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AMERICAN SCANDINAVIAN SOCIETY OF NEW YORK INC

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 133165785 · Form 990EZ · FY2023 · NTEE A23Z · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · americanscandinavian.org
revenue
$116K
expenses
$122K
net assets
$96K
employees
mission · from form 990

THE FOUNDATION IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO FOSTERING STRONG CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND INTELLECTUAL TIES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE NORDIC COUNTRIES (DENMARK, FINLAND, ICELAND, NORWAY, AND SWEDEN). THE SOCIETY PROMOTES THESE RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MEETINGS, RECEPTIONS, CONCERTS, LECTURES, PLAYS, AND COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS WITH SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS.

profile · synthesized from sources

The American Scandinavian Society of New York is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1908 to strengthen cultural, educational, and intellectual ties between the United States and the Nordic countries—Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. It achieves its mission through events such as lectures, concerts, art exhibitions, and the annual Christmas Dinner-Dance, all organized by volunteers. The society supports Nordic artists through cultural grants and awards, including the Elfi von Kantzow Alvin Art Award, and maintains strong ties with the Nordic consular community in New York.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Annual Christmas Dinner-Dance
Traditional gala event featuring a Lucia procession, dinner, dancing, and cultural celebration; a highlight of the season and long-standing tradition since 1909.
Art Exhibits
Exhibitions of visual art in various media from the five Nordic countries, organized by the Art Committee and hosted in galleries and cultural spaces.
Cultural Grants Program
Annual grants awarded to individuals and organizations in art, music, dance, literature, and drama; funded through the Gala Journal and selected by the Board and vice presidents representing each Nordic country.
Elfi von Kantzow Alvin Art Award
Annual award given to a woman visual artist with strong ties to one of the five Nordic countries, recognizing outstanding talent and perseverance; includes a statuette and public recognition.
Lecture and Performance Series
Regular cultural programs including lectures, concerts, plays, and discussions that showcase Nordic creativity and intellectual exchange.
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Artist Support Grants 1 activity
    • Fund artists with Nordic connections through Cultural Grant Awards
      Provides financial support and recognition to emerging and established artists—both performing and non-performing—with ties to Scandinavia through an annual Cultural Grant Awards program, funding individuals and organizations in art, music, dance, literature, and drama.
  • Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
    • Host annual signature cultural events
      Hosts recurring annual events including a Christmas Ball at the Metropolitan Club, a Spring Party, a Winter Concert at the Norwegian Church and Cultural Center, a luncheon cruise on the Hudson River, and a Christmas Dinner-Dance as central celebrations of Scandinavian heritage.
  • Cultural Exchange and Community Integration Events 1 activity
    • Organize cultural events to strengthen U.S.-Nordic ties
      Organizes concerts, lectures, plays, film presentations, book readings, storytelling events, and site tours featuring Scandinavian artists and themes in New York venues to strengthen cultural ties between the United States and Nordic countries.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Administer the Elfi von Kantzow Alvin Art Award
      Instituted in 2019, this award honors women visual artists with strong ties to one of the five Nordic countries, recognizing recipients with the Elfi statuette and associated cultural recognition.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$116K
Contributions & grants$8K7%
Program service revenue$102K88%
Investment income
Other revenue$6K
expenses
Total expenses$122K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits
Grants paid out$15K
balance sheet
Total assets$96K
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$96K
3 years on record · 2021–2023 · YoY revenue -7.9%
relationships · 39

Who they work with

  • American Scandinavian Foundation Network — Elfi von Kantzow Alvin founded the Art Program of the American Scandinavian Foundation and curated exhibitions on its behalf.
  • American Scandinavian Foundation Network — Was the first chapter of the American Scandinavian Foundation from 1919 until 1982.
  • Anne Katrine Senstad Partner — Recipient of a 2022 cultural grant
  • Brett Umlauf Partner — Recipient of a 2013 cultural grant
  • Consuls General of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden Government — Serve as honorary members, have co-sponsored events, and provided ongoing support.
  • David Coucheron Partner — Recipient of a 2005 cultural grant
  • Eeppi Ursin Partner — Recipient of a 2022 cultural grant
  • Elle Kunnos de Voss Partner — Recipient of a 2025 cultural grant
  • Hans Frode Partner — Recipient of a 2022 cultural grant
  • Ingvild Waerhaug Partner — Recipient of a 2021 cultural grant
  • International Peace Institute Partner — Hosts speeches as part of cultural programming.
  • Jane Pejtersen Partner — Recipient of a 2005 cultural grant
  • Jeffrey Leiser Partner — Recipient of a 2017 cultural grant
  • Johanna Telander Partner — Recipient of a 2021 cultural grant
  • Julia Korpinen Partner — Recipient of a 2025 cultural grant
  • Kaisa Mäensivu Partner — Recipient of a 2018 cultural grant
  • Kamilla Talbot Partner — Recipient of a 2018 cultural grant
  • Kjersti Kveli Partner — Recipient of a 2013 cultural grant
  • Kristofer Dan Bergman Partner — Recipient of a 2021 cultural grant
  • Lara Knutson Partner — Recipient of a 2021 cultural grant
  • Laura Splan Partner — Recipient of a 2025 cultural grant
  • Links Network — Connects to websites representing the five Nordic countries.
  • Maija Mäkinen Partner — Recipient of a 2025 cultural grant
  • Metropolitan Club Partner — Venue for the annual Christmas Ball.
  • Nordic Countries Partner — Collaborates with institutions and organizations in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden to promote cultural, educational, and intellectual exchange.
  • Norwegian Church and Cultural Center Partner — Venue for the Winter Concert.
  • Norwegian Seamen’s Church Partner — Has served as the Society's home and venue for office and events since 1985.
  • Oskar Stenmark Partner — Recipient of a 2017 cultural grant
  • Rannveig Marta Sarc Partner — Recipient of a 2017 cultural grant
  • Sandra Lied Haga Partner — Recipient of a 2022 cultural grant
+ 9 more
strategies · 4

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.

  • Cultural Exchange Through Arts and Education
    methodology: cultural_exchange
    By sponsoring cultural, educational, and artistic programming, the organization strengthens U.S.-Scandinavian relations because shared artistic and intellectual experiences foster mutual understanding and sustained cross-cultural engagement.
  • Grant-Funded Support for Nordic Artists
    methodology: cultural_grantmaking
    By awarding grants to individual artists and cultural practitioners with Nordic ties, the organization enhances public appreciation of Scandinavian culture because direct investment in creative expression amplifies cultural visibility and authenticity.
  • Member-Driven Cultural Programming
    methodology: member-driven cultural programming
    By relying on member support and engagement, the organization sustains Nordic cultural initiatives because community ownership increases participation and long-term commitment to preserving heritage.
  • Volunteer-Powered Organizational Model
    methodology: volunteer-driven operations
    By operating through volunteer leadership and skills-based recruitment, the organization sustains cultural programming because leveraging professional expertise and community commitment enables efficient, mission-aligned delivery of events and initiatives.