irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $1.43MEDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THE APOLLO REMAINS A LEADING CULTURAL ANCHOR FOR UPPER MANHATTAN AND THE 125TH STREET CORRIDOR, ENGAGING AN ANNUAL AUDIENCE OF MORE THAN 150,000, INCLUDING HARLEM AND NEW YORK RESIDENTS AS WELL AS NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS. IN ADDITION TO PERFORMING ARTS, THE APOLLO OFFERS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS IMPORTANT ISSUES AND MEANINGFULLY ENGAGE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD INCLUDING: A FREE ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE APOLLO HISTORIC BACKSTAGE TOURS SUBSIDIZED TICKETING PROGRAMS THE FREE UPTOWN HALL SERIES FOSTERING DIALOGUE AROUND PRESSING ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY; (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Amateur Night at the Apollo
Iconic talent competition launched in 1934 that continues to discover and showcase emerging artists from diverse genres.
Apollo Historic Backstage Tours
Free guided tours offering public access to the historic theater’s backstage areas and cultural legacy.
Apollo Oral History Project
In-school program where Harlem students create original theatrical and multimedia works based on local history and community stories.
Apollo Theater Academy
Hands-on youth program offering technical theater apprenticeships, administrative internships, and career development for underserved teens.
School Day Live and Family Showtime
Programs providing students, teachers, and families access to world-class performing arts performances on the Apollo stage.
Uptown Hall Series
Free public forum fostering dialogue around pressing social and community issues through performances and discussions.
activities · 11 groups
What they do
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Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- Deliver educational programs for students and schoolsProvides school-day performances, interactive multimedia tours, and in-school programs where students create theatrical and multimedia projects based on local history; enables over 11,000 students, teachers, and families annually to attend performances and offers curriculum-aligned resources.
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Storytelling and Literacy Resource Development 1 activity
- Develop and maintain digital educational resourcesOperates Apollo Stories, a digital learning hub offering lesson plans and study guides for high school educators focused on justice, culture, and identity, and provides downloadable resources connected to performances, tours, and Apollo Walk of Fame inductees.
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Accessibility Services for Cultural Programs 1 activity
- Ensure venue accessibility and inclusionProvides accessible entrances, seating, restrooms, and other facilities at its venues to ensure inclusive access for all guests.
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Performing Arts Ticket Access Programs 1 activity
- Expand access through subsidized and free programmingOffers 50% ticket discounts to Harlem residents, employees, business owners, and students; provides free and low-cost community programs including an annual open house, holiday events, and subsidized rentals at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria to increase accessibility to the arts.
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Arts and Cultural Workforce Training 1 activity
- Offer career and leadership development for youthRuns apprenticeships, internships, and workshops in arts administration and technical theater production for underserved teens and young adults, including hands-on experience in lighting, audio, videography, set design, and event planning, culminating in original projects or events produced in collaboration with Apollo staff.
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Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
- Operate digital and physical public tours and historical engagementOffers 60–75 minute behind-the-scenes tours of The Apollo, including storytelling and archival materials led by historian Billy “Mr. Apollo” Mitchell, and conducts thematic, interactive school tours aligned with academic standards; also relit the theater’s iconic marquee as part of ongoing historical stewardship.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Present public performances and cultural programmingHosts a diverse range of live events including music, dance, and theater productions; comedy shows; film screenings; and festivals that center Black artists and narratives from the African Diaspora, such as the Apollo Music Café, Apollo Comedy Club, and co-presented events like Best of The Apollo in Washington, D.C.
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Benefit Events for Arts and Culture 1 activity
- Produce community and fundraising eventsHosts annual fundraising events such as the Spring Benefit and star-studded Hamptons celebration, as well as community events like Harlem Summer Nights and teen parties at The Apollo Stages, featuring live entertainment, dancing, and cultural experiences to engage diverse audiences.
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Arts Education Professional Development 1 activity
- Provide professional learning for educatorsOffers workshops for K–12 educators that provide resources and strategies to integrate the arts into classroom curricula, aligned with academic standards and qualifying for NYS-approved CTLE credits.
