COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

The American-Scandinavian Foundation
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 131623897 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE Q200 · International Affairs · Medium ($1M-$10M)
revenue
$6.0M
expenses
$6.9M
net assets
$53.1M
employees
42
volunteers
61
program ratio
83%
mission · from form 990

TO BUILD INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING WITH EXTENSIVE PROGRAMS OF FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS, INTERN/TRAINEE SPONSORSHIP, PUBLISHING, EDUCATIONAL AND MEMBERSHIP OFFERINGS.

profile · synthesized from sources

The American-Scandinavian Foundation promotes cultural and educational exchange between the United States and the five Nordic countries. It supports fellowships and grants for Americans and Scandinavians pursuing study or research, sponsors internships, and operates Scandinavia House in New York City as a cultural hub. The organization also funds public programs, language classes, exhibitions, and publishes educational materials on Nordic culture.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $2.04M
    PUBLIC PROGRAMS - SCANDINAVIA HOUSE CONTINUES TO BE A VITAL CENTER FOR CULTURAL PROGRAMS AND EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE U.S. AND THE FIVE NORDIC COUNTRIES. MORE THAN 100 EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS WERE PRESENTED DURING THE YEAR. PUBLIC PROGRAMS INCLUDED WEEKLY SCREENINGS OF SCANDINAVIAN FILMS, MUSICAL PERFORMANCES, LECTURES, PRESENTATIONS, LANGUAGE CLASSES, EXHIBITIONS AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAM.
  2. #2 $119K
    PUBLICATIONS - THE AMERICAN-SCANDINAVIAN FOUNDATION PUBLISHES VARIOUS CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS BOTH ONLINE AND IN PRINT.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Public Programs at Scandinavia House
Hosts over 100 annual cultural events including film screenings, concerts, lectures, exhibitions, language classes, and children’s programs promoting Nordic culture in New York City
Public Project Grants
Provides grants to U.S.-based educational and cultural institutions to support projects that bring Scandinavian culture and ideas to audiences across the United States
Publications
Produces and distributes cultural and educational materials about the Nordic region in print and online
Training and Fellowship Program
Offers competitive fellowships and grants to Americans for study or research in Nordic countries and to Scandinavians in the U.S., across graduate, post-graduate, and professional levels
Training and Internship Program
Facilitates practical work experience in the U.S. and Nordic countries for young Americans and Scandinavians
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • High School Exchange Programs 1 activity
    • Administering training and internship programs with J-1 visa sponsorship
      Operates a training and internship program that enables young Americans and Scandinavians to gain practical work experience in each other's countries, providing J-1 visa sponsorship to over 200 interns and trainees annually.
  • Alumni Community Building 1 activity
    • Facilitating alumni engagement among former fellows
      Maintains a Facebook group for former fellows to connect and share updates, and publishes annual newsletters featuring news about their activities.
  • Artist Support Grants 1 activity
    • Funding fellowships and grants for U.S.-Nordic educational and cultural exchange
      Awards competitive fellowships and grants to Americans for study, research, or creative projects in the Nordic countries and to Scandinavians for similar work in the U.S., totaling nearly $700,000 annually to approximately 60 individuals. Also provides public project grants to educational and cultural institutions across the U.S. to promote Scandinavian culture and ideas.
  • Cultural Exchange and Community Integration Events 1 activity
    • Operating cultural programming at Scandinavia House
      Presents over 100 annual educational and cultural programs including film screenings, musical performances, lectures, language classes, exhibitions, and children's programs at Scandinavia House; transitioned to virtual formats during the pandemic. Includes member events such as exhibition openings, holiday parties, and receptions for major gallery shows.
  • Play-Based Early Childhood Education 1 activity
    • Providing family-focused educational programming
      Offers access to reserved play sessions at the Heimbold Family Children’s Playing & Learning Center and weekday toddler workshops as part of family membership benefits.
  • Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Publishing cultural and educational materials
      Produces and publishes print and digital content including the journal *Scandinavian Review*, newsletters *SCAN* and *The Longboat*, an annual report, and a directory of over 3,300 fellows from 1912 to 1998, distributed to members and subscribers.
  • Art Museum Funding and Support 1 activity
    • Supporting Nordic folk arts through targeted grants
      Provides funding for living Nordic folk arts and cultural traditions in the Upper Midwest, including awards to individual artists or practitioners of traditional Nordic skills and grants for public programs and community projects.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Hosting membership engagement and recognition events
      Sends weekly email updates, special ticket offers, and event information; hosts an Annual Gala Dinner, luncheons, lectures, and holiday parties honoring distinguished individuals. Also administers an annual translation competition recognizing outstanding translations of Nordic literature since 1980.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$6.04M
Contributions & grants$3.57M59%
Program service revenue$292K5%
Investment income$1.49M25%
Other revenue$690K
expenses
Total expenses$6.94M
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$2.33M
Grants paid out$1.69M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$54.99M
Cash$79K
Investments$40.39M
Liabilities$1.93M
Net assets$53.06M
Liquid reserves70.0 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +3.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 4
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
EDWARD P GALLAGHER PRESIDENT 35 $321K
SALLY YERKOVICH DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONAL EXCHAN 35 $140K
STEPHEN P MCGRATH DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMIN 35 $129K
LYNN CARTER SECRETARY 16 $26K
board members · 21
  • AGNES AHLANDER TURNER — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
  • ANDERS BRAG — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
  • ANDERS IVERSEN — DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
  • ANNIE JENSEN CHAPUR — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
  • ARTHER ZECKENDORF — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
  • BARBRO OSHER — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
  • BARD E BUNAES — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
  • BENTE SVENSEN FRANTZ — VICE CHAIRMAN FOR NORWAY
  • BETTINA SCHRIVER GOCHMAN — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
  • BJORG BERGSVEINSDOTTIR — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
  • BJORN BJERKE — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
  • CAROL DOMINA — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
  • CATHARINA WREDE BRADEN — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
  • CHARLIE KUNZER — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
  • CHRISTOPHER KANN — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
  • CHRISTOPHER KELLY — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
  • DAPHNE DAVIDSON — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
  • DAVID ER DANGOOR — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
  • EDWARD E ELSON — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
  • ELLEN PORT — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
  • EMMA AER — EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
relationships · 18

