COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

USDAN CENTER FOR THE CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS
WHEATLEY HEIGHTS, NY · EIN 132792668 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A6E0 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · usdan.org
revenue
$9.0M
expenses
$9.7M
net assets
$7.4M
employees
0
volunteers
27
program ratio
81%
mission · from form 990

WE INVITE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO EXPERIENCE THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF OUR CAMPUS AND THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE ARTS. USDAN WAS FOUNDED ON JEWISH VALUES THAT INSPIRE US TO MAKE THE WORLD MORE JUST AND MORE BEAUTIFUL. WHEN WE WELCOME THE DIVERSE GROUP OF PASSIONATE YOUNG ARTISTS HERE EACH SUMMER THE HEART OF USDAN COMES ALIVE. OUR GOAL IS TO INSTILL IN OUR COMMUNITY A DESIRE AND DRIVE TO CONTRIBUTE CREATIVELY TO THE WORLD NOW AND FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

profile · synthesized from sources

USDAN CENTER FOR THE CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS is a summer arts camp in Wheatley Heights, NY, serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade. It offers immersive instruction in music, dance, theater, visual arts, and nature & sustainability on a woodland campus. The program emphasizes creative development, Jewish values, and community building through the arts.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $2.06M
    SINCE USDAN'S FOUNDING IN 1968, A GUIDING VALUE HAS BEEN TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO USDAN'S ARTS EDUCATION EXPERIENCE TO STUDENTS OF ALL ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS. TO CONTINUE TO WELCOME AS MANY CHILDREN AS POSSIBLE REGARDLESS OF THEIR FAMILY'S FINANCIAL RESOURCES, USDAN OFFERS A ROBUST SCHOLARSHIP AND TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EACH YEAR. USDAN'S GENEROUS SCHOLARSHIP INITIATIVES ARE DESIGNED TO ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY BY MAKING SURE THAT NO CHILD WHO WISHES TO ATTEND USDAN WILL ENCOUNTER COST AS A BARRIER. IN 2024, USDAN OFFERED $2.1 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND TUITION ASSISTANCE TO 57% OF THE STUDENT POPULATION.
  2. #2 $102K
    ROOTED IN PRINCIPLES SUCH AS INCLUSIVITY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND FREEDOM OF CREATIVE EXPRESSION, USDAN ACTIVELY ENGAGES WITH THE COMMUNITY. USDAN OFFERS MULTI-SEASON ACCESS TO OUR PRISTINE WOODLAND SITE AND FACILITIES TO A DIVERSE RANGE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THESE PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE CREATIVE RESIDENCIES FOR ARTISTS, CULTURAL AND NATURE-BASED PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AS WELL AS PROVIDING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO HOST THEIR OWN FESTIVALS, PERFORMANCES, CELEBRATIONS, AND CULTURAL EVENTS
named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Classic Program
Immersive arts program for students in grades 2–12, allowing them to major in one of five disciplines—art, music, theater, dance, or writing—and minor in others, with instruction by professional artists and educators.
Discovery Program
Introductory summer arts program for students finishing kindergarten and grade 1, offering experiences in music, art, dance, theater, nature & sustainability, and recreational arts in a nurturing environment.
Recreational Camp
Program for students in grades 2–8 that combines arts instruction with recreational activities including swimming, tennis, and outdoor games, promoting physical activity and social engagement.
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Summer Day Camp Programs 3 activities
    • Discovery early education program for young children
      Provides an introductory summer arts program for children who have completed kindergarten or grade 1, featuring small-group supervision by college-age counselors and experiences in music, art, dance, theater, nature & sustainability, and recreational arts. The program is hosted at the open-air Discovery Center integrated into the wooded campus.
    • Longstanding summer camp operations and alumni engagement
      Has operated a summer arts camp for over fifty years, serving more than 45,000 alumni and hosting 1,000 children in its first summer season in 1968. The program is accredited by the American Camp Association and continues to foster artistic development and peer relationships.
    • Recreational summer camp with arts exposure for grades 2–8
