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ETHELS FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 134198925 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A60 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · ethelcentral.org
revenue
$539K
expenses
$534K
net assets
$477K
employees
6
volunteers
13
program ratio
77%
profile · synthesized from sources

ETHEL is a New York-based string quartet dedicated to innovative, collaborative performances that blend classical traditions with contemporary and cross-genre influences. The ensemble creates multimedia productions and maintains artist residencies at institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Denison University. Through live performances, educational programs, and virtual initiatives, ETHEL fosters artistic connections and expands access to new music across the U.S. and internationally.

named programs · 9 · from sources

What they call their work

Artists in Residence: The Peabody Institute
Residency at Johns Hopkins University offering workshops, performances, and recordings for the Music for New Media Program
Documerica
Evening-length multimedia concert featuring music by ETHEL and guest composers paired with archival EPA photographs from the 1970s, exploring environmental and social themes
ETHEL and Friends: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Curated music series at the Met’s Balcony Bar, blending classical and contemporary repertoire with guest artists
Ensemble-in-Residence: Denison University
Long-term residency providing mentorship, coaching, and cross-disciplinary performances for students and the campus community
Reimagine
Collaborative evening-length production with soprano Hila Plitmann and director Doug Fitch, featuring song transformations by 17 composers across genres with immersive visuals
Seasons Now
Performance program celebrating the 300th anniversary of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, combining ETHEL’s arrangements with new works by contemporary composers
Signature Sessions
Modular virtual concert series featuring curated selections from ETHEL’s repertoire, designed for digital presentation with optional live talk-backs
The Red Willow
Collaborative multimedia performance with Taos Pueblo flutist Robert Mirabal, blending original music, storytelling, and movement rooted in Native American and contemporary traditions
VR- and AI-Powered Music Education Tools
Collaborative initiative with the University of Oklahoma to develop immersive, scalable learning experiences in music education
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Classical and Chamber Music Performances 3 activities
    • Performing on major national stages and media platforms
      Performs as a string ensemble on major American stages including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and EDC Las Vegas, with performances broadcast on national television networks such as Fox, CBS, and NBC News.
    • Presenting genre-blurring musical performances
      Demonstrates the blurring of musical genres through live performances that enrich diverse musical styles and identify commonalities between classical forms and other traditions.
    • Producing and touring original concert programs
      Presents original concert programs such as "Seasons Now," "Red Willow Suite," and "ETHEL's Documerica," featuring signature arrangements, new compositions, and multimedia elements including multi-screen projections and storytelling.
  • Music Education and Training Programs 2 activities
    • Providing artist residencies and educational programming at academic institutions
      Serves as ensemble-in-residence at Denison University, quartet-in-residence at Face the Music, and artists-in-residence at CUNY’s Macaulay Leadership Program and Brooklyn Public Library, offering mentorship, workshops, performances, and interdisciplinary projects for students and communities.
    • Training musicians through performance anxiety programs
      Directs Liberated Performer®, a program that trains musicians to overcome performance anxiety and enhance stage presence.
  • Commissioning New Musical Works 1 activity
    • Commissioning new musical works
      Commissions original musical compositions from contemporary composers such as Mary Ellen Childs, Ulysses Owens, Jr., Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, and James Kimo Williams for performance programs.
  • Digital Music and Performance Archiving 1 activity
    • Delivering virtual performance series and digital concert packages
      Produced and distributed virtual performance content including the "Balcony Bar from Home" series and "Signature Sessions," modular digital concerts with high-quality audio and 4K video, available for streaming or digital premiere by presenters, supplemented by live Zoom talk-backs.
  • Artist Support Grants 1 activity
    • Funding ETHEL's artistic work
      Operates as ETHEL's Foundation for the Arts to support the artistic endeavors of the ensemble ETHEL.
  • Original Music-Theater and Opera Production 1 activity
    • Leading long-term collaborative artistic partnerships
      Engages in sustained artistic collaborations, such as a 13-year partnership with Robert Mirabal of the Taos Pueblo, resulting in live performance ceremonies that blend music, movement, and wisdom for post-pandemic audiences.
  • Theatre Awards and Honors Administration 1 activity
    • Presenting annual +Factor Award for artistic collaboration
      Presents the +Factor Award annually to honor individuals who excel in artistic collaboration and inspire creativity in others.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Curating performance series at cultural institutions
      Curates and performs in the "ETHEL and Friends" music series at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Balcony Bar, ongoing since 2012 through the 2025–26 season.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$539K
Contributions & grants$301K56%
Program service revenue$220K41%
Investment income$18K3%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$534K
Program expenses77%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$366K
Grants paid out$10K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$504K
Cash$397K
Investments$0
Liabilities$27K
Net assets$477K
Liquid reserves8.9 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +13.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 17
  • ANDREA WOODNER — PRESIDENT
  • ANJU UCHIMA — DIRECTOR
  • BETH FERTIG — DIECTOR
  • CLAIRE WEISZ — DIRECTOR
  • CORIN LEE — DIRECTOR
  • DAVID FRANKEL — CHARIMAN TREASURER
  • DOROTHY LAWSON — DIRECTOR
  • GREIG SARGEANT — DIRECTOR
  • KATHY WORM — DIRECTOR
  • KIP JONES — DIRECTOR
  • LAURA LOU LEVY — DIRECTOR
  • MELIN TAN-GELLER — DIRECTOR
  • MOLLY MCBRIDE — DIRECTOR
  • RALPH FARRIS — DIRECTOR
  • RIK FAIRLIE — SECRETARY
  • RON CARTER — DIRECTOR
  • WALTER SMITH — DIRECTOR
relationships · 28

