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THE BRONX DOCUMENTARY CENTER
BRONX, NY · EIN 452403312 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A50 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · bronxdoc.org
revenue
$1.4M
expenses
$1.7M
net assets
$516K
employees
32
volunteers
52
program ratio
79%
mission · from form 990

THE BDC USES COMMUNITY-BASED DOCUMENTARY PRACTICE AND EDUCATION TO EXPLORE VITAL ISSUES, STIMULATE CRITICAL THOUGHT, AND DRIVE SOCIAL CHANGE.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Bronx Documentary Center is a nonprofit gallery and educational space in the South Bronx that uses community-based documentary practice and education to explore vital social issues. It presents documentary photography exhibitions, offers free after-school and adult education programs in photography and film, and supports emerging filmmakers through fellowships. The organization serves primarily Bronx residents, with a focus on youth, seniors, and Latin American communities.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $114K
    PUBLIC PROGRAMS.EACH YEAR, THE BDC OFFERS DOZENS OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS IN CONJUNCTION WITH ITS MAJOR EXHIBITIONS, INCLUDING DOCUMENTARY FILM SCREENINGS, ARTIST SLIDESHOWS, OTHER INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS, AND FREE FAMILY PORTRAITS ON FIVE HOLIDAYS.
  2. #2 $212K
    EXHIBITIONSTHE BDC SEES ITS EXHIBITIONS AS A POWERFUL METHOD TO ADDRESS THE URGENT ISSUES THAT IMPACT THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES, WHILE CREATING A CRUCIAL CATALYST FOR CONVERSATION. EACH YEAR, THE BDC PRESENTS FOUR MAJOR DOCUMENTARY EXHIBITIONS-SHOWS THAT INCORPORATE A COMBINATION OF PRINTS, VIDEO, MULTIMEDIA, AND EPHEMERA.
named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Adult Education Workshops
Workshops in photography, film, and storytelling for adults at all skill levels, offered in English and Spanish
BDC Films Fellowship
Nine-month fellowship for young adult documentary filmmakers from underrepresented backgrounds, providing stipends, training, mentorship, and career development
BDC Youth Photo League
Free after-school program for middle and high school students teaching photography, film, and journalism as tools for storytelling and community documentation
Exhibitions + Public Programs
Annual presentation of at least four major documentary photography exhibitions with film screenings, panel discussions, and workshops
Latin American Foto Festival
Annual festival dedicated to Latin American and Caribbean photography, extending from the BDC to multiple venues across the South Bronx and NYC
Senior Photo League
Photography courses for older adults in partnership with Bronx senior centers, fostering community connections and creative expression
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Professional Networking Events 1 activity
    • Hosts annual Photo Portfolio Review for professional development
      Organizes an annual Photo Portfolio Review event that connects photographers with editors, curators, and industry professionals to receive feedback and advance their careers, engaging over 500 adult photographers and filmmakers through workshops, reviews, and mentoring.
  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
    • Hosts documentary photography and multimedia exhibitions
      Operates a non-profit gallery with free public admission, presenting four major documentary exhibitions annually and rotating exhibitions on social issues. The organization has hosted over 80 exhibitions featuring photography, video, and multimedia work on critical social themes, attracting more than 60,000 visitors, with 70% from the Bronx community.
  • Film Festival and Screening Programming 1 activity
    • Organizes public film screenings, artist talks, and community programs
      Hosts dozens of public programs annually, including documentary film screenings, artist talks, panel discussions, interpretive programs, and free guided tours for over 5,000 students. Also organizes the Latin American Foto Festival, the first photography festival in NYC dedicated to Central and Latin American cultures, hosted across multiple South Bronx and NYC venues.
  • Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
    • Provides free educational workshops in photography and filmmaking
      Offers hands-on workshops in photography, filmmaking, and storytelling for adults and youth of all skill levels, taught in English and Spanish. Programs include beginner and advanced black-and-white analog techniques, cellphone photography, and FAFSA completion workshops through the Everyday Bronx initiative.
  • Youth Photography Education 1 activity
    • Runs youth-focused documentary and photojournalism programs
      Operates the Youth Photo League, a tuition-free after-school program for middle and high school students that teaches documentary photography, journalism, and storytelling to help youth document their communities. The program includes professional training and has supported a 100% high school graduation rate among participants, with 90% attending college.
  • Emerging Filmmaker Support Programs 1 activity
    • Supports underrepresented documentary filmmakers through fellowship programs
      Runs a year-long, tuition-free Films Fellowship Program and a nine-month fellowship for young adult documentary filmmakers from underrepresented backgrounds, providing stipends, training, mentorship, and career development support to foster professional growth in filmmaking and photojournalism.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Provides access to analog photography facilities and darkroom rentals
      Operates BDC Labs and the Phillip Leonian Darkroom, a fully equipped analog photography facility open by appointment, offering enlargers, film scanners, processing tools, digital output stations, and one-on-one rental sessions on Saturdays for photographers and students.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.36M
Contributions & grants$1.31M96%
Program service revenue$41K3%
Investment income$8400%
Other revenue$10K
expenses
Total expenses$1.72M
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising9%
Salaries & benefits$839K
Grants paid out$6K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$671K
Cash$56K
Investments$0
Liabilities$154K
Net assets$516K
Liquid reserves0.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +47.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MICHAEL KAMBER DIRECTOR & CREATIVE DIRECT 40 $119K
DEN QUINSAY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $104K
board members · 12
  • BEDEL SAGET — CO-CHAIR
  • BETH DEMBITZER — DIRECTOR
  • BRIAN HARTMAN — CO-CHAIR
  • CECILIA BOHAN — DIRECTOR
  • DAVID DEAN — DIRECTOR
  • HENRY CHALFANT — DIRECTOR
  • JOE CONZO — DIRECTOR
  • KRISTIN JAMBERDINO — DIRECTOR
  • NADIA HALLGREN — CO-CHAIR
  • NICK QUESTED — DIRECTOR
  • SEBASTIAN JUNGER — DIRECTOR
  • SUBRATA DE — DIRECTOR
relationships · 20

