irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $40KDance Performance Program - Dance Performance Program involving 175 performing artists and audience members served directly and 6.2 million people reached in total, including social media reach and reach of publications.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Global Dance Circle for Social Change
Global participatory project compiling 10-second video submissions from dancers worldwide into a shared video celebrating social change
Interview Series: Creativity and Creative Practice
Series of short interviews with artists discussing their creative work and responses to global challenges
Las Fridas: A Movement Installation and Offering
60-minute transcultural duet inspired by Frida Kahlo, combining dance, theater, visual art, and performance art
Partnerships in Literacy through Dance & Creativity
Evidence-based dance education program for PreK-5 students in NYC Title I public schools, integrating dance with literacy and interdisciplinary learning
Virtual Salon Performance Series for Social Change
Virtual platform presenting original performing arts and dance works-in-progress from guest artists across 32 countries and 23 U.S. states
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Comprehensive K–12 Arts Education 2 activities
- Deliver interdisciplinary dance and literacy programs in NYC public elementary schoolsImplements an evidence-based, multi-year program called Partnerships in Literacy through Dance and Creativity for prekindergarten through 5th grade students in under-resourced, Title I public schools across all five boroughs of New York City. The program includes 16 dance lessons led by teaching artists, up to 5 collaborative team meetings with school staff, a dance journal writing component, and an end-of-program family performance, serving approximately 1,000 students and 100–200 teachers annually.
- Employ teaching artists and multidisciplinary staff for arts educationHires teaching artists to deliver dance and creativity curricula during the school year and employs staff with expertise across the arts, education, humanities, math, science, and nonprofit leadership to support program delivery and organizational operations.
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Dance Performance and Community Engagement 2 activities
- Host virtual arts festivals and global dance initiativesProduces and presents virtual arts programming including the Global Dance Circle for Social Change, which ran for 9 editions from 2020 to 2024 and featured 618 dancers from 36 countries and 22 U.S. states. Also presented 42 virtual salons and 6 performances across 2 Virtual International Arts Festivals, engaging 566 artists from over 32 countries and 23 U.S. states.
- Operate annual dance performance programs with broad public reachConducted an ongoing dance performance program from 2019 to 2024, engaging between 175 and 634 performing artists annually and reaching between 1.5 million and 6.2 million people through live performances, social media, and publications.
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Benefit Events for Arts and Culture 1 activity
- Conduct annual fundraising events to support dance and literacy programsOrganizes an annual fundraising event supported by a Co-Chair Committee whose members commit to raising at least $2,500 each. The event raises awareness and funds specifically for dance and literacy initiatives in NYC public elementary schools, including a planned 2026 event honoring Dr. Daniel Lewis with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Student Progress Assessment & Program Evaluation 1 activity
- Conduct research on educational and social impacts of dance programsGenerates and cites research demonstrating statistically significant improvements in grade 4 state reading and math test scores, as well as positive impacts on students’ academic performance, emotional and social learning, self-confidence, creative problem-solving, writing, vocabulary, and physical well-being.
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Arts and Cultural Workforce Training 1 activity
- Offer volunteer, internship, and residency opportunities in arts and administrationProvides volunteer and internship roles in strategic planning, advisory functions, arts administration, fundraising, and event coordination. Also offers artist and scholar residencies tailored to community interests, particularly in conjunction with performances of "Las Fridas."
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Original Dance Performance Production 1 activity
- Produce and present original dance performances and international toursCreates, produces, and performs original solo and group dance works locally, nationally, and internationally, including over 100 original dances and more than 30 cultural diplomacy tours across 12–13 countries. Notable productions include "Las Fridas: A Movement Installation and Offering," and collaborations with artists and communities in Guatemala, Mexico, Ecuador, El Salvador, England, and Russia.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$328K
Contributions & grants$210K64%
Program service revenue$108K33%
Investment income$10K3%
Other revenue$-412
expenses
Total expenses$380K
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$306K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$707K
Cash$689K
Investments$0
Liabilities$15K
Net assets$692K
Liquid reserves21.8 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +20.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARK B DEGARMO | FOUNDER, EXECUTIVE & ARTISTIC DIRECT | 49 | $183K |
board members · 6
- KATHLEEN KHEEL — PRESIDENT
- LAWRENCE P HOLODAK — VICE PRESIDENT
- LISA SHAARI — DIRECTOR ; treasurer (from 1/1)
- LYN DESANTIS — TREASURER (Thru 12/31)
- NICK VELAZQUEZ — DIRECTOR
- REBECCA ERVEY — Secretary
relationships · 21
Who they work with
- A.A. Bakhrushin State Central Theater Museum Partner — Featured in photographic exhibitions at Moscow’s A.A. Bakhrushin State Central Theater Museum in 2012 and 2015.
