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THE MUSEUM FOR AFRICAN ART D/B/A THE AFRICA CENTER
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 133137461 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A500 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · theafricacenter.org
revenue
$2.8M
expenses
$3.7M
net assets
$76.8M
employees
10
volunteers
20
program ratio
61%
mission · from form 990

A NONPROFIT, NONPARTISAN, MULTIDISCIPLINARY INSTITUTION, PROVIDES A GATEWAY FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH CONTEMPORARY AFRICA.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Africa Center is a multidisciplinary institution dedicated to transforming narratives about Africa and the African diaspora through cultural exhibitions, policy initiatives, and public programs. Based in New York City, it serves as a hub for dialogue on African culture, business, and policy, engaging global audiences with contemporary African art, film, literature, and critical social issues. The organization advances thought and action around Africa's global influence and the role of people of African descent.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $484K
    EXHIBITIONS THE AFRICA CENTER PRODUCES EXHIBITIONS THAT ALIGN WITH OUR MISSION OF TRANSFORMING NARRATIVES ABOUT THE AFRICAN DIASPORA, AFRICAN CONTINENT AND PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT. THE CENTER WORKS WITH UP-AND-COMING CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ARTISTS FROM ACROSS THE DIASPORA WHOSE WORK REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY THAT EXISTS AMONG PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT.
  2. #2 $466K
    POLICY CENTER:ONE OF THE KEY FOCUS AREAS FOR THE AFRICA CENTER IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AFRICAN POLICY INSTITUTE DEDICATED TO THE FUTURE OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT AND DIASPORA. THE POLICY INSTITUTE FOCUSES ON THREE INTERRELATED THEMES: HABITABLE SPACES, TECHNOLOGY FOR HUMANITY, AND PROSPEROUS YOUTHINTEGRATING THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURE AS A TRANSFORMATIVE, CROSS-CUTTING FORCE IN THE POLICY SPACE. OUR MULTIDISCIPLINARY POLICY APPROACH AIMS TO BUILD AN INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE GLOBAL FUTURE INSPIRED BY AFRICAN INNOVATION, CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, AND VISIONARY NARRATIVES.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Africa Day Celebration
Annual public celebration honoring African cultures through music, art, food, and community dialogue
Exhibitions
Produces contemporary art exhibitions featuring emerging visual artists from the African diaspora that transform narratives about Africa and its people
Film at The Africa Center
Hosts film screenings and discussions showcasing African and diaspora cinema, including feature films, documentaries, and thematic series
Harlem African Animation Festival
Annual festival highlighting African and diaspora contributions to animation through screenings and artist talks
Policy Center
Develops a multidisciplinary African policy institute focused on habitable spaces, technology for humanity, and prosperous youth, integrating culture as a transformative force
activities · 10 groups

What they do

  • Nonprofit Internship Programs 1 activity
    • Administering internship and capacity-building programs for diaspora engagement
      Manages the Global Africa Gateway Summer Internship program, including the selection of cohorts for 2025 and 2026, to build professional capacity among diaspora youth and strengthen connections between Africa and its global communities.
  • Leadership & Policy Dialogue Forums 1 activity
    • Advancing African policy dialogue through convenings and workshops
      Hosts policy-focused events such as the “Critical Minerals, Critical Choices” workshop and a co-presented panel on African-led mining innovation, often in partnership with institutions like Columbia University’s Institute of Global Politics, to promote African sovereignty and strategic innovation in key sectors.
  • Artist Support Grants 1 activity
    • Funding creative projects through the Women's Creative Exchange grant program
      Awards $5,000 grants to participants in the Women's Creative Exchange virtual workshop series to support their creative work, with three recipients selected in the most recent cycle.
  • Film Festival and Screening Programming 1 activity
    • Hosting public programs and cultural events
      Hosts a range of public programs including film screenings through the "Film at The Africa Center" series, annual events such as the Harlem African Animation Festival and Africa Day Celebration, and Swahili language programming. Also offers ongoing youth education programs during the summer.
  • Nonprofit-Operated Cafés and Social Enterprises 1 activity
    • Operating a public cafe in partnership with Coffee Uplifts People
      Runs CUP @ The Africa Center, a sit-down cafe open to the public, established in partnership with Coffee Uplifts People. The cafe serves as both a community space and part of the exhibition/event complex.
  • Event Venue Rental Services 1 activity
    • Operating event spaces for public rental
      Operates multiple event spaces including a 4,000 sq ft Exhibition Space/CUP Café, a 5,493 sq ft Performance Auditorium, and a 10,000 sq ft Atrium Event Hall, available for rent for corporate events, lectures, panel discussions, film screenings, performances, book launches, and other gatherings.
  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
    • Organizing and hosting art exhibitions from Africa and the African diaspora
      Produces and hosts historical and contemporary art exhibitions featuring artists from Africa and its diaspora, with nearly 70 exhibitions organized since inception, many of which have traveled to over 143 venues across 17 countries. Exhibitions include both in-person and outdoor public installations such as "Resistance in Memory: Visions of Sudan," "Black Lives Matter," and "Flags of The African Union."
  • Equitable Access Admission Programs 1 activity
    • Providing free access to exhibitions and programs
      Offers free admission to most exhibitions and public programs, with exceptions made only for ticketed special events, supporting broad public access to African and diasporic cultural content.
  • Arts Professional Advocacy & Equity Initiatives 1 activity
    • Running the Women's Creative Exchange program
      Administers the Women's Creative Exchange program through The Africa Center Studio, offering virtual workshops and creative development opportunities for women from the African diaspora.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Conducting research on African think tanks and diaspora engagement
      Conducts interviews with professionals at African think tanks as part of the On African Think Tanks series and a broader Diaspora Research Study, aiming to understand intellectual ecosystems, pressing policy issues, and diaspora involvement in African development.
    • Developing an African Policy Institute to integrate culture into policy
      Building an African Policy Institute focused on habitable spaces, technology for humanity, and prosperous youth, using culture as a transformative force in shaping policy related to Africa’s global influence and development.
    • Establishing strategic partnerships to expand diaspora initiatives
      Partnered with Afreximbank to launch the Global Africa Gateway initiative and appointed leadership to direct diaspora strategy, enhancing institutional capacity for transnational engagement.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.79M
Contributions & grants$2.53M91%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$241K9%
Other revenue$17K
expenses
Total expenses$3.72M
Program expenses61%
Admin / overhead23%
Fundraising16%
Salaries & benefits$1.61M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$85.45M
Cash$1.57M
Investments$4.70M
Liabilities$8.68M
Net assets$76.77M
Liquid reserves20.2 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -63.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 3
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
UZODINMA IWELA CEO (THROUGH 2/25) 40 $329K
ADOLPHINE UMUKOBWA CHIEF OF STAFF 40 $202K
CHINENYENWA OGUNRO COO (THROUGH 11/23) 40 $170K
board members · 17
  • BENJAMIN STEIN — VICE CHAIR
  • BLAIR MILLER — TRUSTEE
  • CHELSEA CLINTON — CO-CHAIR
  • DANA REED — TRUSTEE
  • DR MICHAELA DE PURY — TRUSTEE
  • ELIZABETH TANYA MASIYIWA — SECRETARY
  • FATIMA DANGOTE — TRUSTEE
  • GBENGA OYEBODE — TRUSTEE
  • HALIMA DANGOTE — PRESIDENT
  • JAMIE COOPER — TRUSTEE
  • JENDAYI E FRAZER — CO-CHAIR
  • JIM BILDNER — TRUSTEE
  • KANAYO AWANI — TRUSTEE
  • MAJA HOFFMANN — TRUSTEE
  • MEREDITH JAMES — TRUSTEE
  • MEREDITH MARSHALL — TREASURER
  • TEMI ADENIJI — TRUSTEE
relationships · 59

