irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0PRODUCTION OF ORIGINAL AND REVIVAL THEATER AND MUSICAL PERFORMANCES OF VARIOUS HISTORICAL AND RELEVANT SHOWS, WHICH TOURS NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY IN ORDER TO RE-ESTABLISH HARLEM AS A WORLD ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL CENTER.
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Alive + Kickin’ Senior Workshop
Arts and performance program for seniors aged 55 and older, fostering creativity and intergenerational engagement.
Harlem Healing Project
Community initiative promoting healing and connection through music, particularly in response to social justice movements like Black Lives Matter.
Mama Music Program
Free music education program for teenagers focusing on gospel, jazz, and R&B, including vocal training, music history, and performance opportunities.
Original African American Musical Theater
Production of original and revival theater works such as "Mama I Want to Sing" and "Alive 55+ and Kickin’" to showcase Black artistic excellence.
Sing Harlem
Professional choir that performs nationally and internationally, featured on shows like The Tonight Show and Saturday Night Live.
Wednesday Sings
Weekly tuition-free singing workshop for adults and graduates of Gospel for Teens, fostering community through collective music-making.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Music Education and Training Programs 2 activities
- Tuition-free music education for youth and adultsOffers a tuition-free music education program for students and free weekly singing workshops for adults, grounded in gospel, jazz, R&B, and other foundational Black musical traditions, focusing on vocal technique, music history, artistic skill, confidence, and community engagement. The Gospel for Teens program serves 50 to 75 teenage participants each semester.
- Workshops and training in Black musical traditionsConducts workshops and music lessons in gospel, jazz, and R&B to promote Black musical arts and identify and train the next generation of performers, including through in-school programming and community-based training grounds.
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Comprehensive K–12 Arts Education 1 activity
- Community arts programming and performance initiativesProvides arts education and community programming through initiatives including Mama Music Matters, In-School Programming, Sing Harlem, Harlem Healing Project, and Wednesday Sings, offering performance opportunities and training in singing, acting, dancing, and theater for individuals of all ages. Sing Harlem has performed on national platforms including The Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live, the Grammy Awards, and Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Week.
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Community-Engaged Public Art Projects 1 activity
- Participation in racial justice advocacy and community muralsEngages in racial justice initiatives through partnerships on community projects such as the Black Lives Matter Mural on 125th Street and related community events that advance cultural and social equity.
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Traditional & Cultural Performing Arts 1 activity
- Production of original and revival African American musical theaterProduces original and revival African American musical theater productions such as "Mama I Want to Sing" and "Alive! 55+ and Kickin’", which are performed locally in Harlem and tour nationally and internationally to re-establish Harlem as a global artistic and cultural center.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$1.43M
Contributions & grants$931K65%
Program service revenue$444K31%
Investment income$49K3%
Other revenue$10K
expenses
Total expenses$1.76M
Program expenses58%
Admin / overhead34%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$1.20M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.07M
Cash$550K
Investments$1.24M
Liabilities$24K
Net assets$2.04M
Liquid reserves12.2 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -13.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KNOELLE WYDRO | PROGRAM DIRE | 40 | $118K |
| VY HIGGINSEN | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $99K |
board members · 11
- ANDREA CISCO — SECRETARY
- DAVID RIMMER — TRUSTEE
- ED BLUMENFELD — TRUSTEE
- JEFFREY ANDERSON — TREASURER
- JOYCE DAVIS — CO-CHAIR
- KERY DAVIS — CO-CHAIR
- NIGEL PIERCE — TRUSTEE
- PATRICK JC SHAW — TRUSTEE
- RITA RODIN — TRUSTEE
- ROBIN HOMMEL — TRUSTEE
- SAMANTHA DAVIS — TRUSTEE
relationships · 3
Who they work with
- Alive! 55+ and Kickin’ Partner — Collaborative production partner in original African American musical theater
- Black Lives Matter Partner — Partnering organization for the Black Lives Matter Mural on 125th Street and associated racial justice community events.
- Mama, I Want to Sing! Partner — Legacy musical that inspired the founding of Mama Foundation for the Arts and is central to its programming and identity.
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.
- Cultural Preservation and Promotion Through Performancemethodology: cultural_preservation_and_promotionBy presenting and touring original and revival productions rooted in gospel, jazz, and R&B, the organization revitalizes Harlem’s cultural legacy and affirms Black artistic excellence, because public performance sustains intergenerational cultural continuity and global recognition.
- Culturally Grounded Music Education for Empowermentmethodology: culturally_grounded_arts_educationBy grounding music education and collective music-making in Black musical traditions, the organization fosters artistic development, personal empowerment, and intergenerational healing, because cultural relevance deepens engagement and builds self-confidence.
- Inclusive Access Through Tuition-Free Music Participationmethodology: inclusive_access_modelBy offering tuition-free, high-energy music intensives, the organization ensures broad community access to arts training, because removing financial barriers enables participation across age, background, and experience levels.