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IFETAYO CULTURAL ARTS ACADEMY INC

BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 113027538 · Form 990 · FY2023 · NTEE A200 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · ifetayo.org
revenue
$876K
expenses
$1.2M
net assets
$964K
employees
41
program ratio
82%
profile · synthesized from sources

Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy provides arts education and youth development programs for children and youth ages 2-19 in New York City. The organization offers in-school and after-school instruction in visual arts, music, dance, and cultural heritage, with a focus on African and African diaspora traditions. Programs emphasize leadership, financial literacy, and community engagement through performance and cultural education.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $249K
    IN SCHOOL PROGRAM: ISP PROVIDES SEQUENTIAL, WEEKLY IN-SCHOOL AND AFTERSCHOOL ARTS EDUCATION ANDYOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING TO PUBLIC, CHARTER AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK CITY.DISCIPLINES IN FY22 INCLUDED VISUAL ARTS DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY, JEWELRY MAKING, PAINTING &SKETCHING, DANCE AFRICAN, HIP HOP, MODERN, MUSIC AFRICAN DRUM, GUITAR, MUSIC THEORY AND AUDIOPRODUCTION.
  2. #2 $227K
    RITES OF PASSAGE PROGRAMS: SISTERS IN SISTERHOOD AND I AM MY BROTHER IS A YEAR-ROUND AFTER SCHOOLPROGRAM THAT EMPOWERS YOUTH AGES 8-19 TO ADVANCE THEIR INTELLECTUAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS INPREPARATION FOR GROWTH INTO INDEPENDENT, COMPASSIONATE, SELF-CONFIDENT LEADERS. RITES OFFERSTRAINING AND INSTRUCTION THAT INCLUDES DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONAL SKILLS COLLEGE AND CAREERCOUNSELING SERVICES FAMILY MEETINGS AND HOME VISITS. FINANCIAL EDUCATION INSTITUTE FEI ANDINDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS PROGRAM IDA PROVIDES CRUCIAL FINANCIAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS ANDCOLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS FOR STUDENTS BEGINNING AT AGE 8 THROUGH GRADUATION FROM COLLEGE.
named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Cultural Arts Program (CAP)
Enriching arts classes for children ages 2-19, including Saturday and Sunday sessions, with a tiered pricing model to increase accessibility.
Financial Education Institute / Individual Development Accounts (FEI/IDA)
Provides financial education workshops and college savings accounts for students starting at age 8 through college graduation.
Ifetayo Youth Ensemble (IYE)
Preparatory professional performance ensemble for youth ages 12-19 that creates original works on social issues through rigorous training and rehearsal.
In-School Program (ISP)
Sequential, weekly in-school and afterschool arts education in visual arts, digital photography, jewelry making, painting, dance (African, hip hop, modern), music (African drum, guitar, music theory, audio production) for public, charter, and private schools in NYC.
Marcus Garvey Cultural Heritage Program (MGCHP)
Offers historical and cultural instruction focused on Africa and the African diaspora for students ages 6-18 and their parents, including an international conference and travel component.
Rites of Passage Programs
Year-round after-school program for youth ages 8-19 that includes personal development, college and career counseling, family meetings, and home visits; includes Sisters in Sisterhood and I Am My Brother components.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Indigenous and Diaspora Cultural Preservation 1 activity
    • Africana Studies and cultural heritage education
      Delivers an interdisciplinary Africana Studies curriculum and cultural heritage programming that teaches students and families about African history, ancient kingdoms, the African origins of humanity, and the global experiences of people of African descent. Includes interactive classroom instruction, cultural exchanges, international tours, and an annual conference to connect participants with diaspora cultures.
  • Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
    • Cultural arts education programs for youth
      Offers yearlong and weekly cultural arts classes, workshops, and school break camps in dance, music, theater, visual arts, martial arts, Capoeira, storytelling, hip hop literacy, creative writing, and STEAM activities (including 3D printing and robotics) for youth ages 2–18. Programs are provided free or at low cost and include Saturday courses, in-school and afterschool instruction, and summer camps focused on creativity, cultural identity, and self-expression.
  • Financial Literacy Education Programs 1 activity
    • Financial education and asset-building programs
      Offers financial education workshops and resources for youth and adults focusing on goal-setting, saving habits, and asset investment for financial independence. Includes the Financial Education Institute and Individual Development Accounts Program, which supports students from age 8 through college graduation with college savings accounts.
  • Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
    • Pre-professional youth ensemble program
      Provides pre-professional training and performance opportunities in New York City for youth ages 13–19 through the Ifetayo Youth Ensemble, including rigorous rehearsal, original works on social issues, and competitive scholarships in percussive music, dance, acting, and visual arts. CAP Beginner level classes are offered free to ensemble members.
  • Student Milestone Ceremonies & Events 1 activity
    • Public culminating events and student showcases
      Hosts annual public capstone events where students showcase their artistic and academic growth through performances and demonstrations, engaging families and the broader community in their learning outcomes.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Rites of Passage youth development program
      Operates a multi-year, free Rites of Passage program for youth ages 8–18 that includes African-centered cultural identity, leadership development, career counseling, community service, activism, health and wellness, and gender studies. The program is delivered through three sequential age-based tracks: Pre-Rites (10–12), Transition Rites (13–15), and Rites (16–18), with family meetings and home visits.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$876K
Contributions & grants$612K70%
Program service revenue$194K22%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$70K
expenses
Total expenses$1.18M
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$607K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.99M
Cash$86K
Investments$0
Liabilities$2.03M
Net assets$964K
Liquid reserves0.9 mo
6 years on record · 2018–2023 · YoY revenue -22.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

