irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $213KSCHOOL SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF DEPARTMENT GRANTS, MASTER CLASSES, INSTRUMENT REPAIR, PERFORMANCE SUPPORT, DIGITAL MEDIA PROGRAM AND IN-KIND DONATION:DEPARTMENT GRANTS - A&F GIVE ANNUAL, UNRESTRICTE GRANTS TO EQUIP EACH ART STUDIO WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES.MASTER CLASSES - A&F PROVIDES FUNDS FOR GUEST ARTISTS AND MASTER TEACHERS TO ENHANCE ARTISTIC PROGRAMMING THROUGH FIRST-HAND, SPECIALIZED INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE. MASTER TEACHERS HAVE INCLUDED MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC AND THE METROPOLITAN OPERA; RENOWN JAZZ MUSICIANS; LEAD DANCERS FROM THE AMERICAN BALLET THEATER, THE JOFFREY BALLET, NEW YORK CITY BALLET, DANCE THEATER OF HARLEM, ALVIN AILEY, AMERICAN BALLET THEATER AND MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY; AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ARTISTS. A&F PAYS FOR SPECIAL ACCOMPANIST FOR VOCAL CLASSES, DANCE CLASSES, MUSICAL THEATER CLASSES AND PERFORMANCES. THIS FUNDING ALSO PROVIDES A STIPEND FOR PRIVATE LESSONS FOR STUDENTS WITH FINANCIAL NEEDS.INSTRUMENT REPAIR - LAGUARDIA HAS A FULLY-STAFFED INSTRUMENT REPAIR SHOP THAT MANAGES THE MAJORITY OF REPAIRS ON SCHOOL AND PERSONNAL INSTRUMENTS. A&F PROVIDES ANNUAL FUNDING FOR THE INSTRUMENT REPAIR SHOP.PERFORMANCE SUPPORT - PERFORMANCE IS A KEY COMPONENT OF THE EDUCATION AT LAGUARDIA HIGH SCHOOL. A&F MAINTAINS SPECIAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE TECHNICAL THEATER DEPARTMENT SO THAT IT CAN SUPPORT THE 50+ PRODUCTIONS AT THE SCHOOL EACH YEAR. THIS INCLUDES FUNDING FOR THE ANNUAL MUSICAL.IN-KIND EQUIPMENT DONATIONS - A&F PROCURES DONATIONS OF EQUIPMENT SUCH AS INSTRUMENTS, CAMERAS, SPECIALIZED FLOORING FOR DANCERS, AND THEATRICAL LIGHTING THAT THE SCHOOL CANNOT PURCHASE DUE TO BUDGET RESTRICTIONS.
- #2 $85KA&F MAINTAINS A DATA BASE ON THE ALUMNI FROM LAGUARDIA HIGH SCHOOL AND ITS TWO PREDECESSOR SCHOOLS - THE HIGH SCHOOL OF MUSIC & ART AND THE HIGH SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS AND KEEPS ALUMNI IN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER AND THE SCHOOL THROUGH QUARTERLY NEWSLETTERS, A WEBSITE, A FACEBBOOK SITE, REUNIONS AND INVITATIONS TO SCHOOL PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS.
named programs · 8 · from sources
What they call their work
Alumni Engagement
Maintains an alumni database and fosters connections through newsletters, reunions, social media, and invitations to school events.
Department Grants
Provides annual unrestricted grants to equip each arts studio at LaGuardia High School with technology, equipment, and supplies.
Digital Media Program
Supports digital media education and infrastructure at LaGuardia High School, though specific details are not elaborated.
Instrument Repair
Supports the school’s in-house instrument repair shop, which services both school-owned and personal student instruments.
Master Classes
Funds guest artists and master teachers—including members of the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, and Broadway performers—to provide specialized training and industry knowledge to students.
Need-Based Summer Study
Funds 30 students each year to attend prestigious summer arts programs such as Tanglewood, Berklee College of Music, and Manhattan School of Music.
Performance Support
Funds technical theater resources and production needs for over 50 annual school productions, including the annual musical.
