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APERTURE FOUNDATION INC

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 133120824 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A190 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · aperture.org
revenue
$6.6M
expenses
$7.4M
net assets
$7.0M
employees
52
program ratio
59%
mission · from form 990

PUBLICATION OF BOOKS, MAGAZINES, AND MAINTENANCE OF AN ART GALLERY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING AN APPRECIATION OF PHOTOGRAPHY & VISUAL ARTS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Aperture Foundation promotes the appreciation of photography and visual arts through the publication of books and magazines, and the operation of an art gallery in New York City. The organization engages audiences via public programs, member events, and curated experiences such as photobook discussions and international art fair trips. It serves photography enthusiasts, artists, and collectors, with a focus on New York and global photographic culture.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Aperture Gallery Exhibitions
Curated gallery displays featuring photography from Aperture publications and New York–based artists, to be hosted in the organization’s new Upper West Side space opening in 2026
Aperture Patron Trip to Paris Photo
Exclusive annual trip for Patron-level members and above, including VIP access to Paris Photo, artist studio visits, curator-led tours, and private receptions
Aperture PhotoBook Club
Free public events featuring discussions on photobooks with editors, curators, and media professionals; focuses on themes such as New York City’s photographic legacy
activities · 3 groups

What they do

  • Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
    • Hosts public events and discussions on photography
      Organizes events such as the PhotoBook Club in New York City, featuring panel discussions with photography and media professionals about the role of photobooks in shaping cultural understandings of place and identity.
  • Artist and Curatorial Publications 1 activity
    • Produces photography publications and operates an art gallery
      Produces books and magazines focused on photography and visual arts, and maintains a physical art gallery to promote public appreciation of photography. This includes curating photographic works for display in its Upper West Side location in New York City.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Organizes annual patron trips to major photography events
      Hosts an annual trip to Paris Photo that includes guided tours with artists, studio visits with Parisian photographers, private museum tours, and hosted gatherings with curators and photography professionals for patrons.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$6.65M
Contributions & grants$3.69M55%
Program service revenue$488K7%
Investment income$20K0%
Other revenue$2.45M
expenses
Total expenses$7.36M
Program expenses59%
Admin / overhead24%
Fundraising17%
Salaries & benefits$3.65M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$19.56M
Cash$310K
Investments$9K
Liabilities$12.55M
Net assets$7.02M
Liquid reserves0.5 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -23.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 4
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
SARAH MEISTER EXECUTIVE DIR. 40 $286K
MARY COLMAN ST JOHN CFO 40 $167K
MICHAEL FAMIGHETTI EMPLOYEE 40 $134K
KELLIE MCLAUGHLIN EMPLOYEE 40 $125K
board members · 21
  • ALLAN CHAPIN — TRUSTEE/SECY
  • ANDREW E LEWIN — TRUSTEE
  • BRUCE HALPRYN — TRUSTEE
  • CASEY WEYAND — TRUSTEE
  • CATHY KAPLAN — TTEE/CHAIRMAN
  • COLETTE VEASEY-CULLORS — TRUSTEE
  • DAWOUD BEY — TRUSTEE
  • DEBORAH WILLIS — TRUSTEE
  • ELIZABETH KAHANE — TRUSTEE
  • HELEN NITKIN — TRUSTEE
  • JULIE BEDARD — TRUSTEE
  • KATE CORDSEN — TRUSTEE
  • KENNETH MONTAGUE — TRUSTEE
  • KWAME BRATHWAITE — TRUSTEE
  • LINDSAY MCCRUM — TRUSTEE
  • LISA ROSENBLUM — TRUSTEE/VICE CHAIR
  • LYLE ASHTON HARRIS — TRUSTEE
  • MELISSA O'SHAUGHNESSY — TRUSTEE
  • MICHAEL HOEH — TRUSTEE/TREAS
  • PETER BARBUR — TRUSTEE
  • PHILLIPPE LAUMONT — TRUSTEE
relationships · 6

Who they work with

  • Dashwood Books Partner — Represented in a PhotoBook Club panel discussion through contributor Miwa Susuda.
  • FotoFocus Funder — Provided support for the 2026 Aperture PhotoBook Club events.
  • Museum of the City of New York Partner — Represented in a PhotoBook Club panel discussion through contributor Elisabeth Sherman.
  • Paris Photo Partner — Collaborates with Paris Photo to provide exclusive access and programming for Aperture patrons during the annual art fair.
  • T Magazine Partner — Represented in a PhotoBook Club panel discussion through contributor Nicole Acheampong.
  • The New Yorker Partner — Represented in a PhotoBook Club panel discussion through contributor Paul Moakley.
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.

  • Multimodal Arts Engagement
    methodology: multimodal arts engagement
    By combining the publication of books and magazines with the operation of an art gallery, the organization amplifies public appreciation of photography and visual arts because multiple access points deepen audience engagement and broaden reach across diverse publics.
  • Public Engagement Through Cultural Access
    methodology: public-engagement
    By hosting free and publicly accessible events centered on photobooks and their cultural significance, the organization fosters community dialogue and inclusion because removing financial and institutional barriers enables broader participation and democratizes access to art discourse.