irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0Wavelengths Conference is normally held during the APAP conference in New York each January and serves as space for critical dialogues between artists and arts professionals. It is considered an accessible resource for career development, networking, and leadership opportunities for the next generations of NYC arts professionals with an emphasis on younger BIPOC colleagues.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
GlobalFest Showcase
Annual concert event presenting diverse international music acts to North American presenters, venues, and audiences, serving as a platform for global artist exposure and touring opportunities.
Wavelengths Conference
Annual conference held during the APAP conference in New York that provides career development, networking, and leadership opportunities for emerging arts professionals, with emphasis on younger BIPOC colleagues.
gFTF Touring Fund
Grants $1,000–$4,000 to offset start-up costs for tours that bring GlobalFest artists to at least one new market, supporting performances in underserved or emerging markets.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 2 activities
- Operates globalFEST On The Road touring programProduces touring events through the globalFEST On The Road and gF On the Road programs, showcasing diverse global music artists across the United States and enabling them to perform in new markets. The 2025 tour included a 16-city run and raised $50,000 for a Ukrainian children's hospital.
- Organizes annual globalFEST festivalHosts an annual flagship festival each January at Lincoln Center and other venues, bringing together global and regional artists, music industry professionals, press, and audiences for a major global music event. The festival serves as a platform for curators, artists, and performing arts professionals to experience diverse global music in one night.
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Artist Support Grants 1 activity
- Funds artist touring through the globalFEST Touring FundOperates the gF Touring Fund, a grantmaking program that awards grants ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 to offset start-up costs for world music tours, enabling artists to develop new markets and audiences. In one cycle, $109,000 was awarded to 33 musical groups and over 200 individual artists.
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Cultural Exchange and Community Integration Events 1 activity
- Hosts globalFEST Hangouts in New York CityOrganizes a series of year-round events in New York City called globalFEST Hangouts, designed to connect local audiences with global music and culture through intimate performances and community engagement.
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Music Awards and Honors Programs 1 activity
- Presents annual awards for excellence in global musicRecognizes individuals and organizations for sustained achievement and long-standing contributions to cultural diversity, diplomacy, activism, and the preservation of global musical traditions in the United States through an annual awards program.
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Professional Conference & Symposium Organization 1 activity
- Produces Wavelengths: Global Music ConferenceHosts an annual two-day conference during the APAP conference in New York each January, convening global music professionals for critical dialogues, career development, networking, and leadership opportunities, with a focus on emerging and BIPOC colleagues. The event includes plenaries, panels on AI and technology in music, audience development, and cultural ecosystem balance.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Provides guest curation services at major music eventsOffers guest curation services at prominent commercial and performing arts events such as SXSW, Bonnaroo, and Lincoln Center, elevating the visibility of global music artists and expanding cultural programming.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$514K
Contributions & grants$425K83%
Program service revenue$88K17%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$200K
Program expenses77%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$33K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$354K
Cash$354K
Investments$0
Liabilities$9K
Net assets$345K
Liquid reserves21.2 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +227.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISABEL SOFFER | PRESIDENT | 15 | $17K |
| IAN THAKE | ADMIN MANAGER | 9 | $11K |
board members · 2
- BILL BRAGIN — SECRETARY
- SHANNON THAKE — TREASURER
relationships · 36
Who they work with
- APAP Partner — Hosts the Wavelengths Conference during the APAP conference in New York.
- Akshara Music Ensemble Partner — Featured as a performing artist at GlobalFest in 2025.
- Alicia Adams Partner — Featured speaker in the plenary session on artistic courage at the Wavelengths Conference.
- Association for Performing Arts Professionals Partner — Collaborates with APAP to produce the Wavelengths forum during its annual conference.
- Atomic Music Group Partner — Manages booking for artists Dale Watson & his Lone Stars and Nour Harkati.
- Authentic Beats Partner — Manages and books Dilemastronauta y La Tripulación Cósmica.
- Bamba Wassoulou Groove Partner — Featured as a performing artist at GlobalFest in 2025.
- Bonnaroo Partner — Collaborates through guest curating to elevate global music and artists at the event.
- Center for Cultural Vibrancy Partner — Co-manages booking for Saami Brothers ft. Ustad Naseeruddin Saami.
- Center for Cultural Vibrancy (CCV) Partner — Josh Kohn, Associate Director of CCV, is featured in the context of globalFEST's award recognition ecosystem, indicating a professional connection in advancing global music.
- CoveyLaw Partner — Provides legal visa services for international artists associated with globalFEST.
- Elida Almeida Partner — Featured as a performing artist at GlobalFest in 2025.
- Ford Foundation Funder — Provided support for the development of the globalFEST Touring Fund.
- Ghazi & Boom.Diwan x Arturo O’Farrill Partner — Featured as a performing artist at GlobalFest in 2025.
- Hazmat Modine Partner — Featured as a performing artist at GlobalFest in 2025.
- JanArtsNYC.org Network — Member of the JanArtsNYC network, coordinated by the NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment.
- Lincoln Center Partner — Collaborates through guest curating to elevate global music and artists at the event.
- Lincoln Center Partner — Host venue and collaborator for the annual globalFEST festival.
- Lincoln Center Partner — Hosts the globalFEST festival at its venue.
- Maruja Limón Partner — Featured as a performing artist at GlobalFest in 2025.
- Mireya Ramos and the Poor Choices Partner — Featured as a performing artist at GlobalFest in 2025.
- NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Funder — Government funder supporting globalFEST's cultural programming.
- National Endowment for the Arts Funder — Federal funder supporting globalFEST's artistic initiatives.
- Pasifika Artists Partner — Manages and books Raiatea Helm.
- Paul Beaubrun Partner — Featured as a performing artist at GlobalFest in 2025.
- Rebolu Partner — Featured as a performing artist at GlobalFest in 2025.
- Roots and Chords Music Partner — Manages and books Vopli Vidopliassova.
- SXSW Partner — Collaborates through guest curating to elevate global music and artists at the event.
- Sori Artist Partner — Manages and books Insun Park & Generals.
- Tamizdat Partner — Provides visa services for artists participating in globalFEST events.
+ 6 more
strategies · 4
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.
- Catalytic Festival Platform for Ecosystem Developmentmethodology: catalytic festival platformBy using an annual festival as a concentrated, high-impact event, Globalfest creates a catalytic moment that generates performance opportunities, strengthens professional networks, and expands audience access, thereby advancing the entire U.S. world music ecosystem.
- Cultural Diplomacy Through Musical Exchangemethodology: cultural_diplomacy_and_ecosystem_developmentBy showcasing international artists and cross-cultural collaborations, Globalfest fosters cultural diplomacy that builds mutual understanding, strengthens global artistic relationships, and expands domestic audiences for world music, using performance as a nonverbal bridge across geopolitical divides.
- Cultural Fusion as Contemporary Practicemethodology: cultural_fusionBy presenting world music as a fusion of local traditions and global influences, Globalfest reflects the authentic, hybrid practices of contemporary musicians, which increases audience engagement and relevance by moving beyond preservation of isolated traditions.
- Intentional Network Building for Underrepresented Artistsmethodology: career-development-networkingBy creating targeted networking and career development opportunities—especially during major industry gatherings—Globalfest increases access and representation for younger BIPOC arts professionals and international artists, because inclusive networks generate more equitable opportunities and broader cultural understanding.