irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0Education Programs such as Staging Pride
- #2 $0Produced the annual Criminal Queerness Festival, for playwrights from countries that criminalize LGBTQ individuals, at Lincoln Center
named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Criminal Queerness Festival
Annual theater festival presenting works by LGBTQ+ playwrights from countries where queer expression is criminalized or censored, featuring performances, talkbacks, and community events in partnership with NYC Pride and HERE Arts Center.
Staging Pride
Education program focused on LGBTQ+ theater and performance, supporting emerging queer artists through workshops and public presentations.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Arts Professional Advocacy & Equity Initiatives 3 activities
- Co-founded and leads the Queer Theatre AllianceCo-founded a national coalition of queer theaters—Queer Theatre Alliance—to promote equity, empowerment, and collective action in the performing arts sector.
- Co-produces arts and education initiatives for underserved artistsCoproduced a free virtual playwriting program for undocumented and immigrant queer artists and launched the New Visions Fellowship, a commissioning program for Black trans and gender non-conforming artists, to expand creative opportunities and representation in theater.
- Partners to build capacity for queer artists in musical theatreCollaborates with Ring of Keys to support a national network of queer women+, trans, and gender non-conforming artists in musical theatre and promotes them as a hiring resource to increase representation and professional opportunities.
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LGBTQ+ Community Events and Celebrations 2 activities
- Presents additional queer theater programming and public eventsLaunches and presents supplementary theater projects such as Cherry Picked, a play reading series on Fire Island, and participates in public-facing human rights events like hosting the Little Amal puppet with a Drag Story Hour at Brooklyn Public Library.
- Produces the Criminal Queerness FestivalProduces an annual festival showcasing new theatrical works by LGBTQ+ playwrights from countries where queerness is criminalized or censored, including full productions, staged readings, and workshops. The festival has featured plays from at least 12 countries including Syria, Uganda, Iraq, India, Kenya, Lebanon, and Mexico, and has been hosted at venues such as Lincoln Center, HERE Arts Center, and presented virtually.
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Community-Engaged Theater Production 1 activity
- Develops and produces documentary theater worksCreates and produces documentary plays based on interviews with marginalized communities, including undocumented youth and people living with HIV, using theater as a tool for storytelling and advocacy.
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Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- Operates Staging Pride: Queer Youth Theater programRuns an educational theater program for LGBTQ+ youth, launched as Staging Pride, which includes performance opportunities and partnerships with organizations like Hetrick-Martin Institute to expand access and reach.
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New Play Development Programs 1 activity
- Supports early-career LGBTQ+ playwrights through development programsOffers readings, workshops, and development opportunities for early-career LGBTQ+ playwrights to advance their work and diversify American theater.
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Artist Support Grants 1 activity
- Supports international queer playwrights with funding and logistical supportProvides selected international playwrights participating in its programs with a stipend of up to $2,500, roundtrip airfare, and up to seven days of accommodations in New York City, along with dramaturgical and logistical support for readings, workshops, or full productions.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$264K
Contributions & grants$264K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$4
expenses
Total expenses$261K
Program expenses49%
Admin / overhead50%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$226K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$54K
Cash$54K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$54K
Liquid reserves2.5 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -3.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Odsess-Rubin | Director | 40 | $51K |
board members · 12
- Aaron Ellis — Secretary
- Benjamin Coy — Member
- Dashawn Usher — Member
- Donny Repsher — Member
- Jess Ducey — Co-Chair
- Joseph Hayes — Co-Chair
- Kazem Ghouchani — Member
- Keith Butler — Treasurer
- Mahima Saigal — Member
- Nicholas Wallac — Member
- Rajendra R Maharaj — Member
- Sid Quinsaat — Member
relationships · 59
Who they work with
- A.R.T./NY Funder — Funder supporting programming and general operations
- Artistic Freedom Initiative Partner — Collaborated on Immigrant Artists Night to connect immigrant artists with legal and community resources.
- Artistic Freedom Initiative Partner — Community partner collaborating to amplify the Criminal Queerness Festival's impact.