Who they work with

  • American-Scandinavian Association at Augustana College Partner — Regional group affiliated with ASF in Rock Island, IL
  • American-Scandinavian Foundation Texas Associates Partner — Regional group affiliated with ASF in Austin, TX
  • Associate Groups Network — Fifteen independent regional groups across the U.S. that sponsor local programs and share membership with ASF.
  • Central Iowa Associates of the American-Scandinavian Foundation Partner — Regional group affiliated with ASF in West Des Moines, IA
  • Danske Markets Partner — Corporate Member supporting ASF and its programming
  • Denmark Government — Country with which ASF builds cultural and educational ties
  • Facebook Partner — Hosts a private group for former ASF fellows to connect and share updates.
  • Finland Government — Country with which ASF builds cultural and educational ties
  • Iceland Government — Country with which ASF builds cultural and educational ties
  • Nobel Foundation Network — Recipient of ASF Gold Medal on the occasion of the Nobel Prize Centennial.
  • Norway Government — Country with which ASF builds cultural and educational ties
  • Scandinavia House Partner — Collaborates on program promotion and audience engagement through shared communications.
  • Scandinavia House Partner — Collaborates on programming and member benefits including events, discounts, and access to facilities.
  • Scandinavia House Partner — Headquarters of the American-Scandinavian Foundation; location of cultural and educational programs.
  • Scandinavia House Partner — Hosts public cultural programs as a center for U.S.-Nordic exchange
  • Scandinavia House Partner — Operates as the headquarters and primary site for ASF's cultural and educational programming.
  • Sweden Government — Country with which ASF builds cultural and educational ties
  • Twin Cities Associates of the American-Scandinavian Foundation Partner — Regional group affiliated with ASF in Northfield, MN
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 Center as Conduit for Public Engagement
    methodology: cultural_center_outreach
    By operating a cultural center that hosts exhibitions, performances, and educational programming, the organization increases American exposure to Nordic culture because immersive, accessible public events create shared cultural reference points that build transnational awareness.
  • Firsthand Exchange Model
    methodology: firsthand_exchange
    By enabling direct participation through fellowships, grants, internships, and public programs, the organization fosters mutual understanding between the U.S. and Nordic countries because lived experience in another culture produces deeper, more durable international engagement than passive exposure.