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Support master artists through long-term residenciesRuns a three-year Master Artist in Residence program that supports the creation of new artistic and civic works, currently hosted by Kamasi Washington.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Host and produce Amateur Night at The Apollo talent competitionProduces a weekly talent competition every Wednesday at The Apollo Theater, offering performers a chance to win up to $20,000, with a separate $5,000 prize category for performers under 18; the program has launched the careers of numerous legendary artists since 1934 and includes live audience participation in determining outcomes.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$16.29M
Contributions & grants$9.67M59%
Program service revenue$5.84M36%
Investment income$747K5%
Other revenue$34K
expenses
Total expenses$20.96M
Program expenses72%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$11.83M
Grants paid out$72K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$127.26M
Cash$3.90M
Investments$9.64M
Liabilities$27.61M
Net assets$99.65M
Liquid reserves7.8 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +12.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 9
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHELLE EBANKS | PRESIDENT & CEO | 35 | $422K |
| ALDO SCROFANI | COO | 35 | $346K |
| KAMILAH FORBES | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER | 35 | $271K |
| DONNA LIEBERMAN | FORMER SR. DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 35 | $231K |
| SHANNON E MCPHEE | SENIOR DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT | 35 | $165K |
| LAURA E GREER | ASSOCIATE PRODUCER | 35 | $154K |
| QAADI MCKENNEY | SR.DIRECTOR OF THEATER OPS | 35 | $153K |
| KELLY MCKAIG | SR. DIRECTOR OF FINANCE (UNTIL 08/24) | 35 | $151K |
| LEATRICE L ELLZY-MCNAIR | SR.DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING | 35 | $151K |
board members · 16
- AARON HOLIDAY — MEMBER
- ANDRE BRANCH — MEMBER
- BRONSON VAN WYCK — MEMBER
- CARLOS WHITAKER — MEMBER
- CAROLYN MINICK MASON — MEMBER
- CHARLES PHILLIPS — CHAIRMAN
- DAISEY M HOLMES — SECRETARY
- DAWANNA WILLIAMS — MEMBER
- DEREK JONES — MEMBER
- HOWARD SCHIFFMAN — MEMBER
- JOANN PRICE — MEMBER
- KAREN L PAVLIN — MEMBER
- KEVIN MORRISON — MEMBER
- KWANZA JONES — MEMBER
- LOU D'AMBROSIO — MEMBER
- MARK GETACHEW — MEMBER
relationships · 47
Who they work with
- American Express Partner — Supports The Apollo as a Benefactor for Harlem Summer Nights.
- American Express Partner — Supports The Apollo as a Benefactor-level donor.
- American Express Partner — Supports the Teen Takeover event as a Benefactor.
- Bloomberg Philanthropies Partner — Supports The Apollo as a Benefactor for Harlem Summer Nights.
- Bloomberg Philanthropies Partner — Supports The Apollo as a Benefactor-level donor.
- Bloomberg Philanthropies Partner — Supports the Teen Takeover event as a Benefactor.
- Brownstone Partner — Performing artist group participating in the Apollo in the Hamptons fundraising event.
- Cedric the Entertainer Partner — Collaborated with Cedric the Entertainer as a lead cast member in the Broadway production of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.
- Cezar Williams, AD of The Fire This Time Festival Partner — Engaged Cezar Williams as moderator for a post-show conversation on collective memory and trauma.
- Citi Partner — Supports The Apollo as a Vice Chair for Harlem Summer Nights.
- Citi Partner — Supports The Apollo as a Vice Chair-level donor.
- Citi Partner — Supports the Teen Takeover event as a Vice Chair.
- DJ Aktive Partner — Performing DJ participating in the Apollo in the Hamptons fundraising event.
- Debbie Allen Partner — Collaborated with Debbie Allen as director of the Broadway production of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.
- Estelle Partner — Performing artist participating in the Apollo in the Hamptons fundraising event.
- Fashion Institute of Technology Partner — Collaborates with The Apollo on the Live Wire series, including a deep dive into Hip Hop Style.
- Fredara Hadley, Ph.D. Partner — Engaged Fredara Hadley, Ph.D. as moderator for a post-show conversation on the Great Migration.
- Goldman Sachs Partner — Supports The Apollo as a Vice Chair for Harlem Summer Nights.
- Goldman Sachs Partner — Supports The Apollo as a Vice Chair-level donor.
- Goldman Sachs Partner — Supports the Teen Takeover event as a Vice Chair.
- IBM Partner — Supports The Apollo as a Vice Chair for Harlem Summer Nights.
- IBM Partner — Supports The Apollo as a Vice Chair-level donor.
- IBM Partner — Supports the Teen Takeover event as a Vice Chair.
- Inner City Broadcasting Corporation Partner — Partnered with Percy Sutton’s Inner City Broadcasting Corporation in the 1981 purchase of The Apollo Theater.
- JP Morgan Chase Partner — Supports The Apollo as a Leading Benefactor for Harlem Summer Nights.
- JP Morgan Chase Partner — Supports The Apollo as a Leading Benefactor.
- JP Morgan Chase Partner — Supports the Teen Takeover event as a Leading Benefactor.
- Joyce Theater Partner — Partnered with The Apollo for the presentation of Camille A. Brown’s dance work _ink_.
- Kwanza Jones Partner — Collaborated on the Culture In Motion™ Roadshow.
- Morgan Stanley Partner — Supports The Apollo as a Benefactor for Harlem Summer Nights.
+ 17 more
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.
- Artist-Centered Incubation for Cultural Innovationmethodology: artist_incubationBy centering Black artists and voices from the African Diaspora in its programming and providing a platform for artistic development, the Apollo Theater cultivates emerging talent and drives cultural innovation, because authentic artistic expression fuels both individual careers and broader redefinition of the American performing arts canon.
- Arts-Integrated Education for Youth Voice and Community Understandingmethodology: arts_integration_across_disciplinesBy using inquiry-based, interdisciplinary arts education that connects to academic standards and centers the Black experience, the Apollo fosters youth voice and deepens community understanding, because integrating arts and humanities enables critical engagement with history and social issues in ways that traditional pedagogy cannot.
- Community-Engaged Access to Sustain Cultural Legacymethodology: community_engaged_accessBy offering discounted tickets and programming led by local youth, the Apollo increases access for Harlem residents and strengthens community ownership, because removing financial and representational barriers ensures the institution remains a living, participatory part of the cultural ecosystem it was built to serve.