- Artistic Freedom Initiative Partner — Partnership to support international queer artists facing persecution through immigration assistance and resettlement.
- Artistic Freedom Initiative Partner — Supported the Criminal Queerness Festival as a named partner organization.
- Artistic Freedom Initiative Partner — Supporting partner of the Criminal Queerness Festival, aligned in mission to protect and promote at-risk artists.
- Arts Project of Cherry Grove Partner — Partner on Cherry Picked play reading series on Fire Island
- Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Funder — Funder supporting programming and general operations
- Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Funder — Provided seed grant for founding of National Queer Theater
- Brooklyn Arts Council Government — Administered funding from the Howard Gilman Foundation for the Criminal Queerness Festival.
- Brooklyn Arts Council Government — Administers funding from the Howard Gilman Foundation for the Criminal Queerness Festival.
- Carnegie Hall Partner — Presented NQT’s Jubilee for a New Vision as part of Afrofuturism Festival
- Civis Foundation Funder — Funder supporting programming and general operations
- David Geffen Foundation Funder — Funder supporting programming and general operations
- Distracted Globe Foundation Funder — Funder supporting programming and general operations
- Dixon Place Partner — Co-received NYC Mayor’s Grant for Cultural Impact for Criminal Queerness Festival
- Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Funder — Funder supporting programming and general operations
- Dramatists Guild of America Partner — Co-piloted New Visions Fellowship and co-presented Jubilee for a New Vision at MCC Theater
- Find Your Light Foundation Funder — Funder supporting programming and general operations
- Ford Foundation Funder — Funder supporting programming and general operations
- Gilead Foundation Funder — Funder supporting programming and general operations
- HERE Arts Center Partner — Host venue for the 2026 Criminal Queerness Festival, providing space for performances and community events.
- HERE Arts Center Partner — Partnership to produce and present multidisciplinary performance experiences by queer artists.
- HERE Arts Center Partner — Venue partner hosting the festival through the HERE Hosts program.
- Hetrick-Martin Institute Partner — New partner for Staging Pride: Queer Youth Theater program
- Hetrick-Martin Institute Partner — Partnership to support LGBTQ+ youth through safe and affirming community-building.
- Hilda D. Glenn Fund of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Funder — Funder supporting programming and general operations
- Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Provided funding for the Criminal Queerness Festival, administered through Brooklyn Arts Council.
- Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Provides funding for the Criminal Queerness Festival, administered by Brooklyn Arts Council.
- International Refugee Tribunal Partner — Collaborating partner in the Criminal Queerness Festival.
+ 29 more
strategies · 5
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.
- Amplification of Marginalized Queer Voicesmethodology: amplification-of-marginalized-voicesBy centering theatrical works from queer artists in countries that criminalize or censor queerness, we challenge dominant cultural norms and inspire global solidarity, because platforming persecuted artists disrupts Western-centric narratives and advances international awareness and change.
- Artist-Activist Coalition Buildingmethodology: artist-activist coalition buildingBy building coalitions between artists and activists, we co-develop programs through collective decision-making, because collaborative, service-driven partnerships increase program legitimacy, deepen community impact, and sustain a resilient queer artistic ecosystem.
- Healing-Centered Artistic Practicemethodology: art_for_healingBy offering free playwriting and creative expression programs for marginalized communities—particularly people living with HIV—we support emotional healing and resilience, because art serves as a therapeutic tool that restores agency and counters stigma.
- Queer Theater as Activismmethodology: queer-theater-as-activismBy integrating drag, camp, and political activism into theater, we challenge societal norms and advance LGBTQ+ visibility, because live performance serves as a form of cultural resistance that centers marginalized queer voices and fosters systemic change.
- Storytelling for Visibility and Community Buildingmethodology: storytelling-for-visibility-and-community-buildingBy amplifying diverse LGBTQ+ narratives through theater, we increase social visibility and normalization of queer identities, because authentic storytelling fosters empathy, builds cross-sector community, and strengthens collective advocacy.