Interested in joining the board? Submit a brief letter of interest, and we will be in touch about next steps, which will include learning more about Steep and sharing more information about yourself. Our application process is designed to create transparency around expectations and engagement and to help us get to know each other and our goals.

Questions about the board or not sure whether board service would fit into your life? Ask away! We look forward to the conversation.

About Steep Theatre

Mission

To bring out the everyday truths in the stories we tell through ensemble work and to reach out to non-traditional theatregoers by seeking out stories and creating experiences relevant to them.

Vision

Steep believes theatre should stoke conversations about the issues and conditions that are a part of all of our lives; conversations that take place between artists and audiences in the theatre, in the bar, and long after everyone has gone home. Steep’s goal is to welcome new voices and perspectives into the conversations sparked by the work on stage by reaching people who may not see theatre as a relevant art form with stories that touch their lives and an environment that is welcoming to everyone. By inviting a diverse array of voices into our home, Steep hopes to ensure that theatre remains a viable, vital, and productive art form.

Structure

Founded in 2000, Steep Theatre is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization incorporated in the State of Illinois.

Steep’s artistic ensemble is 47 actors, directors, designers, writers, and other theatre artists who shape the organization’s mission and its art. Steep’s board of directors is a group of 10-15 volunteers who support the work of the ensemble while assuring that Steep is acting in a way that is aligned with the company’s stated values and is ethically, financially, and legally sound. Steep has a paid staff of four: Artistic Director, Executive Director, Audience & Artist Experience Manager, and Marketing & Communications Manager.

Goals

Steep has three primary objectives for financial growth and mission fulfillment in the coming years. All three advance the goals of producing powerful art, living its values as an anti-racist theatre company, and building a sustainable organization for the future.

• Establish a new theatre venue where Steep can support artists and welcome audiences in a way that is aligned with its values while building equity and financial stability for the future.

• Increase artist compensation and support in a way that prioritizes equity and inclusion while keeping Steep competitive in the artistic and technical labor markets.

• Develop a staff structure that both supports the goals of the organization and prioritizes a sustainable professional culture.

More about Steep

About Steep’s Board: FAQ

Who is currently on the board?

Cooper Melgreen (Mindbreeze), President
Anne Puotinen, Secretary
Doug Passmore (Unico), Treasurer

Dave Bartusek (Prairie Home Builders)
Dave Bock (Nationwide Insurance Company)
Kelly Carpenter (Carpenter Financial)
Sonya Dekhtyar (William Blair)
Stu Kiesow
Ted Lowitz (Lowitz & Company)
Anne Marie Dumas Mitchell (Columbia College / Bark Design)
Jessica Schrey (Starcom MediaVest Group)

What is the mission of the Board of Directors?

The Board’s mission is to support the work of the Ensemble, while assuring that Steep is acting in a way that is aligned with our stated values and is ethically, financially, and legally sound. In essence, the members of the Board are responsible for the wellbeing of the theatre.

Board members serve a fiduciary role in the Steep organization. This is a legal term meaning Board members – individually and as a group – must act ethically, in accordance with the law, and always with the welfare of Steep in mind. Board members are not paid for their time, they are volunteers. They may be, of course, reimbursed for approved out-of-pocket expenses, but they do not profit financially from their work on the board. In fact, board members are required to avoid conflicts of interest, always keeping Steep’s financial interests above their personal interests.

Why do people join the Board?

Board members come from a variety of backgrounds and join for any number of reasons, but many say the biggest reason is that they value the art Steep creates and the community it fosters, and they want to help it succeed.

Board members enjoy…

• introducing new people to Steep by bringing friends, family, and acquaintances to shows.

• sharing their expertise and skills by serving on committees and advising staff.

• being a part of the Steep community where they meet new people who share their values and interests.

• knowing that they are contributing to the cultural life of the city.

• supporting Steep financially to the extent they are able.

What is required to serve as a member of the Board?

• The work on stage is central to Steep’s operation, and board members are expected to attend each major production at least once. For most board members, this means purchasing a season subscription.

• In addition to the four plays Steep produces each season, there are occasional special programs and events, which board members are expected to attend.

• As leaders in their areas of expertise, board members are expected to share their expertise with the organization.

• Board members also serve as Steep’s ambassadors to the community, helping to spread the word about Steep’s work. This includes bringing friends to Steep productions and events, and promoting the work of the theater in their social circles and/or on social media.

• Attend monthly board meetings, which are typically held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm. Board members are expected to attend every meeting and are required to attend at least nine out of the twelve meetings each year.

• Vote on motions put before the board.

• Participate actively in at least one committee and/or task force.

• Stay informed about committee matters, prepare well for meetings, and review and comment on agenda items and reports.

• Volunteer for committee assignments and complete them thoroughly and on time.

Are board members required to donate money to Steep?

While many nonprofit boards require their members to give a set minimum amount of money each year or to personally raise that amount by getting friends and colleagues to contribute (known as a “give/get”) Steep’s board does not have a required amount. Instead, each board member is expected to make a personally significant individual gift related to their financial means, and is asked to solicit donations from within their social and business network as appropriate. This may include matching gifts from the board member’s employer. Board members are also encouraged to make in-kind contributions of goods or services whenever possible and appropriate.

Steep’s major fundraising event typically happens in the fall each year. Board members are expected to help organize the event, purchase a ticket to the event, and encourage friends and colleagues to do the same.

Practically speaking, what do Steep’s Board members do?

A board member’s work on behalf of Steep typically amounts to an average of one to two hours per week, depending on how active the member’s committees are.

Board members:

• attend monthly board meetings.

• participate in the work of Board committees and task forces.

• serve as Steep’s advocates at meetings and events.

• promote Steep in their social circles and, when appropriate, their professional circles.

• support Steep financially, to the extent they are able.

The board as a whole…

• is legally liable for actions and operations of the not-for-profit corporation that is Steep Theatre. Individually and collectively, the Board has ultimate responsibility to ensure that the organization operates in accordance with all relevant laws and regulations.

• has ultimate responsibilities for the financial wellbeing of the organization.

• hires the Executive Director and sets the Executive Director’s salary.

• reviews and approves the annual budget and periodic budget updates which are prepared by the Executive Director with input from the Board Treasurer and Board Finance Committee.

How is the board organized?

Three board members are elected to the offices of President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Collectively, these are the board’s Officers.

• The President leads the meetings and oversees all of the work of the Board. The President acts as a sounding board for the Executive Director and offers support as necessary.

• The Treasurer leads the Finance Committee and works with the Executive Director to set the theatre’s annual budget and review the organization’s’ financial audit.

• The Secretary takes notes during monthly Board meetings, prepares minutes that serve as a record of the Board’s discussions and decisions, and signs legal documents, as necessary.

Board members serve on one or more committees / task forces. Currently, the most active groups include:

• Executive - Made up of the current board officers

• Finance - Reviews and Approves operating budgets.

• Governance - Reviews legal matters that arise in the Board’s work

• Membership - Cultivates new board members and helps new members get to know Steep and the Board

• Nominating - Nominates the annual slate of officers

• Anti-Racism Action Group – Develops and reviews anti-racism strategic plans

• New Building Working Group – Helps guides Steep’s efforts to establish a new home venue