      Operates a one-week recreational summer program for students in grades 2–8 featuring structured daily activities in swimming, archery, games, and one period of art instruction by professional artists, along with daily festival performances. The program includes transportation from New York City and Long Island.
  • Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
    • Artist-in-Residence program fostering youth creativity
      Runs a multi-year Artist-in-Residence program established in 2017 that supports collaborative art-making between professional artists and students as equal partners. Past residencies include DJ Kool Herc and Cindy Campbell, who led an interdisciplinary music major on the history of hip hop and original DJ set creation.
  • Campus Facility Operations and Management 1 activity
    • Arts and recreational facilities management
      Maintains a 140-acre natural campus with 70 studios and theaters, including a 900-seat amphitheater, and recreational facilities such as tennis courts, swimming pools, yoga platforms, an archery range, a quidditch field, and a multi-purpose recreation area to support student safety, independence, and program delivery.
  • Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
    • Daily Festival Series with professional and student performances
      Hosts daily performances in a 900-seat amphitheater featuring professional artists from organizations such as Alvin Ailey, New York Philharmonic, and Broadway, as well as student performers. The Festival Series includes backstage luncheons for performer-student interaction and is a core component of the summer program.
  • Youth Counselor-in-Training Programs 1 activity
    • Leadership and work-study programs for high school students
      Offers a leadership program for high school students that includes mentoring younger campers, assisting in camp operations, and earning a stipend. Participants commit to 4- or 8-week sessions and are assigned roles such as monitoring younger students during transitions, lunch, and performances.
  • Comprehensive K–12 Arts Education 1 activity
    • Summer arts education programs for students in grades K–12
      Offers immersive 1-, 4-, and 8-week summer arts programs for students in grades K–12, providing instruction in music, art, dance, theater, creative writing, chess, nature & sustainability, and recreational arts taught by professional artists and educators. Programs include structured schedules with Majors, Minors, and Recreational Activities, and serve students from New York City and Long Island.
  • Student and Camp Transportation Services 1 activity
    • Transportation services for camp participants
      Provides bus transportation for students from New York City and Long Island, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties, with central pickup locations to ensure access to camp programs.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Specialized support for early-grade students through Partners in the Arts
      Provides supervised transitions between classes for students in grades 2 and 3 through the Partners in the Arts division, supporting independence and safety within the larger camp environment.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$8.95M
Contributions & grants$1.48M16%
Program service revenue$7.34M82%
Investment income$-3K-0%
Other revenue$137K
expenses
Total expenses$9.73M
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$4.10M
Grants paid out$2.06M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$8.66M
Cash$343K
Investments$2.73M
Liabilities$1.26M
Net assets$7.40M
Liquid reserves3.8 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +0.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 6
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
LAUREN BRANDT SCHLOSS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $340K
VICTORIA ELLERBE COO 40 $193K
JESSICA LISS DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT 40 $157K
STEPHANIE ABRAMS SENIOR DIRECTOR OF STUDENT AFFAIRS 40 $138K
JOHAN VAN DEN BERGHE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE 40 $136K
KATHRYN R APPLETON DIRECTOR OF MARKETING 40 $136K
board members · 10
  • AMANDA FUGAZY — DIRECTOR
  • DANIEL LISK — DIRECTOR
  • JOHN USDAN — PRESIDENT
  • KENDELL PINKNEY — DIRECTOR
  • LILLIAN Z COHEN — TREASURER
  • MAURA CHARLES — DIRECTOR
  • MICHELE LOWE — SECRETARY
  • RENEE LISTA — DIRECTOR
  • ROBERT NEDERLANDER JR — VICE PRESIDENT
  • RUSSELL ALBANESE — DIRECTOR
relationships · 35