Student Awards and Aid
Provides approximately 175 merit- and need-based monetary awards annually, emergency aid for supplies, and stipends for private lessons for students with financial need.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Arts Education Scholarships 1 activity
- Awards student scholarships, grants, and emergency fundingAdministers annual scholarship and grant programs totaling over $200,000 to support students based on merit and/or financial need, including funding for summer arts programs, private lessons, college visits, senior dues, studio supplies, computers, clothing, and transportation during emergencies. Provides $30,000 annually for summer study and covers $8,000 in graduation fees for seniors in need.
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Artist Support Grants 1 activity
- Funds guest artists, master classes, and accompanistsFinances master classes and workshops led by professionals from institutions such as the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, American Ballet Theatre, and Alvin Ailey Dance Company. Also pays for specialized accompanists for dance, drama, and music programs and provides stipends for private lessons for students with financial need.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Hosts student and alumni arts performancesOrganizes and hosts concerts and art shows featuring current students and alumni, including the Spring Jazz Concert, Spring Gospel Concert, Spring Semi-Annual Concert and Art Show, alumni choir concerts, and special events like "Bring Back the Beat" at the Bitter End. These events showcase talent across music, dance, and visual arts disciplines.
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University-Specific Endowment and Program Funding 1 activity
- Manages endowment and donor-funded award programsAdministers a $5.7 million endowment generating $350,000 in annual funding and oversees named donor funds that finance student awards, scholarships, and departmental support. Distributes approximately 190 student awards annually through these established funds.
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Alumni Community Building 1 activity
- Organizes alumni reunions and engagement eventsPlans and hosts biennial alumni reunion events, including class-specific gatherings, dinners, and milestone anniversaries (e.g., 10th to 60+ years since graduation), with recent events held in 2024, 2025, and 2026. Also maintains digital archives of event photos and provides ongoing connection through newsletters, websites, and social media.
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Comprehensive K–12 Arts Education 1 activity
- Provides equipment, supplies, and technical support to arts departmentsSupplies and maintains equipment, technology, and materials for all six studio departments at LaGuardia High School—art, dance, drama, instrumental music, technical theater, and vocal music—including cameras, video equipment, musical instruments, theatrical lighting, specialized flooring, live models, and art supplies. Also funds an on-site instrument repair shop that services over 40 pianos and personal student instruments annually.
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Arts Education Access Programs 1 activity
- Supports arts enrichment through targeted initiativesFunds the Talented Students in the Arts Initiative (TSAI) with $80,000 for master classes and arts enrichment, developed in partnership with the Doris Duke and Surdna Foundations, to expand access to high-level training and creative development opportunities for students.
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Student Organization Funding and Support 1 activity
- Supports extracurricular projects and student clubsProvides mini grants totaling $10,000 annually to fund student-led clubs, after-school enrichment activities, and special curricular enhancement projects, including support for the production of the annual musical ($7,500) and other departmental initiatives.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.45M
Contributions & grants$2.76M80%
Program service revenue$161K5%
Investment income$533K15%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.04M
Program expenses68%
Admin / overhead28%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$249K
Grants paid out$25K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$16.75M
Cash$750K
Investments$15.93M
Liabilities$6K
Net assets$16.74M
Liquid reserves192.1 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -35.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN KRAMER | ALUMNI DIRECTOR | 40 | $129K |
| ROSE AUSTIN | DIRECTOR | 40 | $55K |
| ROBINDRA DEB | DIRECTOR | 40 | $36K |
board members · 11
- BENJAMIN FLAIM — VICE PRESIDENT
- BRIAN BRUMAN — DIRECTOR
- CHRIS DENHAM — TREASURER
- GREGG S FISHER — DIRECTOR
- MADY CHALK — DIRECTOR
- MARGOT ASTRACHAN — DIRECTOR
- MELISSA SPOHLER — DIRECTOR
- PAULA WASHINGTON — DIRECTOR
- PETER BAKSTANSKY — PRESIDENT
- PETER FRISHAUF — DIRECTOR
- TRACY SCHWARTZ — SECRETARY
relationships · 27
Who they work with
- A&F King Sang Wong Partner — Entity associated with a photography award recognizing student achievement.
- Alvin Ailey Dance Company Partner — Hosts master classes led by members of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company for student dancers.
