irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $194KWORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: CREATING AND SHARING RESOURCES FOR INDEPENDENT VENUES AND PROMOTERS, AND SUPPORTING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION EFFORTS REMAIN CORE TO THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION. NIVF HAS DELIVERED OVER 45 FREE VIRTUAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS SERVING 5,000+ REGISTERED ATTENDEES REPRESENTING LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ORGANIZATIONS. TO DATE, THE VENUE OPERATIONS EXPERIENCE (VOX) HAS SUPPORTED 63 PARTICIPANTS THROUGH CERTIFICATION, MENTORSHIP, AND PAID INTERNSHIPS; IN 2025, 86% OF COHORT MEMBERS SECURED EMPLOYMENT IN LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. THE NIVF TRAINING HUB SERVED 3,700+ USERS, AND 3,600 JOB SEEKERS AND EMPLOYERS UTILIZED THE INDEPENDENT VENUE JOB BOARD. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DRAKE BUSINESS INNOVATION HUB AT DRAKE UNIVERSITY'S ZIMPLEMAN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, NIVF LAUNCHED A STATE FUNDING RESOURCE DATABASE, WHICH RECEIVED 2,200+ VISITS SINCE LAUNCH.
- #2 $66KOTHER PROGRAMS: THE NIVF CONFERENCE TRAVEL GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDED UP TO A $500 TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT FOR FLIGHT OR ESTIMATED FUEL COSTS TO DRIVE TO THE NIVA '25 CONFERENCE HELD IN JUNE 2025. THE REIMBURSEMENT GRANTS WERE FUNDED BY A GENEROUS DONOR AND WERE PROVIDED TO THOSE IN NEED OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR TRAVEL TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE. IN ADDITION, NIVF ONCE AGAIN PARTNERED WITH CALLING ALL CROWS' #HEREFORTHEMUSIC PROGRAM TO PRESENT AN INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP AT THE NIVA '25 CONFERENCE, EQUIPPING VENUE MANAGERS WITH THE TOOLS TO TRAIN THEIR TEAMS ON WORKPLACE SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAWS, POLICIES, AND PROTOCOLS. PARTICIPANTS GAINED PRACTICAL STRATEGIES TO CONFIDENTLY DELIVER SENSITIVE CONTENT, NAVIGATE CHALLENGING QUESTIONS, AND FOSTER A CULTURE OF SAFETY AND RESPECT WITHIN THEIR VENUES.
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Conference Travel Grant Program
Offers up to $500 in travel reimbursement to individuals needing financial assistance to attend the NIVA conference.
Emergency Relief Fund (ERF)
Provides grants of up to $25,000 per location to independent venues and promoters affected by natural disasters, fires, hurricanes, or other emergencies beyond their control.
Independent Venue Job Board
Online platform connecting job seekers with employers in the independent live entertainment sector; used by over 3,600 individuals and organizations.
NIVF Training Hub
Online resource library offering ongoing access to workforce development materials and virtual training sessions for venue operators and promoters.
State Funding Resource Database
Partnership with Drake University to create a centralized database of state and federal funding opportunities for independent venues and small businesses.
Venue Operations Experience (VOX)
Certification and internship program that prepares participants for careers in live entertainment, including mentorship and paid internships; 86% of cohort members secured employment in 2025.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
-
Professional Certification and Continuing Education 1 activity
- Delivering workforce development training programsOffers free virtual training sessions and maintains an online Training Hub with over 45 archived sessions on topics including venue management, marketing, safety, and music licensing. These programs have served over 5,000 registered attendees and more than 3,700 users.
-
-
Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Distributing organizational newslettersProvides a regular newsletter to share information about upcoming trainings, available resources, and organizational activities within the independent live entertainment sector.
-
-
Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
- Funding travel grants for conference attendanceProvides travel reimbursement grants of up to $500 to individuals requiring financial assistance to attend the NIVA '25 Conference, increasing accessibility and participation in professional development opportunities.
-
-
Professional Job Board & Career Placement Services 1 activity
- Operating a job board for the independent live entertainment sectorHosts and maintains the Independent Venue Job Board, a platform connecting job seekers and employers in the independent live entertainment industry. The platform has facilitated over 3,600 job views, 550+ applications, and 100+ employer listings since 2023.
-
-
Performing Arts Production Support 1 activity
- Operating an Emergency Relief Fund for independent venues and promotersProvides emergency financial aid to independent live entertainment venues and promoters affected by natural disasters, manmade disasters, or acts of terrorism. The fund has distributed $3.17 million to 166 venues and promoters across 40 states.
-
-
Arts and Cultural Workforce Training 1 activity
- Operating the VOX workforce development programRuns a 4-month workforce development initiative offering virtual gamified workshops, paid internships (8–12 weeks), mentorship with industry professionals, resume and career training, and networking opportunities. The program serves participants nationwide and in Tennessee, with 86% of the 2025 cohort securing employment in live entertainment.
