irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $126KMERMAID PARADE: ANNUAL ART PARADE THAT BRINGS ARTISTS AND CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS TO THE BEACH IN THE SPIRIT OF CONEY ISLAND'S HISTORIC MARDI GRAS PARADES. OVER 1,500 INDIVIDUALS CREATE THEIR OWN FLOATS AND COSTUMES AND PARADE THROUGH THE AMUSEMENT AREAS IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE OF OVER 750,000 ANNUALLY
- #2 $82KMUSEUM: THE CONEY ISLAND MUSEUM - THE ONLY MUSEUM IN THE UNITED STATES DEDICATED TO TELLING STORIES ABOUT THE HISTORY OF CONEY ISLAND. ALSO CIUSA.'s VISUAL ART PROGRAM. THE MUSEUM COLLECTION CONTAINS ARTIFACTS AND MATERIALS RELATED TO CONEY ISLAND's HISTORY AND TO THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN POPULAR CULTURE. EXHIBITION BRINGS VISUAL ARTISTS TO THE COLLECTION AND ASKS THEM TO TELL UNIQUE AND EXCITING STORIES USING THE OBJECTS IN THE COLLECTION AS A MEDIUM
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Burlesque at the Beach
Regular burlesque performance series showcasing themed shows, artist collectives, and annual pageants such as the Miss Coney Island Pageant.
Cemetery Cinema
Film screening series featuring classic horror and cult films such as Psycho and Frankenstein, hosted at the Coney Island USA theater.
Coney Island Museum
The only museum in the U.S. dedicated to Coney Island’s history and American popular culture, featuring curated exhibitions that use artifacts to tell cultural stories.
Mermaid Parade
Annual art parade where over 1,500 participants create costumes and floats, drawing an audience of more than 750,000 to Coney Island’s beach and amusement areas.
Sideshow School
Workshop and training program teaching sideshow performance arts, held at the Coney Island USA venue.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Community Festival & Event Production 2 activities
- Hosts the Congress of Curious PeoplesOrganizes the annual Congress of Curious Peoples, an ongoing event that celebrates unique individuals and performance artists, integrated into the organization’s broader cultural programming.
- Organizes the annual Mermaid ParadeProduces and manages the Mermaid Parade, a large-scale art parade in which over 1,500 participants create their own costumes and floats, attracting an audience of more than 750,000 people annually. The event is a registered trademark owned by the organization.
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Cultural Facility Development and Management 1 activity
- Manages and operates a multi-arts center in Coney IslandOwns and operates a multi-arts center located at 1208 Surf Avenue in Brooklyn, NY, housed in a historic Spanish Revival building, serving as the primary venue for its cultural and performance programs.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Operates the Coney Island Museum and visual art exhibitionsManages the Coney Island Museum, the only U.S. museum dedicated to the history of Coney Island and American popular culture, and hosts visual art exhibitions that use the museum’s collection as a medium for storytelling by contemporary artists, including solo exhibitions and gallery events.
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Film Festival and Screening Programming 1 activity
- Produces the Coney Island Film Festival and Cemetery Cinema seriesHosts the Coney Island Film Festival and the outdoor "Cemetery Cinema" screening series, featuring free film events with live music, audience discussions, and themed programming such as the screening of "Psycho" (1960).
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Uncategorized 4 activities
- Advocates for historic preservation of Coney Island structuresSecured landmark status in 2011 for its historic building at 1208 Surf Avenue, establishing it as the oldest legally protected structure in Coney Island.
- Hosts Burlesque at the Beach and related burlesque performancesProduces ongoing burlesque events including the annual "Burlesque at the Beach" series and the Miss Coney Island Pageant, featuring performers, go-go dancers, and live music in a theatrical format.
- Operates the Coney Island Circus SideshowRuns a recurring circus and sideshow performance series as part of its signature programming, featuring live acts that draw on the traditions of Coney Island’s performance heritage.
