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LA MAMA EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE CLUB INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 132620861 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A610 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · lamama.org
revenue
$5.3M
expenses
$4.7M
net assets
$24.3M
employees
110
volunteers
16
program ratio
86%
mission · from form 990

La MaMa is dedicated to the artist and all aspects of the theatre. Founded in 1961 by theatre legend Ellen Stewart, La MaMa is the only original Off-Off-Broadway venue still in operation. We are a creative home to artists and audiences from around the world, a dynamic hub for risk-taking new performances, and a vital part of New York Citys cultural fabric. La MaMa believes in the power of art to reveal our shared humanity and supports artists of all identities, races, languages, nationalities, and abilities in the creation of new work.

profile · synthesized from sources

La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, founded in 1961 by Ellen Stewart, is a pioneering Off-Off-Broadway theater and cultural hub in New York City dedicated to supporting artists in creating innovative, risk-taking performances. It serves as a creative home for domestic and international artists across theater, dance, music, and visual arts, fostering new work that reflects diverse identities and global perspectives. The organization operates performance venues, an archive, and exhibition spaces, contributing to the preservation and evolution of experimental performance art.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Digital Collections
Online portal providing access to digitized archival materials from La MaMa’s history, including production records from the Pushcart Era (1961–1985) and beyond; continuously updated with new content.
La Galleria
Nonprofit gallery at 47 Great Jones Street fostering experimentation in visual arts, performance, and curatorial projects; offers exhibition opportunities for artists outside commercial gallery systems.
La MaMa Archive
Collects, preserves, and provides access to historical records of La MaMa and the Off-Off-Broadway movement, including over 160,000 artists' works; maintains physical and digital collections spanning theater, social movements, and international performance art.
Venue Rentals
Offers multiple performance and rehearsal spaces—including the Ellen Stewart Theatre, The Downstairs, The Club, Community Arts Space, and Rehearsal Studios—for theatrical productions, film shoots, workshops, and events.
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 2 activities
    • Host artist conversations and crisis-focused public programs
      Hosts annual in-person meetings between artists and curators, as well as public conversations with artists, activists, and thought leaders on art and life during times of crisis, using emerging technologies to explore the role of art in society.
    • Operate a nonprofit gallery for experimental visual and new media art
      Curates and hosts exhibitions, benefit auctions, and educational projects in a nonprofit gallery space that supports experimentation in visual arts, performance, and new media, including events like HOMECOMING: The Family Show and the La MaMa Galleria Benefit Art Auction.
  • Performing Arts Venue Rental 2 activities
    • Operate Off-Off-Broadway theater venues and performance spaces
      Operates multiple theater venues including the Ellen Stewart Theatre, The Downstairs Theatre, and a large mainstage theater with iconic tin walls, providing spaces for theatrical, dance, and music performances, as well as TV/film shoots. These venues are part of a larger facility that includes four theaters and supports 50–90 theatrical productions annually.
    • Rent performance and event spaces to external groups
      Provides rental access to flexible performance and event spaces—including a small white box theater with outdoor terrace, a cabaret-style space, and a basement-level theater—for theatrical productions, TV/film shoots, workshops, gatherings, and intimate events.
  • Indigenous and Diaspora Cultural Preservation 1 activity
    • Curate and present Indigenous artistic programming
      Develops and presents original programming including workshops, markets, and theatrical productions that elevate the voices and artistic works of Native communities.
  • Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
    • Deliver arts education and community engagement programs
      Offers monthly creative workshops and performances for children and families, weekly programs for Sarah Lawrence College students, and arts residencies for seniors through the SU-CASA program, including a 15-week puppetry and performance program at the Polish Slavic Center.
  • New Play Development Programs 1 activity
    • Host international artist retreats and symposia
      Hosts a 10-day international playwright retreat with workshops led by master playwrights, dedicated writing time, and peer sharing, as well as a 10-day symposium for directors featuring workshops and cultural site visits.
  • Inclusive Social & Recreational Events 1 activity
    • Operate a community care and connection program
      Runs the Care Café program, which hosts events with quiet conversation, shared food and drink, and small tables to foster mutual care and acknowledge social anxiety and vulnerability.
  • Performing Arts Archival Preservation 1 activity
    • Preserve and provide access to theatrical archives
      Documents, preserves, and interprets the work of nearly 160,000 artists through its archive, digitizes over four decades of production records, offers online access via Digital Collections, and conducts regular public and group tours by appointment.
  • Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
    • Produce and present experimental theatrical productions
      Produces 50–90 theatrical productions annually, supporting over 5,000 productions since inception featuring 150,000 artists from 70 countries, with developmental residencies that include rehearsal and performance space, technical staff, marketing, and box office support.
  • Subsidized Rehearsal and Performance Space 1 activity
    • Provide rehearsal and workshop spaces for artists
      Offers rehearsal studios at multiple locations, including 47 Great Jones Street and within its main facility, featuring natural light, pianos, free Wi-Fi, and flexible configurations for rehearsals, workshops, readings, and classes.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$5.28M
Contributions & grants$3.46M66%
Program service revenue$949K18%
Investment income$26K0%
Other revenue$838K
expenses
Total expenses$4.72M
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$2.23M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$27.35M
Cash$325K
Investments$78K
Liabilities$3.02M
Net assets$24.33M
Liquid reserves1.0 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +15.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Mary Fulham Managing Dir. 40 $73K
Mia Yoo Artistic Dir. 40 $67K
board members · 17
  • Byung Koo Ahn — Member
  • Donald Capoccia — Vice President
  • Eugene Chai — Member
  • Frank Carucci — President
  • Jane Friedman — Member
  • Jennifer Kruse — Member
  • Joan Rose — Vice President
  • Joel Zwick — Member
  • Kevin Jennings — Member
  • Luis Ubinas — Member
  • Matthew Hall — Member
  • Richard Pinner — Secretary
  • Rob Laqui — Member
  • Scott Wittman — Member
  • Steven Malkenson — Treasurer
  • Timothy Fulham — Member
  • Wynn Salisch — Member
relationships · 45