-
-
Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Education 1 activity
- Providing anti-harassment training at industry eventsDelivers interactive anti-harassment workshops at the NIVA '25 Conference to equip venue managers with tools to implement workplace sexual harassment policies and foster safe environments.
-
-
Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Supporting entrepreneurship and minority business developmentProvides programming and plans funding initiatives focused on entrepreneurship, management training, and support for minority-owned businesses in the independent live entertainment sector.
-
-
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Co-maintaining a state and federal funding resource databasePartners with Drake University to operate a centralized State Funding Resources Guide that catalogs funding and workforce development opportunities for independent venues and small businesses, receiving over 2,200 visits since launch.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$605K
Contributions & grants$580K96%
Program service revenue$5050%
Investment income$25K4%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$575K
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$172K
Grants paid out$242K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.01M
Cash$938K
Investments$0
Liabilities$101K
Net assets$907K
Liquid reserves19.6 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +114.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 8
- Annie Brinn — Treasurer
- David M Mayeri — Board Member
- Hal Real — Board Member
- Jillian Sacher — Secretary
- Laura Wilson — President
- Linda Bloss-Baum — Board Member-10/14/24-5/5/25
- Taneshai Nash Laird — Board Member
- Tobi Parks — Vice President
relationships · 29
Who they work with
- Berkeley Music Group Partner — David M. Mayeri from Berkeley Music Group serves on the Fundraising committee.
- Berklee College of Music Partner — Board member Taneshia Nash Laird represents Berklee College of Music on the NIVF board and chairs the Fundraising committee.
- Bohemian Foundation Partner — Laura Wilson, President of NIVF, is affiliated with the Bohemian Foundation.
- Bohemian Foundation Partner — Program partner supporting the VOX workforce development program.
- Calling All Crows Partner — Partnered on #HereForTheMusic program to deliver anti-harassment safety training and policy workshops at NIVA conferences.
- Colorado State University Partner — Laura Wilson, affiliated with Colorado State University, serves as President and is involved in the Programming - Workforce Development committee.
- Creative Artists Agency Partner — Jillian Sacher, representing Creative Artists Agency, chairs the Marketing committee.
- Crowbar Partner — Tom DeGeorge from Crowbar serves on the Emergency Relief Fund committee.
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Government — Provides foundational content on cybersecurity and infrastructure safety for venues.
- Denver Arts & Venues Partner — Lisa Gedgaudas from Denver Arts & Venues serves on the Emergency Relief Fund committee.
- Drake Business Innovation Hub Partner — Collaborates with NIVF to develop a state funding resource guide for independent venues and small businesses.
- Drake Business Innovation Hub at Drake University's Zimpleman College of Business Partner — Collaborated to launch a state funding resource database for independent venues.
- Drake University Partner — Collaborates with NIVF to develop and maintain the State Funding Resources Guide for independent venues and small businesses.
- Drake University Zimpleman College of Business Partner — Hosts the Drake Business Innovation Hub and collaborates with NIVF on the development of a funding resource database.
- Grow with Google Partner — Partners on training modules covering digital accessibility, Google Ads, analytics, team coaching, and online security.
- Inherit the Music Partner — Program partner supporting the VOX workforce development program.
- L-Acoustics Partner — Presents a three-part training series on sound system design challenges in live events.
- Levitt Family Foundation Partner — Program partner supporting the VOX workforce development program.
- Live Music Society Partner — Collaborates on training sessions including sound system design and licensing education.
- Marauder Partner — Rev. Moose from Marauder serves as a board member.
- MusiCares Partner — Features MusiCares as a resource for mental health and wellness support for music industry professionals.
- National Independent Venue Association Network — Founded by NIVA and maintains an affiliated relationship with the trade association.
- National Independent Venue Association Network — Originally formed through NIVA; the Emergency Relief Fund was launched under its initiative in 2020.
- Nightlife United Partner — Program partner supporting the VOX workforce development program.
- Philadelphia Music Alliance Partner — Kerri Park from Philadelphia Music Alliance is a member of the Programming - Workforce Development committee.
- ROSTR Partner — Partnership to power the National Independent Venue Foundation’s job board, featuring a dedicated Indie Live tag for job listings.
- Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Government — Government agency partner supporting the VOX workforce development program in Tennessee.
- Tour Tech Partner — Co-presents virtual training sessions on music licensing and performance rights with NIVF.
- Warner Music Group Partner — Annie Brinn, Treasurer and board member, represents Warner Music Group and chairs the Emergency Relief Fund committee.
strategies · 2
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.
- Ecosystem Support through Market Transparencymethodology: ecosystem_supportBy fostering a transparent and competitive marketplace, the organization strengthens independent live performance venues and ensures they serve diverse and inclusive communities, because systemic market health enables sustainable cultural infrastructure.
- Industry-Led Workforce Development with Certification Pathwaysmethodology: workforce-development-through-integrated-trainingBy combining peer-led training, mentorship, and paid internships with formal certification, the organization creates sustainable career pathways into the live entertainment industry, because experiential learning grounded in real-world practice increases workforce readiness and inclusion of under-recognized individuals.