Treasurer | $0 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x, same state |
| THE LANCASTER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FOUNDATION | CA | A61 | $122,632 | $84,750 | Director | $0 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x, same state |
| WEST SIDE THEATRE FOUNDATION | CA | A61 | $163,016 | $149,131 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x, same state |
| COMMUNITY ART CENTER OF THE OJAI VALLEY INC | CA | A61 | $287,396 | $286,167 | President | $0 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x, same state |
| THE JAZZ BAKERY PERFORMANCE SPACE | CA | A61 | $217,004 | $278,597 | Pres./Artistic Director | $45,780 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x, same state |
| KALADHAARA ARTS ACADEMY | CA | A61 | $131,728 | $126,664 | CEO | $0 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x, same state |
| SIERRA PERFORMING ARTS ASSOCIATION | CA | A61 | $237,699 | $235,880 | TREASURER | $7,309 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x, same state |
| PARTNERSHIP FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | CA | A61 | $161,746 | $216,904 | TREASURER | $24,000 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x, same state |
| ARTSPACE INC | CA | A61 | $310,369 | $315,910 | Executive Dir. | $55,071 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x, same state |
| CLOVERDALE PERFORMING ARTS CENTERINC | CA | A61 | $181,343 | $185,794 | Artistic Managing Director | $58,000 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x, same state |
| REBIRTH & RISE ARTS AND EDUCATION | CA | A61 | $137,545 | $137,545 | CFC | $0 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x, same state |
| OCEAN HILLS SOCIETY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | CA | A61 | $84,833 | $85,923 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x, same state |
| PACIFIC NORTHWEST THEATER | WA | A61 | $123,600 | $112,059 | Managing Artistic Director | $24,000 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x |
| SMOOT THEATER CORPORATION | WV | A61 | $120,127 | $188,490 | TREASURER | $0 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x |
| DELTA EGYPTIAN THEATER | CO | A61 | $180,351 | $189,859 | BOARD MEMBER | $0 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x |
| THEATRE ARTISTS STUDIO INC | AZ | A61 | $239,428 | $259,828 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x, similar mission |
| BAY ST LOUIS LITTLE THEATER | MS | A61 | $105,195 | $105,412 | President | $0 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x |
| ASCENSION COMMUNITY THEATER INC | LA | A61 | $259,151 | $229,110 | President | $0 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x |
| THE TIMES THEATER INC | IN | A61 | $285,394 | $268,841 | Director | $0 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x |
| BOREAL THEATER | ME | A61 | $89,824 | $68,535 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x |
| MONTANA CENTER FOR THE ARTS | MT | A61 | $233,324 | $52,397 | Co-Vice Chair | $0 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x |
| THE ART CENTER COOPERATIVE INC | FL | A61 | $163,688 | $149,544 | Presedent | $7,000 | Same NTEE code A61, revenue within 2x |
Who funds organizations like this
Grantors that funded the 100 most similar organizations. Ranked by total given to them. Foundations (990-PF) and donor-advised fund sponsors only. Same matching as Funders above (by EIN, or by name for foundations).
The full list · all similar organizations
Where the money went
Every expense line on each return, biggest first: Form 990 Part IX (with its program, management and fundraising columns), 990-EZ Part I, or 990-PF Part I. Event marks lines the organization itself describes as events. “Events” in each summary adds those lines, conferences and meetings, and the direct costs of fundraising events. Unusual is not the same as improper. Many of these patterns have ordinary explanations. Check the filing.
2025 · Form 990EZ · $140,149 spent · pay $100,552 · grants $0 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salaries, other pay and benefits | $100,552 | 71.7% | |
| Other expenses (detail on Schedule O) | $22,138 | 15.8% | |
| Occupancy, rent, utilities, maintenance | $17,427 | 12.4% | |
| Fees to independent contractors | $32 | 0.0% | |
| Total | $140,149 | 100% |
2024 · Form 990EZ · $135,442 spent · pay $98,176 · grants $0 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salaries, other pay and benefits | $98,176 | 72.5% | |
| Other expenses (detail on Schedule O) | $16,978 | 12.5% | |
| Occupancy, rent, utilities, maintenance | $16,649 | 12.3% | |
| Fees to independent contractors | $3,639 | 2.7% | |
| Total | $135,442 | 100% |
2023 · Form 990EZ · $174,300 spent · pay $130,978 · grants $0 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salaries, other pay and benefits | $130,978 | 75.1% | |
| Occupancy, rent, utilities, maintenance | $20,290 | 11.6% | |
| Other expenses (detail on Schedule O) | $19,561 | 11.2% | |
| Fees to independent contractors | $3,471 | 2.0% | |
| Total | $174,300 | 100% |
2022 · Form 990EZ · $133,808 spent · pay $101,131 · grants $0 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salaries, other pay and benefits | $101,131 | 75.6% | |
| Occupancy, rent, utilities, maintenance | $14,870 | 11.1% | |
| Other expenses (detail on Schedule O) | $14,784 | 11.0% | |
| Fees to independent contractors | $3,023 | 2.3% | |
| Total | $133,808 | 100% |
2021 · Form 990EZ · $83,885 spent · pay $68,708 · grants $0 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salaries, other pay and benefits | $68,708 | 81.9% | |
| Other expenses (detail on Schedule O) | $6,771 | 8.1% | |
| Occupancy, rent, utilities, maintenance | $5,360 | 6.4% | |
| Fees to independent contractors | $3,046 | 3.6% | |
| Total | $83,885 | 100% |
2020 · Form 990EZ · $101,309 spent · pay $84,384 · grants $0 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salaries, other pay and benefits | $84,384 | 83.3% | |
| Occupancy, rent, utilities, maintenance | $7,256 | 7.2% | |
| Other expenses (detail on Schedule O) | $6,799 | 6.7% | |
| Fees to independent contractors | $2,870 | 2.8% | |
| Total | $101,309 | 100% |