Who they work with

  • Alvin Ailey Partner — Dancers from Alvin Ailey perform in daily festival performances at Usdan
  • Alvin Ailey Partner — Featured performer in daily Festival Performances at Usdan’s summer camp.
  • American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey Network — Member of ACA NY & NJ and holds ACA Accreditation, reflecting adherence to national standards for camp safety and quality.
  • Avi Amon Partner — Artist in Residence at Usdan in 2023.
  • Children's Museum of Manhattan Partner — Victoria Ellerbe previously worked at the Children's Museum of Manhattan.
  • Cindy "the First Lady of Hip Hop" Campbell Partner — Artist in Residence at Usdan in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
  • Columbia University Partner — Johan Van den Berghe holds a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Columbia University.
  • DJ Kool Herc Partner — Artist in Residence at Usdan in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
  • Education Department Partner — Responsible for assigning job roles and making placement decisions for participants in the Leadership Program.
  • Federation of Jewish Philanthropies Partner — Dr. Maurice B. Hexter, Executive Vice President of the organization, was instrumental in launching the camp.
  • Harlem's World Famous Apollo Theater Partner — Victoria Ellerbe has prior experience at the Apollo Theater.
  • Hunter College Partner — Johan Van den Berghe obtained a medical coding and billing certificate from Hunter College in 2016.
  • International Contemporary Ensemble Partner — Artist in Residence at Usdan from 2017 to 2019.
  • International Contemporary Ensemble Partner — Featured performer in daily Festival Performances at Usdan’s summer camp.
  • International Contemporary Ensemble Partner — Musicians from International Contemporary Ensemble perform in daily festival performances at Usdan
  • Juilliard Partner — Andrew McKinley, a member of Juilliard's faculty, was a founding figure in establishing the camp.
  • Lisa Schonberg Partner — Artist in Residence at Usdan in 2025 and 2026.
  • McKinley Amphitheater Partner — Primary venue for daily performances by visiting artists.
  • Michelle Dorrance Partner — Dancers from Michelle Dorrance company perform in daily festival performances at Usdan
  • Michelle Dorrance Partner — Featured performer in daily Festival Performances at Usdan’s summer camp.
  • Museum of Modern Art Partner — Lauren Brandt Schloss has prior experience at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
  • NYU Partner — Johan Van den Berghe attended NYU for a course in accounting for nonprofits.
  • New York Philharmonic Partner — Featured performer in daily Festival Performances at Usdan’s summer camp.
  • New York Philharmonic Partner — Musicians from New York Philharmonic perform in daily festival performances at Usdan
  • New York State Council on the Arts Government — Funds Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts programs with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
  • New York University Partner — Dr. Jerrold Ross, Chairman of the Department of Music Education at NYU, was appointed Usdan’s Education Director at founding.
  • Pedro Lasch Partner — Artist in Residence at Usdan from 2017 to 2019.
  • Peggy Guggenheim Collection Partner — Lauren Brandt Schloss has prior experience at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
  • Queens Museum Partner — Lauren Brandt Schloss previously worked at the Queens Museum before joining Usdan.
  • Rebecca S'manga Frank Partner — Artist in Residence at Usdan in 2023.
+ 5 more
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.

  • Collaborative Co-Creation with Youth
    methodology: collaborative_co_creation
    By engaging professional artists and students as equal collaborators in a structured residency model, the program advances artistic and personal growth because treating youth as co-creators builds agency, legitimacy, and deeper investment in the creative process.
  • Culturally Diverse Live Performance Integration
    methodology: culturally_diverse_live_performance_integration
    By exposing students to daily professional performances of diverse artistic traditions, the program deepens cultural understanding and artistic inspiration because direct engagement with varied forms expands students’ creative frameworks and identity exploration.
  • Integrated Arts-and-Nature Immersion
    methodology: integrated_arts_and_nature_immersion
    By combining immersive natural environments with arts education, the program supports creative and personal transformation because nature fosters emotional safety, reflection, and inspiration that enhance artistic expression.
  • Joy-Centered Creative Learning
    methodology: joy_centered_learning
    By prioritizing joy and creative freedom, the program fosters emotional well-being and artistic risk-taking because removing fear of failure opens space for authentic expression and sustained engagement.
  • Student-Directed Creative Immersion
    methodology: student_directed_arts_immersion
    By allowing students to choose their artistic focus through Majors, Minors, and Recreational Activities, the program fosters deep, sustained engagement because autonomy in art selection drives intrinsic motivation and personal investment in learning.