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BARENBOIM-SAID FOUNDATION (USA)

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 562468453 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A69 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · barenboimsaidusa.org
revenue
$216K
expenses
$254K
net assets
$471K
employees
3
volunteers
14
program ratio
58%
mission · from form 990

TO PROMOTE COEXISTENCE AND INTERACTION AMONGST CULTURES THROUGH MUSIC AND MUSIC EDUCATION.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Barenboim-Said Foundation (USA) promotes coexistence and intercultural dialogue through music and music education, primarily by supporting young musicians from the Middle East and North Africa. It sustains the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, a professional ensemble of Arab, Israeli, and other musicians, and funds music education programs in Palestine, including a music center and kindergarten in Ramallah. The foundation is based in New York City and was established in 2004.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Barenboim-Said Akademie
Conservatory in Berlin offering a four-year bachelor’s program in music and the humanities for talented young musicians primarily from the Middle East and North Africa.
Barenboim-Said Music Centre
Music education program in Ramallah for students aged 4–18, preparing them for professional music careers and advanced study at the Barenboim-Said Akademie in Berlin.
Edward W. Said Music Kindergarten
Early music education program in Ramallah for young children, fostering musical development from an early age.
West-Eastern Divan Orchestra
Professional orchestra composed of young musicians from Israel, Palestine, and other Arab countries, promoting transcultural dialogue through classical music and performing at major international venues.
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Music Education and Training Programs 4 activities
    • Empowering young musicians from the Middle East and North Africa
      Runs capacity-building initiatives designed to develop the artistic and intellectual potential of young musicians from the Middle East and North Africa.
    • Hosting annual summer workshops for musicians
      Organizes an annual summer workshop in Seville, Spain, bringing together young musicians for intensive training and cross-cultural exchange.
    • Providing after-school music education in Ramallah
      Delivers music instruction to over 110 students aged 4–18 at the Barenboim-Said Music Centre in Ramallah, preparing them for professional music careers and further study.
    • Running the Barenboim-Said Akademie in Berlin
      Operates a higher education conservatory offering a four-year bachelor’s program in music and the humanities for students primarily from the Middle East, North Africa, and globally.
  • Support for Israeli Educational Institutions 1 activity
    • Funding music education programs in Palestine and Israel
      Provides financial support for music education initiatives including the Barenboim-Said Music Centre and the Edward W. Said Music Kindergarten in Ramallah, as well as programs across Israel and Palestine.
  • Artist Support Grants 1 activity
    • Funding musical and educational development for young musicians
      Finances projects and programs that support young musicians from the Middle East and North Africa in achieving artistic excellence through music and education.
  • Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
    • Operating the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra
      Runs the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, a professional ensemble that brings together young musicians and thinkers from the Middle East and surrounding regions for performance and dialogue.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$216K
Contributions & grants$216K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$3470%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$254K
Program expenses58%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising23%
Salaries & benefits$113K
Grants paid out$62K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$517K
Cash$313K
Investments$0
Liabilities$46K
Net assets$471K
Liquid reserves14.8 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -18.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
THOMAS CASSERLY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $92K
board members · 13
  • ANGEL COLLADO SCHWARZ — VICE PRESIDENT
  • DANIEL BARENBOIM — PRESIDENT
  • DAVID V FOSTER — DIRECTOR
  • HON LAKHDAR BRAHIMI — DIRECTOR
  • KAREEM ROUSTOM — DIRECTOR
  • MARIAM C SAID — VICE PRESIDENT
  • MICHAEL P STEINBERG — DIRECTOR
  • NAZEEH HABACHY — SECRETARY & TREASURER
  • NICOLE FOSTER — DIRECTOR
  • RICHARD A DEBS — DIRECTOR THRU JAN 2024
  • SALEEM ABBOUD ASHKAR — DIRECTOR
  • WADIE E SAID — DIRECTOR
  • ZARIN MEHTA — DIRECTOR
relationships · 10

Who they work with

  • Barenboim-Said Akademie Partner — Founded and operates in conjunction with the Barenboim-Said Akademie to provide music and humanities education to students from the Middle East.
  • Daniel Barenboim Partner — Co-founder of the Barenboim-Said Foundation (USA).
  • Daniel Barenboim Partner — Co-led a workshop for young Arab and Israeli musicians and co-founded the West Eastern Divan Orchestra.
  • Edward W. Said Partner — Co-founder of the Barenboim-Said Foundation (USA).
  • Regional Government of Andalusia Funder — Primary sponsor of the Barenboim-Said Foundation (USA).
  • United Nations Government — Designated the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra as a Global Advocate for Cultural Understanding.
  • West Eastern Divan Orchestra Partner — Music ensemble established as a result of a workshop co-led by Edward W. Said, which the Barenboim-Said Foundation (USA) supports.
  • West-Eastern Divan Orchestra Partner — Co-founded and collaborates with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra to promote cultural dialogue through music.
  • West-Eastern Divan Orchestra Partner — Core artistic and humanitarian initiative co-founded by Daniel Barenboim and Edward W. Said, supported by the foundation.
  • Yo-Yo Ma Partner — Co-conducted a workshop with Edward W. Said and Daniel Barenboim for young Arab and Israeli musicians in Weimar, Germany.
strategies · 2

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 Music to Advance Social Change
    methodology: cultural_exchange
    By using music as a universal language and platform for cultural exchange, the organization promotes humanistic values and serves as a catalyst for social change, because immersive, cross-cultural artistic dialogue builds mutual recognition and counters prejudice among youth from divided communities.
  • Music as a Tool for Coexistence and Peacebuilding
    methodology: music-for-peacebuilding
    By engaging young musicians from conflicting regions, particularly Israelis and Palestinians, in collaborative music-making and music education, the organization fosters mutual understanding, breaks down cultural and political barriers, and models coexistence, because shared artistic practice creates emotional receptivity, dialogue, and a lived experience of equality and cooperation.