Who they work with

  • Adobe Partner — Corporate partner of the Bronx Documentary Center
  • Adobe Partner — Corporate sponsor of the Bronx Documentary Center.
  • Aperture Foundation Partner — Collaborates on education programming, with joint contact via education@aperture.org.
  • Bronx Documentary Center Network — Member organization operating within the Bronx cultural and documentary community.
  • Bronx senior centers Partner — Collaborates with multiple Bronx senior centers to offer photography courses for older adults.
  • BronxCARE Health System Partner — Corporate sponsor of the Bronx Documentary Center.
  • BronxCare Health System Partner — Corporate partner of the Bronx Documentary Center
  • CUNY Lehman College Partner — Collaborates through the Mexican Studies Institute, where a BDC staff member serves as Social Media Coordinator.
  • Carlos de la Sancha Partner — BDC Labs Manager who leads one-on-one darkroom sessions and provides technical guidance in analog photography.
  • Corporate Sponsors Partner — Partners with corporations to support photography, film, and education programs through sponsorship.
  • Danielle Jackson Partner — Arts administrator and co-founder who partnered with Michael Kamber to establish the Bronx Documentary Center in its permanent location.
  • Fujifilm Partner — Corporate partner of the Bronx Documentary Center
  • Fujifilm Partner — Sponsors the Annual Portfolio Review workshop.
  • International Center of Photography Partner — Collaborates with ICP through shared programming and professional development; staff and fellows have participated in ICP programs.
  • Michael Kamber Partner — Founder of the Bronx Documentary Center who returned to the Bronx after covering conflict zones to establish the center.
  • Montefiore Health System Partner — Corporate partner of the Bronx Documentary Center
  • Montefiore Health System Partner — Corporate sponsor of the Bronx Documentary Center.
  • New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Primary government funder supporting BDC's programming
  • New York State Council on the Arts Government — State arts council providing support for BDC's programming
  • Witness Change Partner — Collaborates with Witness Change to host the 1000 Dreams exhibition at the Bronx Documentary Center.
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.

  • Community-Based Documentary Practice
    methodology: community_based_documentary_practice
    By engaging community members as co-creators in documentary practice and education, the organization fosters critical dialogue and drives social change because lived experience strengthens narrative authenticity and public impact.
  • Participatory Storytelling for Narrative Ownership
    methodology: participatory_storytelling
    By training and empowering local residents—especially youth and immigrants—to tell their own stories through documentary media, the organization amplifies underrepresented voices and builds community agency because self-representation fosters dignity, engagement, and authentic public discourse.
  • Visual Storytelling as Social Change Catalyst
    methodology: visual_storytelling_for_social_change
    By using photography, film, and exhibitions to present compelling narratives on social issues, the organization stimulates public awareness and dialogue because visual storytelling makes systemic issues emotionally resonant and accessible to broad audiences.