named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Caffè Lena On The Road
Community outreach program that brings live music performances to senior living centers, healthcare facilities, and soup kitchens throughout the Capital Region.
Caffè Lena TV
Digital streaming platform offering live and archived performances, educational content, and unlimited subscription access to concerts and video archives.
Captain Fun Lunchtime Listening Hour
Monthly noontime event where community members curate and share playlists from a donated vinyl collection, fostering musical connection and discovery.
Folk Club Kids
Free weekly 30-minute live music program for children ages 18 months to 5 years and their caregivers, featuring folk trio performances, movement, and singing in an interactive setting.
Little Folks Series
Family-friendly concerts featuring professional musicians performing for young children and caregivers in a relaxed, participatory environment.
School of Music at Caffe Lena
Offers group music classes for children and adults in American roots music, focusing on learning by ear, ensemble playing, and songwriting. Includes youth ensembles, adult workshops, and online classes.
activities · 11 groups
What they do
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Engages volunteers in venue operations and programmingUtilizes at least thirty volunteers weekly in roles including greeting, serving, food preparation, dishwashing, merchandise sales, ushering, and facility maintenance. Offers volunteer opportunities to individuals as young as thirteen, and engages weekday volunteers in administrative tasks such as data entry, mailings, and social media.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Hosts live music performances in folk, bluegrass, jazz, and related genresProduces evening concerts and special events featuring folk, bluegrass, singer-songwriters, jazz, global traditions, poetry, and storytelling in an intimate historic venue recognized as the longest continuously operating folk music venue in the United States. Events include monthly public listening events and family-friendly performances.
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Public Access to Digital and Physical Library Collections 1 activity
- Manages a public listening library of recorded musicMaintains a listening library of 1,516 vinyl albums and several hundred CDs from Al "Captain Fun" McKenney's collection, accessible to the public.
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Early Childhood Music Education 1 activity
- Offers free weekly music and movement program for young childrenProvides a free, weekly 30-minute interactive program of live music, stories, and movement for children ages 18 months to 5 years and their caregivers, livestreamed on YouTube with archived access.
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Live Music Performances for Seniors and Isolated Populations 1 activity
- Presents outreach performances in senior and community care settingsBrings live, interactive music performances to senior living communities, healthcare facilities, and community spaces to engage older adults and vulnerable populations.
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Historic Theater and Arts Venue Preservation 1 activity
- Preserves and maintains historic performance venueOperates and maintains a historic 19th-century building, completed a renovation in 2017 to achieve full handicap accessibility and enhance the performance experience.
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Digital Music and Performance Archiving 1 activity
- Produces and livestreams performances through Caffè Lena TVOffers live streaming of performances via Caffè Lena TV, with 100% of ticket revenue benefiting the performing artists, and provides subscription options for on-demand viewing and archive access.
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Traditional & Cultural Performing Arts 1 activity
- Promotes public education in folk music history and traditionsAdvances public understanding of current and historical folk music through programming and performance, as stated in IRS filings.
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Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
- Provides music education programs for children and adultsOffers group and ensemble music instruction for students from 18 months through adulthood in American roots music, including guitar, mandolin, upright bass, and banjo, through the Caffè Lena School of Music. Classes are offered in-person and online via Zoom, with recorded sessions archived for ongoing access.
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Music Education Support 1 activity
- Supports access to music education through scholarships and instrument lendingProvides full scholarships that include instruments for individuals in need and maintains an instrument library to support access to music education, particularly for children.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Produces and performs original music through artist ensemblesFormed and performs as the musical trio Jamcrackers, composed of Dan Berggren, Peggy Lynn, and Dan Duggan, performing original works inspired by Adirondack river drivers, and continues performances posthumously to honor Dan Duggan’s legacy.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.69M
Contributions & grants$757K45%
Program service revenue$784K46%
Investment income$8K1%
Other revenue$146K
expenses
Total expenses$1.64M
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$638K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.71M
Cash$515K
Investments$0
Liabilities$80K
Net assets$2.63M
Liquid reserves3.8 mo
4 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +5.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARAH CRAIG | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-NON VOT | 40 | $103K |
| JOSEPH JENCKS | DIRECTOR | 1 | $2K |
| CASSANDRA KUBINSKI | DIRECTOR | 1 | $2K |
board members · 16
- BRAD FARRELL — DIRECTOR
- BRIAN O'CONOR — DIRECTOR
- CARLTON DEBRULE — DIRECTOR
- ERIC GORDON — SECRETARY
- GORDON BOYD — DIRECTOR
- JEFF CHEEK — DIRECTOR
- JOSEPH CONLON — DIRECTOR
- KIRA KARBOCUS — BOARD CHAIR
- MARGO OLSON — DIRECTOR
- MARLY NORRIS — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL ECK — DIRECTOR
- NANCY KASS — DIRECTOR
- NANCY NELSON — DIRECTOR
- PAMELA ABRAMS — OFFICER
- PETER R MARTIN — TREASURER
- STACEY BARRICK — DIRECTOR
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- Al “Captain Fun” McKenney Partner — Donated a collection of vinyl records and CDs that formed the Captain Fun Listening Library.
