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UJIMA COMPANY INCORPORATED
BUFFALO, NY · EIN 222543797 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A65Z · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · ujimacoinc.org
revenue
$439K
expenses
$546K
net assets
$1.5M
employees
6
volunteers
55
program ratio
65%
mission · from form 990

TO FURTHER UCI'S ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE, THEATER ARTS, AND CULTURAL EDUCATION.

profile · synthesized from sources

Ujima Company Incorporated is a multi-ethnic, multicultural professional theater company founded in 1978 in Buffalo, NY, dedicated to preserving and performing African American theater. It provides training and employment opportunities for established and aspiring artists, with a focus on social justice, civic engagement, and community building through theater. The organization operates as a collective and produces works that reflect the lives of African Americans, people of color, and marginalized communities.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $117K
    THE DUNBAR THEATER ARTS TRAINING PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL AND CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES AND TRAINING FOR YOUNG ARTISTS OF COLOR.
  2. #2 $25K
    UCI CONTINUED SERVING AS A RESOURCE TO PERSONS, COMMUNITY AGENCIES, AND INSTITUTIONS SERVING NON-VIOLENCE, CULTURE, DIVERSITY, UNDERSERVED YOUTH, AND POSITIVE VALUES NECESSARY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BELOVED COMMUNITY.
named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Resource for Community Agencies
Serves as a resource for persons, community agencies, and institutions focused on non-violence, cultural diversity, and positive values for youth development
The Dunbar Theater Arts Training
Provides educational and creative opportunities and training for young artists of color, including a reboot of the youth theater program at School 77
Ujima at School 77
Community-centered theater initiative at the old School 77 on Buffalo’s West Side, producing professional theater that reflects marginalized voices and fosters civic dialogue
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Regional Arts Advocacy & Promotion 1 activity
    • Advancing frontline arts and cultural equity through coalition building
      Co-founded Frontline Arts Buffalo in 2018 to strengthen frontline cultural organizations and participated in the Crossroads Coalition and Crossroads Collective to integrate artistic practice into New Economy and Just Transition frameworks in Buffalo’s frontline communities.
  • Campus Construction and Renovation Projects 1 activity
    • Capital campaign for new facility development
      Conducted a capital campaign to develop a new permanent facility for Ujima Company at School 77 on Buffalo’s West Side, expanding organizational capacity and community access.
  • Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
    • Community engagement and public events programming
      Hosts recurring community events including "The Pit" all-styles dance competition (twice annually), "Tune" immersive poetry and music events, and the Lorna C. Hill Speaking Contest co-presented with Buffalo Public Schools, which engages district-wide student participation culminating in performances at the Lorna C. Hill Theater.
  • Historic Theater and Arts Venue Preservation 1 activity
    • Operating and maintaining the Lorna C. Hill Theater
      Manages and maintains the Lorna C. Hill Theater through volunteer-supported upkeep, provides accessible seating (including handicapped and wheelchair access), general admission, and offers concessions and merchandise during live performances.
  • Performing Arts Production Support 1 activity
    • Presentation of new artists and performing arts groups
      Supports emerging artists and local performing arts organizations by presenting their work on Ujima’s stage and providing performance opportunities within its programming framework.
  • Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
    • Producing and performing original and socially relevant theater
      Creates and stages theatrical productions that reflect African American lives and address community themes such as war, religion, women in gangs, genocide, resilience, and intergenerational relationships. Recent productions include "Godspell," "Straight White Men," "The Brothers Size," "Yalla Bitch," "Juicy and Delicious," "Where We Stand," "Unfinished Women Cry in No Man's Land," "Hang Time," "Chimera: The Body as Archive," "Tune," and "Flying."
  • Subsidized Rehearsal and Performance Space 1 activity
    • Providing theater access and infrastructure support to other arts organizations
      Offers rehearsal space, theater access, and technical support to other arts groups to facilitate virtual programming, performance recordings, and streaming productions, particularly during transitions to digital formats.
  • Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
    • Youth theater arts training through the Dunbar Theater Arts Training Program
      Provides interdisciplinary arts education and professional development for youth aged 12–18 through the Dunbar Theater Arts Training Program, including training in acting, music, dance, and technical theater. Offers advanced students roles in professional productions and instruction in resume-building, audition skills, and professional etiquette. Program was delivered in-person and transitioned to a digital format during remote operations.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$439K
Contributions & grants$376K86%
Program service revenue$49K11%
Investment income$4K1%
Other revenue$9K
expenses
Total expenses$546K
Program expenses65%
Admin / overhead22%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$245K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.68M
Cash$787K
Investments$0
Liabilities$151K
Net assets$1.53M
Liquid reserves17.3 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -28.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MARIA TA EXECUTIVE DI 40 $43K
board members · 9
  • AMILCAR HILL — DIRECTOR
  • CHARLES CLARK — DIRECTOR
  • DEBORA OTT — SECRETARY
  • GERALD RAMSEY — PRESIDENT
  • JAMES BACHWITZ — DIRECTOR
  • PATRICE CATHEY — PRESIDENT
  • PAUL BATTAGLIA — TREASURER
  • RAHWA GHIRMATZION — VICE PRESIDE
  • SARAH NORAT-PHILLIPS — DIRECTOR
relationships · 27