Who they work with

  • AILA Partner — Partner organization working with the La MaMa Indigenous Initiative
  • Alaska Native Heritage Center Partner — Collaborating cultural center supporting the La MaMa Indigenous Initiative
  • American Theatre Wing Funder — Presented La MaMa with the Regional Theatre Tony Award in 2018.
  • Bloomberg Philanthropies Funder — Provides additional funding for La MaMa's Online Happening Series.
  • C.U.R.A. – Centro Umbro di Residenze Artistiche Partner — Collaborates on the Next Generation: New Performance Incubator program for young theatre and dance creators.
  • Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation Funder — Additional funder of La MaMa Kids
  • CultureHub Partner — Telepresence partner collaborating with the La MaMa Indigenous Initiative
  • Doris Duke Foundation Funder — Provides funding support for La MaMa's Online Happening Series.
  • GOLDSTEIN HALL PLLC Partner — Legal services provider for La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club Inc
  • Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation Funder — Supports the La MaMa Archive Born-digital Cataloging Project
  • Haskell Indian School, NE Partner — Nebraska-based Indigenous educational institution partnering with the La MaMa Indigenous Initiative
  • Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Additional funder of La MaMa Kids
  • Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Additional funder of the Coffeehouse Chronicles series
  • Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Provides financial support to La MaMa Archive
  • Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Provides funding support for La MaMa's Online Happening Series.
  • Institute of American Indian Art, NM Partner — New Mexico-based arts and education institution collaborating with the La MaMa Indigenous Initiative
  • International Sonoran Desert Alliance, AZ Partner — Arizona-based partner collaborating with the La MaMa Indigenous Initiative
  • International Theatre Institute (ITI) Partner — Collaborates with ITI, which established the Ellen Stewart International Award in recognition of La MaMa's impact on theatre and community engagement.
  • Jim Henson Foundation Funder — Additional funder of La MaMa Kids
  • Kinding Sindaw Partner — Collaborating partner of the La MaMa Indigenous Initiative
  • Loco7 Dance Puppet Theatre Partner — Collaborates through teaching artist Federico Restrepo on a puppetry program for seniors.
  • Longhouse Education and Cultural Center, WA Partner — Washington-based cultural and educational partner of the La MaMa Indigenous Initiative
  • National Historical Publications & Records Commission Funder — Provides grant funding for the La MaMa Archive Digitization Project
  • New York City Council Government — Funds the SU-CASA program, which supports La MaMa's arts residencies for seniors.
  • New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provides funding support in partnership with the City Council for La MaMa's Online Happening Series.
  • New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Public funder of the Coffeehouse Chronicles series in partnership with the City Council
  • New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Public funder supporting La MaMa Archive in partnership with the City Council
  • New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Public funder supporting La MaMa Kids in partnership with the City Council
  • New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides funding support with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature for La MaMa's Online Happening Series.
  • New York State Council on the Arts Government — Public funder of the Coffeehouse Chronicles series with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature
+ 15 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.

  • Archival Engagement as Living Practice
    methodology: archival_living_practice
    By curating and making accessible archival materials through oral history and community dialogue, we connect historical and contemporary artistic practices because engaging with the past as a living resource strengthens cultural continuity and inspires new forms of expression.
  • Artist-Centered Experimentation
    methodology: artist_centered_experimentation
    By providing underrepresented and diverse artists with unrestricted creative freedom and freedom from commercial pressures, we foster boundary-pushing experimental theatre because creative risk and authentic expression flourish in non-commercial, supportive environments.
  • Collective, Non-Hierarchical Artistic Development
    methodology: collective_operation
    By organizing artistic creation and community engagement through a collective, non-hierarchical model, we produce deeper collaboration and broader community impact because shared responsibility and cross-disciplinary exchange strengthen artistic innovation and inclusivity.
  • Participatory Audience Integration
    methodology: audience_integrated_development
    By involving audiences as active participants in the creative process, we shape more resonant and evolving theatrical works because audience responses provide real-time feedback that informs and deepens artistic development.