board members · 9
  • BARUTI BEDIAKO — TREASURER
  • BENJAMIN TALTON — MEMBER
  • DAVID LAND — MEMBER
  • DESIREE GORDON — EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
  • HAZEL BECKLES YOUNG LAO — MEMBER
  • KATHLEEN ETTIENNE — MEMBER
  • KAWANA KING — MEMBER
  • LESLEY NURSE — CO-CHAIR
  • TANYA TAYLOR — CO-CHAIR
relationships · 14

Who they work with

  • Alvin Ailey Partner — Engages performers from Alvin Ailey in its artistic programs and faculty.
  • Brooklyn Network — Longstanding presence and community engagement in Brooklyn since 1989.
  • Brooklyn Museum Partner — Features artists on its faculty who have exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum.
  • Dance Theater of Harlem Partner — Collaborates with artists from Dance Theater of Harlem as part of its faculty and artistic programming.
  • Eventbrite Partner — Uses Eventbrite for special events, classes, and select merchandise payments.
  • Jackrabbit Partner — Uses Jackrabbit as classroom management software for online registration and e-payment processing.
  • Jackrabbit Class Partner — Uses Jackrabbit Class for camp registration and parent portal services.
  • Jackrabbit Class Partner — Uses Jackrabbit Class software for online registration, payment processing, and parent portal access.
  • Jubilation Dance Company Partner — Incorporates artists from Jubilation Dance Company into its performance and educational offerings.
  • Miami City Ballet Partner — Includes performers from Miami City Ballet in its artistic programming and instruction.
  • Partner Schools Partner — Schools that collaborate with Ifetayo by referring students to the Cultural Arts Program in exchange for free workshops and performances.
  • Square Partner — Uses Square for special events, classes, and select merchandise payments.
  • community organizations Partner — Delivers arts education classes in community organizations
  • schools Partner — Provides arts education programming in schools
strategies · 5

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.

  • African-Centered Holistic Youth Development
    methodology: african-centered_holistic_education
    By integrating African-centered cultural arts education with holistic development of mind, body, and spirit, the organization fosters identity pride, personal growth, and community engagement among youth because cultural grounding and whole-person support are essential to resilient development.
  • Collective Governance and Decision-Making (Mbongi)
    methodology: mbongi_collective_decision_making
    By using Mbongi—a Kikongo model of collective learning and decision-making—the organization co-creates programs and addresses community challenges because inclusive, community-driven governance strengthens ownership, relevance, and sustainability of initiatives.
  • Critical Reflection on Historical Knowledge (Sankofa)
    methodology: sankofa_critical_reflection
    By grounding program development in critical reflection on historical and cultural roots through the Sankofa principle, the organization enables future growth and community healing because understanding the past is essential to building empowered, informed identities and collective progress.
  • Rites of Passage for Youth Leadership and Independence
    methodology: rites_of_passage
    By integrating rites of passage programming that includes personal development, family engagement, and long-term mentoring, the organization prepares youth for leadership and independence because structured, culturally rooted transitions support emotional, intellectual, and social maturation.
  • Youth-Led Artistic Creation for Civic Engagement
    methodology: youth_led_artistic_creation
    By training youth to collaboratively design and perform original social justice-themed artistic works, the organization cultivates civic engagement and leadership because creative agency rooted in community issues fosters ownership, critical reflection, and transformative action.