Who they work with

  • American Symphony Orchestra Partner — Collaborating orchestra with which Dorothy Lawson has performed
  • Brooklyn Academy of Music Partner — Commissioned ETHEL ensemble members and collaborated on performances.
  • Brooklyn Public Library Partner — Partner in the Creatives-in-Residence program, hosting public performances and exhibitions.
  • Denison University Partner — Longstanding residency partnership where ETHEL mentors students and contributes to cross-disciplinary initiatives.
  • ETHEL Partner — Co-presents the +Factor Award with ETHEL’s Foundation for the Arts.
  • ETHEL Partner — Primary artistic ensemble supported by the foundation.
  • Georgia Tech Partner — Commissioned ETHEL ensemble members.
  • Hila Plitmann Partner — Two-time Grammy®-winning soprano collaborating on the development of Reimagine, an evening-length production.
  • Kaufman Music Center Partner — Hosted ETHEL as quartet-in-residence for Face the Music, a program for young musicians performing works by living composers.
  • Macaulay Honors College Partner — Artists-in-residence providing interdisciplinary educational programming across CUNY campuses.
  • Mannes College at The New School Partner — Institution where Dorothy Lawson teaches in the Preparatory Division
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art Partner — Collaborated on the virtual performance series Balcony Bar from Home.
  • Molly McBride Partner — Producer and director of the Signature Sessions project
  • National Endowment for the Arts Government — Commissioned ETHEL ensemble members.
  • Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Partner — Collaborating ensemble with which Dorothy Lawson has performed
  • Philharmonia Virtuosi Partner — Collaborating ensemble with which Dorothy Lawson has performed
  • Pitchfork Partner — Described ETHEL's performances as visceral and exuberant.
  • Robert Mirabal Partner — Collaborative artistic partner in a 13-year performance project integrating music, storytelling, and movement.
  • Robert Mirabal Partner — Long-time musical partner and two-time GRAMMY®-winning Taos Pueblo flutist collaborating on productions including The Red Willow and The River.
  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art Partner — Hosts ETHEL as ensemble-in-residence for curated music series at the Balcony Bar.
  • The New York Times Partner — Provided critical recognition of ETHEL's musical artistry.
  • The New Yorker Partner — Recognized ETHEL as a leading 'post-classical' music ensemble.
  • The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University Partner — Artists-in-residence collaboration involving workshops, performances, and recordings in the Music for New Media Program.
  • Time Out New York Partner — Highlighted ETHEL's role in bridging classical and experimental music traditions.
  • Toronto Symphony Orchestra Partner — Collaborating orchestra with which Dorothy Lawson has performed
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Government — Source of archival imagery from Project Documerica, which inspired and informs the "ETHEL's Documerica" performance.
  • University of Oklahoma School of Music Partner — Collaborates on the design of VR- and AI-powered music education tools.
  • White Oak Dance Project Partner — Collaborating dance project with which Dorothy Lawson has performed
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.

  • Collaborative Multimedia Engagement Model
    methodology: collaborative_multimedia_performance
    By centering artistic practice on collaborative, multimedia productions that integrate archival visual media, electronic arrangements, and live performance, the organization deepens audience engagement and creates contemporary dialogues around social and environmental themes, because multisensory and interdisciplinary formats enhance emotional and intellectual connection.
  • Community-Engaged Artistry and Storytelling
    methodology: community-engaged_artistry
    By using storytelling and direct artistic interaction with students and the public, the organization fosters community engagement and develops new audiences, because personal, participatory encounters with artists build connection, accessibility, and long-term cultural investment.
  • Cross-Genre and Cultural Fusion Performance
    methodology: cross_genre_cultural_fusion
    By integrating classical string quartet traditions with non-traditional, experimental, and global musical forms — including Native American, African, European, and Asian traditions — the organization creates innovative, transcendent performances that reveal shared artistic elements and expand the boundaries of contemporary classical music, because such fusion fosters deeper artistic resonance and broader audience relevance.
  • Hybrid Audience Engagement Strategy
    methodology: hybrid_engagement
    By combining modular performance units with interactive digital components such as live talk-back sessions, the organization enables customized audience experiences and deepens engagement in both live and digital settings, because flexible programming and direct interaction increase accessibility and foster a sense of participation.