irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $50KTRAVEL EXPENSES. THIS INCLUDES ALL EXPENSES NECESSARY FOR THE CORP TO TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO PERFORM IN COMPETITIONS. CORP HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN WINNING AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS.
- #2 $43KOCCUPANCY. AMOUNTS PAID FOR RENTING FACILITIES FOR PRACTICE PURPOSES.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Annual Competitive Season
Yearly production of a themed field show performed at regional and national competitions; includes full ensemble of brass, percussion, and color guard.
Membership Development Program
Training and audition process for adult musicians and performers of all experience levels; includes section placement, rehearsals, and performance coaching.
Volunteer Engagement Program
Recruits and coordinates volunteers for logistics, meals, prop building, transportation, and administrative support throughout the season.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Music Education and Training Programs 2 activities
- Conducts annual drum corps season with structured training and performance phasesRuns a full annual season from November to August that includes auditions, rehearsals, spring training, and competitive performances, offering membership opportunities to individuals of all ages and skill levels.
- Supports musical role development and inclusion for woodwind playersTrains woodwind players to transition into brass, percussion, color guard, or drum major roles and will offer featured solo woodwind performance opportunities starting in the 2025 season.
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Youth Volleyball Club Programs 1 activity
- Competes in national drum corps competitionsParticipates in DCI All-Age Class and DCA competitions across the United States, achieving awards and high placements including second place in the 2024 DCI All-Age Open Class with a score of 86.775 and multiple historical championships in DCA Class A and Open Class divisions.
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Community Event Fundraising 1 activity
- Hosts weekly community bingo eventsHosts bingo games every Wednesday evening at Gates Center Bingo as a regular community engagement and fundraising activity.
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Performing Arts Venue Rental 1 activity
- Leases and rents facilities and equipment for rehearsals and performancesRents rehearsal and practice facilities, leases musical instruments, and covers associated rent and utility costs to support year-round operations.
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Event and Production Volunteer Coordination 1 activity
- Operates year-round volunteer program for corps logistics and operationsMaintains a volunteer program that supports meal service, equipment transport, prop construction, uniform fitting, administrative tasks, and other logistical needs essential to rehearsal and competition operations.
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Member Hardship Assistance Programs 1 activity
- Provides member support services during rehearsal and performance seasonsOffers free weekend housing, meals during rehearsals and performances, and provides marching shoes through donor support to members participating in the annual season.
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Uncategorized 3 activities
- Designs and implements new uniforms and visual identityCompleted a full brand overhaul including the design and production of new marching uniforms in partnership with G2 Performance, focused on improved fit, range of motion, and alignment with organizational identity rather than thematic concepts.
- Hosts and organizes major drum corps championship eventsHosted the 2023 DCA World Championships in Rochester, NY, and organized large-scale performances including a collaborative “God Bless America” by 12 drum corps to honor the American Legion and VFW traditions; also hosts regional events such as the DCI Syracuse event at Central Square High School.
- Participates in public parades and community performancesPerforms in local public events such as the July 4th parade in Irondequoit, NY, engaging with the community outside formal competition settings.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$203K
Contributions & grants$92K45%
Program service revenue$12K6%
Investment income$3K2%
Other revenue$96K
expenses
Total expenses$193K
Program expenses100%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$104K
Cash$9K
Investments$0
Liabilities$84K
Net assets$20K
Liquid reserves0.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +64.8%
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- American Legion Network — Recognized as a foundational organization in the roots of all-age and senior drum corps activity.
- DCA Network — Member organization competing in Drum Corps Associates (DCA) circuit since 2005.
- DCI Network — Member of the DCI All-Age Class beginning in 2024 after DCA corps were integrated under the DCI umbrella.
- Drum Corps Associates Network — Formerly affiliated with DCA, now performs under the DCI All-Age Class
- Drum Corps Associates Network — Member of the DCA competitive circuit, participating in the World Class division.
- Drum Corps Associates Network — Part of the former Drum Corps Associates "Senior Corps" groups now under DCI All-Age division.
- Drum Corps International Network — Member of the DCI All-Age division and participates in DCI-sanctioned championship events.
- Drum Corps International Network — Participates in DCI-sanctioned events including DCI Syracuse, DCI Pittsburgh, and DCI All-Age Championships.
- Drum Corps International Network — Participates in the DCI All-Age Class under the Drum Corps International umbrella
- Drum Corps International Partner — Collaborating to transition the all-age drum corps platform into a new structure known as “DCI All-Age” beginning in 2024.
- G2 Performance Partner — Manufactured new marching uniforms for the White Sabers Drum Corps
- Gates Center Bingo Partner — Hosts White Sabers' weekly bingo games at Patriot Hall
- National Honor Society Partner — Provides verification of volunteer hours for members participating in National Honor Society requirements.
- VFW Network — Recognized as a foundational organization in the roots of all-age and senior drum corps activity.
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.
- Competition-Based Arts Educationmethodology: competition_based_arts_educationBy engaging members in competitive performance circuits, the organization fosters artistic development and skill mastery, because structured evaluation and peer comparison motivate growth and excellence in musical and visual performance.
- Inclusive Participation Modelmethodology: all_age_inclusive_schedulingBy using a weekend-only rehearsal schedule and financial subsidies, the organization enables participation across age groups and economic backgrounds, because flexible timing and reduced cost barriers allow broader access to sustained arts engagement.
- Story-Driven Performance Frameworkmethodology: story_driven_performanceBy integrating narrative, music, and visual design into a cohesive thematic concept—often drawn from popular films—the organization creates immersive performances that enhance audience engagement and member artistic expression, because storytelling deepens emotional resonance and performance unity.