- Barnett Serchuk Partner — Cultural critic and contributor to BroadwayWorld.com who provided a review of "Las Fridas."
- Beykoz University Partner — Hosts the 4th International Interdisciplinary Symposium where Mark DeGarmo Dance leadership serves as keynote speakers.
- Dance for Dance for Social Change Partner — Collaborates on an annual fundraising event through a Co-Chair Committee.
- Limón Dance Company Partner — Dante Puleio, a former member of the Limón Dance Company, is presenting the award at the D4D event.
- NYC public elementary schools Partner — Multi-year partnerships to deliver dance and literacy instruction in Title 1 schools.
- National Dance Company of Ecuador Partner — Created a commissioned dance-theater work for the National Dance Company of Ecuador based on current events and social themes.
- National Endowment for the Arts Funder — Public funder supporting Mark DeGarmo Dance programs
- National Endowment for the Arts Government — Recognized MDD’s NYC dance education program as a national model and provides public funding support.
- National Endowment for the Arts Government — Recognized MDD’s dance education program as a national model.
- National Endowment for the Arts Government — Recognized Mark DeGarmo Dance's "Partnerships in Literacy through Dance & Creativity" program as a national model.
- National Endowment for the Arts Government — Recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts as a national model.
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Government agency supporting Mark DeGarmo Dance programs in partnership with the City Council
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provides public funding support for Mark DeGarmo Dance programs in partnership with the City Council.
- New York City Department of Education Government — Supports Mark DeGarmo Dance programs through public funding.
- New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Public funder supporting Mark DeGarmo Dance programs with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides public funding support for Mark DeGarmo Dance with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
- The Clemente Partner — Hosts Mark DeGarmo Dance at its location on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
- The Dance Enthusiast Partner — Collaborates with The Dance Enthusiast to publish interviews and reviews of performances, including Las Fridas.
- The Friends of Mark DeGarmo Dance Funder — Private funder supporting Mark DeGarmo Dance programs
- Veronica Jiao Partner — Dance critic and contributor to Dance Enthusiast who provided a review of "Las Fridas."
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.
- Arts Integration for Academic and Holistic Developmentmethodology: arts-integrationBy integrating dance and creative movement into school curricula, the organization reinforces academic learning and supports multidimensional student achievement, because movement-based engagement strengthens cognitive, social, and emotional development in tandem with literacy and critical thinking.
- Arts as a Catalyst for Social Change and Cultural Diplomacymethodology: arts-for-social-changeBy using original dance performances and transcultural choreographic practices, the organization advances social change, cultural diplomacy, and cross-cultural understanding, because dance serves as a nonverbal platform to reveal social issues, celebrate diversity, and inspire collective responsibility across communities.
- Community Co-Creation in Artistic Practicemethodology: community-co-creation-of-set-designBy involving communities in co-creating set designs and engaging in critical dialogue through performance, the organization deepens community ownership and impact, because participatory art processes validate local voices and transform audiences into active contributors.
- Evidence-Based, Culturally Relevant Arts Education for Equitymethodology: evidence-based_arts_educationBy delivering long-term, evidence-based dance education through culturally relevant pedagogy and restorative practices, the organization empowers marginalized students—particularly AAPI, BIPOC, and Latinx youth in under-resourced schools—because this approach validates cultural identity, fosters inclusion, and improves engagement where arts access is otherwise lacking.
- Experiential and Embodied Learning for Critical Reflectionmethodology: experiential-learningBy combining creative movement with Socratic discourse, dance journaling, and embodied imagination, the organization fosters deep critical reflection and personal development, because physical and artistic engagement activates self-awareness and cognitive processing in ways that traditional discourse alone does not.