Who they work with

  • AV360 Partner — Provides AV installation and set-up services for events at The Africa Center.
  • Access Bank Partner — Corporate supporter of the organization
  • Afreximbank Partner — Partnered with The Africa Center to establish the Global Africa Gateway initiative.
  • African Export–Import Bank Partner — Partnered to establish the Global Africa Gateway at The Africa Center in Harlem, New York.
  • Aliko Dangote Foundation Funder — Foundation supporter of the organization
  • Benjamin Stein Partner — Named individual donor supporting the organization
  • Benno Schmidt Partner — Named individual donor supporting the organization
  • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Funder — Foundation supporter of the organization
  • Booth Ferris Funder — Foundation supporter of the organization
  • Brickman Associates Partner — Corporate supporter of the organization
  • Carnegie Corporation of New York Partner — Represented in closed-door discussions on African mineral governance convened by The Africa Center.
  • Center for the Study of the Economies of Africa Partner — Conducted an interview with the Director of Research as part of a series on African think tanks.
  • Center on International Cooperation Partner — Represented in closed-door discussions on African mineral governance convened by The Africa Center.
  • Chelsea Clinton Partner — Board Co-Chair of The Africa Center
  • Coffee Uplifts People Partner — Coffee brand operating CUP Café within the Exhibition Space, offering catering and alcohol packages for events.
  • Coffee Uplifts People Partner — Partnered to launch CUP @ The Africa Center, a sit-down cafe.
  • Coffee Uplifts People Partner — Partnered with Coffee Uplifts People to open and operate CUP @ The Africa Center, a sit-down cafe.
  • Coffee Uplifts People Partner — Partnered with The Africa Center to open CUP @ The Africa Center, a sit-down cafe.
  • Corinne Evens Partner — Named individual donor supporting the organization
  • Dangote Cement Plc Partner — Corporate supporter of the organization
  • David Markin Partner — Named individual donor supporting the organization
  • David Rockefeller Partner — Named individual donor supporting the organization
  • Dr. Hania M. Fadl Partner — Named individual donor supporting the organization
  • Femi Otedola Partner — Named individual donor supporting the organization
  • Flour Mills of Nigeria Partner — Corporate supporter of the organization
  • Ford Foundation Funder — Foundation supporter of the organization
  • GE Partner — Corporate supporter of the organization
  • GT Bank plc Partner — Corporate supporter of the organization
  • Gilbert & Roland Chagoury Partner — Named individual donor supporting the organization
  • Hadeel Ibrahim Partner — Board Co-Chair of The Africa Center
+ 29 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.

  • Centering African Voices in Global Discourse
    methodology: centering_local_voices
    By elevating African-led research, thought leadership, and policy analysis, the organization advances more accurate and self-determined narratives about Africa in global forums, because externally sourced analyses often misrepresent or marginalize local realities.
  • Convening Multisector Actors for Narrative Change
    methodology: convening_multisector_stakeholders
    By bringing together artists, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and diaspora communities, the organization catalyzes collaborative action and new partnerships that shift dominant narratives about Africa, because systemic change requires cross-sector alignment and collective agency.
  • Culture as a Transformative Policy Force
    methodology: culture_integrated_policy
    By integrating cultural expression—particularly contemporary art and film—with policy dialogue, the organization fosters inclusive global futures and shifts development paradigms, because culture shapes identity, values, and social change more effectively than technical policy alone.
  • Supporting Women-Centered Creative Development
    methodology: women_centered_creative_development
    By providing dedicated platforms, exchanges, and grants for women creators from Africa and its diaspora, the organization strengthens gender equity in cultural production, because empowering underrepresented voices leads to more diverse and authentic storytelling.