Who they work with

  • Bob Ball Partner — Close collaborator and community member who maintained a lasting relationship with Lorna C. Hill from 1978 until her passing.
  • Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Partner — Site for student field trips and cultural enrichment activities.
  • Buffalo Public Schools Partner — Partners with the Office of Culturally & Linguistically Responsive Initiatives to present the Lorna C. Hill Speaking Contest.
  • County of Erie Government — Government entity providing public funding support for Ujima Company.
  • Crossroads Partner — Partnership in advocacy for a socially just community.
  • Crossroads Coalition Coalition — Active participant in a collective of progressive organizations building a community-controlled economy in Buffalo.
  • Crossroads Collective Partner — Collaborated to integrate artistic practice into New Economy and Just Transition frameworks in Buffalo's frontline communities.
  • Empower Camp Partner — Shared board membership with Ujima Company, Inc., indicating organizational collaboration.
  • Erie County Legislator Lawrence Dupre Government — Local legislative supporter providing funding or sponsorship for Ujima Company's work.
  • Friends of Knox Farm State Park, Inc. Partner — Shared board membership with Ujima Company, Inc., indicating organizational collaboration.
  • Frontline Arts Buffalo Partner — Founding member of the coalition supporting frontline arts and cultural organizations in Buffalo.
  • Frontline Arts Buffalo Partner — Partnership in advocacy for a socially just community.
  • Just Buffalo Literary Center Partner — Shared board membership with Ujima Company, Inc., indicating organizational collaboration.
  • Kathleen Golde Partner — Collaborates with acclaimed high flyer and educator Kathleen Golde on the production "Flying."
  • Lorna C Hill Theater Partner — Volunteer activities are conducted at the Lorna C Hill Theater, indicating a partnership or shared-use relationship.
  • Lorna C. Hill Partner — Founded Ujima Company, Inc. and began company training in December 1978.
  • Lorna C. Hill Partner — Founder and visionary of Ujima Company, Inc., who established the organization's mission and artistic direction.
  • Lorna C. Hill Theater Partner — Hosts performances at the Lorna C. Hill Theater inside the former School 77 on Buffalo’s West Side.
  • Neal Wilkinson Partner — Collaborates with scenic designer Neal Wilkinson on the production of "Hang Time."
  • New York State Council on the Arts Government — Public funder that distributes support for Ujima Company's artistic programs.
  • Partnership for the Public Good Partner — Partnership in advocacy for a socially just community.
  • Rahwa Ghirmatzion Partner — Close collaborator and community member who maintained a lasting relationship with Lorna C. Hill from 1978 until her passing.
  • Shakespeare in Deleware Park Partner — Site for student field trips and cultural enrichment activities.
  • Shea’s Performing Arts Center Partner — Site for student field trips and cultural enrichment activities.
  • Strong Museum of Play Partner — Site for student field trips and cultural enrichment activities.
  • Ujima Company members Partner — Longstanding artistic and community collaborators who worked closely with Lorna C. Hill throughout her leadership.
  • Zora Howard Partner — Produces and stages the play "Hang Time" by Zora Howard, who also directs the production.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Collective Work and Responsibility Model
    methodology: collective_work_and_responsibility
    By organizing as a collective with shared ownership and mutual accountability, the organization fosters community collaboration, mentorship, and artistic development, because this model strengthens trust, engagement, and cultural continuity among Black theatre artists and youth.
  • Culturally Grounded Youth Development
    methodology: cultural-heritage-based arts education
    By grounding arts education in ancestral performance traditions and interdisciplinary artist-led training, the organization nurtures emerging artists of color, because culturally rooted practice enhances identity formation, artistic skill, and community belonging.
  • Theatre for Social Change
    methodology: theatre_for_social_change
    By using theatre, literature, and music to explore socially relevant themes—especially intersectional identity, class, and gender—the organization advances civic dialogue and transforms communities, because provocative art deepens empathy and understanding across lived experiences.