- American Ballet Theatre Partner — Brings lead dancers from American Ballet Theatre to teach and mentor dance students through master classes.
- Berklee College of Music Partner — Supports student attendance at the Berklee College of Music songwriting program through need-based summer study funding.
- Boston University High School Honors Summer Program Partner — Supports student enrollment in the Boston University High School Honors Summer Program via need-based summer study grants.
- City of New York Government — Clarified that the reunion activity is not sponsored or endorsed by the City of New York.
- Dance Theatre of Harlem Partner — Collaborates with dancers from Dance Theatre of Harlem to support dance education programming.
- Doris Duke Foundation Partner — Co-created the Talented Students in the Arts Initiative (TSAI) fund with A&F to support master classes and arts enrichment.
- Henry Street Settlement Music School Partner — Provided full scholarship opportunities for students concurrently attending Music & Art.
- Joffrey Ballet Partner — Partners with lead dancers from the Joffrey Ballet to enhance dance instruction at LaGuardia High School.
- LaGuardia High School Partner — Primary beneficiary of funding and programming support from A&F.
- LaGuardia High School Partner — Primary beneficiary of funding and support for arts departments, student needs, and alumni engagement activities.
- LaGuardia High School Partner — Primary partner institution; A&F exists to support LaGuardia High School and its students.
- Manhattan School of Music Partner — Funds student participation in the Manhattan School of Music summer camp through need-based grants.
- Martha Graham Dance Company Partner — Engages artists from the Martha Graham Dance Company to provide specialized training in modern dance.
- Metropolitan Opera Partner — Engages artists from the Metropolitan Opera to conduct master classes for vocal and performance students.
- New York City Ballet Partner — Engages lead dancers from New York City Ballet to participate in master classes for dance students.
- New York City Department of Education Government — Clarified that the reunion activity is not sponsored or endorsed by the New York City Department of Education.
- New York Philharmonic Partner — Collaborates with guest artists from the New York Philharmonic for master classes at LaGuardia High School.
- Paulette Henk Partner — Photographer recognized through the A&F Florida Alumni award.
- Shan Chen Partner — Photographer whose work was featured in recognition of student awards.
- Surdna Foundation Partner — Co-created the Talented Students in the Arts Initiative (TSAI) fund with A&F to support master classes and arts enrichment.
- Suzanne Borderies Partner — Artist recognized through the A&F Helen Carr Memorial award.
- The Bitter End Partner — Hosts the "Bring Back the Beat" live performance featuring LaGuardia alumni and inspired by its music program.
- Vermont Studio Center Partner — Provides funding for students to attend the Vermont Studio Center through its need-based summer study program.
- Yoo Hyun Kim Partner — Artist recognized through the A&F Fred & Kazuko Harris award.
- Young Artists Tanglewood Orchestra Partner — Enables student participation in the Young Artists Tanglewood Orchestra through funded summer study opportunities.
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.
- Donor Engagement Through Student Impactmethodology: donor-engagement-through-student-gratitudeBy sharing student thank-you letters and work samples with donors, the organization strengthens giving relationships, because visible, personal evidence of impact increases donor motivation and reinforces the tangible outcomes of their support on student confidence and development.
- Endowment-Driven Equitable Accessmethodology: permanent endowment modelBy establishing a permanent endowment, the organization ensures sustained financial support for scholarships and academic departments, because long-term funding stability reduces income-based barriers and enables equitable access to arts education regardless of family economic status.
- Industry-Integrated Arts Pedagogymethodology: industry-engaged_learningBy connecting students with working professionals through master classes, the organization enhances artistic learning and career readiness, because real-world mentorship bridges academic training with industry practice and expands students’ professional networks.
- Music-Based Community Buildingmethodology: music-based community buildingBy using music as a shared cultural and emotional anchor, the organization fosters reconnection and strengthens community bonds among alumni, because shared artistic experiences create lasting social cohesion.
- Peer-Led Alumni Engagementmethodology: peer-led engagementBy empowering individual class leaders to organize reunion events, the organization increases participation and ownership among alumni, because decentralized, peer-led structures foster stronger personal investment and sustained engagement.