irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $92KPERFORMANCES: OUR INTERACTIVE THEATRE PERFORMANCES ARE A TRANSFORMATIVE TOOL, ENGAGING STUDENTS ON A DEEPLY EMOTIONAL AND INTELLECTUAL LEVEL. CONVERSATIONS WITH ANNE IS A ONE-ACT SOLO SHOW WHICH IMMERSES STUDENTS IN THE POWERFUL WORDS OF ANNE FRANK, BRINGING EXCERPTS FROM HER DIARY TO LIFE IN AN ENGAGING AND EMOTIONALLY-CHARGED PERFORMANCE. THE PERFORMANCE CULMINATES IN A Q&A SESSION, WHERE STUDENTS CAN ASK QUESTIONS AND ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH THE CHARACTER. LETTERS FROM ANNE & MARTIN IS A POWERFUL TWO-PERSON SHOW, LETTERS FROM ANNE & MARTIN DRAWS PROFOUND PARALLELS BETWEEN THE WORDS OF ANNE FRANK AND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. THE PERFORMANCE COMBINES EXCERPTS FROM ANNES DIARY WITH KEY MOMENTS FROM DR. KINGS LETTERS FROM BIRMINGHAM JAIL.
- #2 $69KTHE SAPLING PROJECT: THE SAPLING PROJECT AWARDS AND PLANTS CHESTNUT TREES IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE U.S., EACH SAPLING SOURCED FROM THE ORIGINAL CHESTNUT TREE THAT STOOD OUTSIDE OF THE SECRET ANNEX THAT ANNE WROTE ABOUT IN HER JOURNAL-AN ENDURING SYMBOL OF BEAUTY AND HOPE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY. THE TREES ARE GROWN AT A NURSERY IN VALLONIA, INDIANA BY A TEAM OF DEDICATED STAFF. TREES ARE DELIVERED TO THE SITES CHOSEN TO RECEIVE A TREE AND EVENTUALLY PLANTED. A DEDICATION CEREMONY IS HELD AT A TIME DECIDED BY THE TREE RECIPIENT.
named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Conversations with Anne
A one-act solo theatrical performance bringing Anne Frank's diary to life, followed by a Q&A session where students engage directly with the character to deepen understanding of the Holocaust.
From Bystander to Ally Workshop
6-10 week workshop series using creative expression to teach empathy, social responsibility, and allyship, encouraging students to challenge prejudice and injustice.
Letters from Anne & Martin
Two-person show combining excerpts from Anne Frank's diary and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letters from Birmingham Jail," drawing parallels between the Holocaust and the Civil Rights Movement.
Online Film Screenings & Virtual Seminars
Virtual programs featuring the film "Carla the Rescuer" and live seminars with Holocaust survivor Carla Peperzak, available to schools and organizations nationwide.
Plenty of Courage
Theatrical performance exploring Anne Frank's inner journey, using lesser-known diary entries to reveal her personal struggles and resilience during hiding.
The Art of Self Discovery Workshop
6-10 week creative workshop series where students explore identity and self-expression through writing, painting, theater, and music, inspired by Anne Frank's use of writing as a tool for self-discovery.
The Sapling Project
Community initiative that plants chestnut trees sourced from the original tree outside the Secret Annex in communities across the U.S., accompanied by dedication ceremonies.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Civil Rights Advocacy & Litigation 1 activity
- Advocacy and public education to reduce hate and promote toleranceConducts advocacy and public education initiatives aimed at combating prejudice, reducing hate crimes, and promoting tolerance, with evidence indicating a 22% reduction in hate crime incidents over five years in communities participating in its arts and education programs.
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Arts Education Professional Development 1 activity
- Arts-based workshops for youth on identity, empathy, and social justiceOffers 6-10 week workshop series that use creative practices such as painting, writing, theater, and music to guide students in self-reflection, identity exploration, empathy development, and transitioning from passive bystanders to active allies in social justice.
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Comprehensive K–12 Arts Education 1 activity
- Educational impact through arts-based learningUses arts-based teaching methods to improve student outcomes, including a 20% reduction in prejudice, 50% increase in information retention, 70% increase in engagement, and measurable gains in critical thinking, empathy, and creative problem-solving compared to traditional methods.
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Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- School and community theater performances based on Anne Frank's diaryProduces and presents one-act solo and two-person theatrical performances, including "Conversations with Anne" and "Letters from Anne & Martin," which bring excerpts from Anne Frank's diary and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letters from Birmingham Jail" to life for students, followed by Q&A sessions to foster understanding of tolerance, resistance, and justice.