- Andy & Bill Spence Funder — Sponsors of the Folk Club Kids program
- Bill McKibben Partner — Endorsed artist Dan Berggren's work, highlighting his role as a folk singer articulating important social messages.
- Bonnie Raitt Partner — Artist who has publicly endorsed Rory Block in content hosted on Caffè Lena's website.
- Caffè Lena School of Music Network — Educational arm offering music instruction connected to the Caffè Lena performance venue.
- Caffè Lena TV Network — Platform for streaming live performances from Caffè Lena, integrated into the organization's programming and audience engagement model.
- Caffè Lena TV Network — Streaming platform providing access to live shows and archival content from the Caffè Lena Vault.
- Dake Family Fund of The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Funder — Supports the School of Music at Caffe Lena.
- GRAMMY Foundation Government — Recognized for important contributions to the development of American music.
- Guitaro5000 Partner — Collaborated with Caffè Lena on the On The Road residencies visiting senior living centers and soup kitchens.
- Kevin & Claudia Bright Funder — Generous supporters enabling the Little Folks Series.
- Library of Congress Government — Recognized by the Library of Congress as “An American music treasure.”
- Reese Fulmer Partner — Created a documentary film about Caffe Lena's volunteer program, providing behind-the-scenes visibility into volunteer contributions.
- Rory Block Partner — Performer featured in a live event and livestream hosted by Caffè Lena.
- Stewart’s Shops Funder — Supports the School of Music at Caffe Lena.
strategies · 7
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.
- Artist Development Through Accessmethodology: artist-development-through-accessBy programming diverse shows that prioritize emerging and lesser-known artists alongside established performers, CAFFE LENA fosters year-round musical discovery and career growth, because equitable access to performance platforms enables artistic development and audience expansion.
- Artist-Centered Revenue Modelmethodology: artist-centered_revenue_modelBy directing all livestream ticket revenue directly to performing artists, CAFFE LENA supports sustainable artist livelihoods, because financial return tied directly to performance incentivizes artistic participation and affirms the value of creative labor.
- Community-Curated Programmingmethodology: community-curated_programmingBy involving community members in curating playlists from the Captain Fun Listening Library, CAFFE LENA strengthens local ownership of cultural programming, because participatory curation deepens engagement and reflects community identity in artistic offerings.
- Cultural Legacy Through Live Performancemethodology: cultural_legacy_through_live_performanceBy hosting ongoing evening concerts across acoustic music genres and spoken word traditions, CAFFE LENA sustains a living cultural legacy, because continuous public performance keeps folk traditions active and accessible across generations.
- Ear-Based Folk Learningmethodology: ear-based_learningBy teaching music by ear rather than through sheet music, CAFFE LENA promotes lifelong musical engagement and social connection, because aural learning mirrors traditional folk pedagogy and lowers barriers to participation.
- Family-Inclusive Developmental Programmingmethodology: music-for-developmentBy offering live music, stories, and movement for children ages 18 months to 5 years in a welcoming environment, CAFFE LENA supports early childhood development, because participatory music experiences enhance language, motor, and social-emotional growth.
- Intimate Artist-Audience Connectionmethodology: intimate_artist_audience_connectionBy designing intimate performance experiences that emphasize storytelling and artistic presence, CAFFE LENA enhances audience engagement, because closeness fosters emotional resonance and deeper appreciation of folk traditions.