- Produces live variety and drag performance eventsStages live variety shows and drag performances, including one-woman shows, headliner acts, and events featuring impersonations, storytelling, improv, and guest artists, often selling out the theater venue.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$672K
Contributions & grants$172K26%
Program service revenue$490K73%
Investment income$950%
Other revenue$9K
expenses
Total expenses$727K
Program expenses75%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising9%
Salaries & benefits$505K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$5.41M
Cash$287K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$5.41M
Liquid reserves4.7 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +113.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Rinn | Artistic Director | 40 | $72K |
| James Fitzsimmons | Executive Director | 40 | $59K |
board members · 4
- Jeffery Birnbaum — Chairman of the Board
- Kate Dale — Director
- Lisa Schaefer — Director
- RICHARD HIMES — Director
relationships · 28
Who they work with
- Burlesque at the Beach Partner — Produces Burlesque at the Beach as part of its performance programming.
- Burlesque at the Beach Partner — Signature burlesque performance series.
- Close Friends Collective Partner — Co-presents the "Queer Coney Island" event featuring history and performance.
- Coney Island Circus Sideshow Partner — Core program presenting weekly sideshow performances.
- Coney Island Circus Sideshow Partner — Hosts and promotes the Coney Island Circus Sideshow as a core program.
- Coney Island Film Festival Network — Hosts and presents the Coney Island Film Festival as part of its signature programming.
- Coney Island Film Festival Partner — Film festival highlighting works connected to Coney Island and its spirit.
- Coney Island Film Festival Partner — Organizes the Coney Island Film Festival as part of its cultural programming.
- Coney Island Polar Bear Club Partner — Donated funds raised from its New Year's Day plunge to support Coney Island USA
- Congress of Curious Peoples Partner — Event celebrating human uniqueness and outsider art.
- Congress of Curious Peoples Partner — Hosts the Congress of Curious Peoples as a featured event.
- Frankfurt, Kurnit, Klein & Selz, PC Government — Provides legal advice to Coney Island USA
- Gibson, Dunn & Crutscher, LLP Government — Provides legal advice to Coney Island USA
- Haus of XXX Partner — Collaborates with members of the Haus of XXX as special guests in the Maxxxim drag performance.
- IN FLESH AND SPIRIT Partner — Live music performer at the Cemetery Cinema event.
- Jo Weldon Partner — Hosts an annual birthday show at Coney Island USA
- Mark Jacobson Partner — Writer and long-time collaborator who moderates a Q&A session with James Hamilton.
- Mermaid Parade Partner — Annual public art parade celebrating Coney Island culture.
- Mermaid Parade Partner — Organizes and hosts the Mermaid Parade as a signature annual event.
- Mermaid Parade Partner — Organizes and produces the Mermaid Parade as a signature annual event.
- Mermaid Parade participants Partner — Collaborates with over 1,500 individual artists and creators who design and present floats and costumes for the annual Mermaid Parade.
- Miss Cherry Delight Partner — Collaborates with Miss Cherry Delight to provide live music through her full band for all performance acts.
- Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP Government — Provides legal advice to Coney Island USA
- Moses & Singer Government — Provides legal advice to Coney Island USA
- Network for Good Funder — Platform used for processing donations to Coney Island USA
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Partial funder of Coney Island USA
- New York Council for the Humanities Funder — Provided a 2012 Disaster Recovery grant and supported the 2014 Congress of Curious Peoples
- The New York Community Trust Funder — Partial funder of Coney Island USA
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.
- Artist-Engaged Curation for Cultural Continuitymethodology: artist-engaged_curationBy engaging contemporary visual artists to interpret historical artifacts and museum collections, Coney Island USA connects past and present expressions of popular culture because artist-led storytelling transforms archival material into living narratives that resonate with modern audiences.
- Cultural Preservation Through Participatory Performancemethodology: cultural_preservation_through_performanceBy using live performance, themed variety shows, and participatory public events rooted in historic American popular culture forms (e.g., dime museums, burlesque, sideshows), Coney Island USA sustains and revitalizes the area’s unique cultural identity because immersive, community-involved art fosters deeper connection and continuity than static preservation alone.
- Human-Centered Creative Innovationmethodology: human-centered_creativityBy prohibiting generative AI in creative content and continuously innovating with original, non-repeating acts, Coney Island USA maintains audience engagement and artistic impact because authentic human expression and surprise drive stronger emotional resonance and cultural relevance than replicated or automated content.