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Public Awareness and Educational Outreach 1 activity
- Speakers Bureau and continuing education programs for adultsProvides interactive, action-oriented lectures and continuing education for adults through virtual and in-person events via its Speakers Bureau, designed to empower participants to promote tolerance and positive social change.
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Holocaust and Genocide Remembrance Education 1 activity
- Virtual public events featuring Holocaust survivors and historical figuresHosts virtual screenings and webinars featuring Holocaust survivors, such as Carla Peperzak, reaching hundreds of participants across multiple states and countries to deepen public understanding of historical and social issues.
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Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Youth empowerment and leadership development through arts and educationDesigns programs that increase youth engagement in community service and leadership, making participants four times more likely to engage in advocacy, volunteering, or social action and significantly improving graduation rates and teamwork skills.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- The Sapling Project: Planting chestnut trees from Anne Frank’s original treeImplements The Sapling Project by growing, awarding, and planting chestnut trees sourced from the original tree outside Anne Frank's Secret Annex in communities across the U.S., accompanied by dedication ceremonies as living symbols of hope, resilience, and resistance to intolerance.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$368K
Contributions & grants$289K79%
Program service revenue$67K18%
Investment income$12K3%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$461K
Program expenses76%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$225K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$377K
Cash$149K
Investments$101K
Liabilities$11K
Net assets$365K
Liquid reserves6.5 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -38.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAUREN BAIRNSFATHER | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 40 | $173K |
board members · 11
- ANTHONY POLAK — TREASURER
- CHARLES GARNER — VICE CHAIRMAN
- GEORGE FECHTER — TRUSTEE
- IRENE R GOTTLIEB — TRUSTEE
- JONATHAN L COHEN — CHAIRMAN
- JULIE LINHART — TRUSTEE
- MARK SHEMTOB — CFO/TRUSTEE
- PIETER KOHNSTAM — TRUSTEE
- SALLY LEVINE — TRUSTEE
- SHARON R DOUGLAS — SECRETARY(RESIGNED 9/10/2024)
- SYNDEY CAINE — TRUSTEE
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- Anne Frank Center USA Ambassadors Network — Organizations that host lectures are part of the Anne Frank Center USA Ambassadors network.
- Anne Frank House Partner — Collaborates with the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, which holds the original photo collection and diary materials.
- Anti-Defamation League Partner — Cites data from ADL reports on antisemitic incidents and public beliefs to inform programming and advocacy.
- Battery Park City School Partner — School that participates in Anne Frank Center educational programs.
- Film Pittsburgh Partner — Collaborates through its Teen Screen program to provide educational film screenings and virtual engagement opportunities.
- NYSCA Funder — Provides partial funding for Anne Frank Center educational programs.
- Natalie Flaherty Partner — Collaborates with Natalie Flaherty on the "I Stand With Anne" initiative to spread kindness and combat hate.
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Funder — Provides funding support for Anne Frank Center educational programs, including workshops.
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Funder — Provides partial funding for Anne Frank Center educational programs.
- New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Provides funding support for Anne Frank Center educational programs, including workshops.
- Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands Government — Recognized Jack Polak's leadership with a knighthood for his work with the Anne Frank Center USA
- Teen Screen Partner — Partnership to offer online film screenings and virtual seminars, including access to _Carla the Rescuer_ for educators.
- U.S. Department of Justice Government — References DOJ data on the impact of arts and education initiatives on hate crime reduction.
- USC Shoah Foundation Partner — Collaborates on research related to Holocaust education and civic responsibility.
- University of Pennsylvania Partner — Conducts research on emotional impact of arts-based learning.
- Vallonia Nursery Partner — Partners with a nursery in Vallonia, Indiana to grow chestnut saplings for The Sapling Project.
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.
- Arts-Based Empathy and Transformative Learningmethodology: education_through_the_artsBy using education through the arts—including interactive theatre and creative expression—the organization engages students emotionally and intellectually, because artistic methods deepen empathy, enable self-discovery, and transform historical lessons into actionable understanding of injustice.
- Education as Catalyst for Youth Empowerment and Actionmethodology: youth_empowermentBy using historical insight and transformative education to empower youth as leaders, the organization inspires action against hate, because connecting learning to agency enables young people to recognize injustice and become drivers of social change.
- Story-Based Education Using Moral Exemplarmethodology: moral_exemplarBy centering Anne Frank’s personal narrative and legacy as a moral exemplar, the organization fosters empathy, moral courage, and civic engagement in youth, because relatable human stories make historical injustice personally relevant and motivate action against contemporary prejudice.