irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $568KEDUCATIONAT HARLEM STAGE, WE BELIEVE THE ARTS HAVE THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER TO SHAPE YOUNG LIVES, BUT ALSO LIFELONG LEARNERS OF ALL AGES TO IGNITE CRITICAL THINKING AND GIVE VOICE TO UNDERREPRESENTED AND DISADVANTAGED YOUTH AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM NYC AND BEYOND. THROUGH FREE STUDENT-ONLY MATINEES, IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES, IMMERSIVE WRITING AND PERFORMANCE WORKSHOPS, WE BRING MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, AND COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF ALL AGES INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AND PERFORMERS. OUR PROGRAM SPARKS THE COURAGE TO CONFRONT TOUGH, REAL-WORLD TOPICS-RACIAL EQUITY, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, IMMIGRATION, GENDER EQUALITY, CONFLICT ZONES, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES, AND MORE - ENGAGING STUDENTS IN STORIES THAT AMPLIFY THE POWER OF ART TO ENACT REAL SOCIAL CHANGE.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
E-Moves Festival
Annual festival featuring dance performances and talkbacks, including the "Black Men in Dance" series that highlights the artistry and legacy of Black male dancers.
Education and Community Engagement
Offers free student matinees, in-school residencies, writing and performance workshops for K-12 and college students, connecting them with professional artists to explore social issues through the arts.
SOWETO 50: We R the Future
Commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising through interdisciplinary programming including panel discussions, performances, and film screenings for students.
WATERWORKS Commissioning Fellowship Initiative
Supports emerging choreographers of the Global Majority through commissions and premieres, including a landmark partnership with AILEY to develop new dance works.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Arts Education Access Programs 2 activities
- Collaborates with partner organizations to expand arts programmingPartners with organizations such as Camille A. Brown and Dancers, Mumu Fresh, Gerald Clayton, and Young Audiences New York to deliver community workshops, music residencies, and Living Library program offerings.
- Conducts teaching artist residencies in K-12 and community settingsDelivers performing arts education through teaching artist residencies at schools and community organizations including A. Philip Randolph High School, Wheels, Manhattan Village Academy, Lower Manhattan Community Middle School, and Exodus Transitional Community.
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Film Festival and Screening Programming 2 activities
- Hosts film screenings and post-screening discussions on cultural impactPresents special screenings such as the 35th-anniversary showing of "Paris is Burning," followed by discussions on its influence on ballroom culture, identity, and community.
- Presents multidisciplinary cultural and historical programsProduces events such as SOWETO 50: We R the Future, featuring panel discussions with South African artists, live drumming performances, and film screenings like Sarafina!, to commemorate historical moments and promote cross-cultural dialogue.
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Dance Performance and Community Engagement 2 activities
- Offers masterclasses and public conversations with artistsPresents educational events such as a masterclass and conversation with choreographer Camille A. Brown, exploring the creative process and artistic practice.
- Produces the Black Men in Dance seriesPresents the Black Men in Dance program, featuring performances and conversations celebrating Black male artists in dance, as part of the E-Moves Festival 2026 and other public events.
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Original Dance Performance Production 1 activity
- Commissions and presents original dance works by emerging choreographersSupports emerging choreographers through the WATERWORKS Commissioning Fellowship Initiative, commissioning and presenting world premieres of original dance works by artists such as Kamani Abu, Derick McKoy Jr., Naia Neal, and Kasey Orava.
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Post-Performance Audience Engagement 1 activity
- Hosts audience engagement events and pre-show discussionsProvides context and insight into performances through moderated pre-show conversations, such as those for the world premiere of WaterWorks and in partnership with While We Are Still Here, featuring choreographers from the AILEY family.
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Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
- Hosts the Freedom Riders Gallery exhibitionMaintains and presents the Freedom Riders Gallery, an educational exhibition that explores the history and impact of the Freedom Riders movement.
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Arts and Cultural Workforce Training 1 activity
- Provides arts administration internships for college and graduate studentsHosts internships for college and graduate students to gain professional experience in arts administration and organizational operations.
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Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- Provides free student matinees and arts education programsHosts free student-only matinees and in-school residencies for middle school, high school, and college students, offering immersive writing and performance workshops and opportunities to engage with professional artists through performances and conversations.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$3.70M
Contributions & grants$3.47M94%
Program service revenue$122K3%
Investment income$110K3%
Other revenue$3K
expenses
Total expenses$4.12M
Program expenses65%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising20%
Salaries & benefits$1.95M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$5.41M
Cash$367K
Investments$3.47M
Liabilities$158K
Net assets$5.25M
Liquid reserves11.2 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +34.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 5
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATRICIA CRUZ | CEO & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | 40 | $161K |
| SHAMAR HILL | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $152K |
| ERIC OBERSTEIN | MANAGING DIRECTOR | 40 | $149K |
| DEIRDRE MAY | SR. DIR. DIGITAL CONTENT & | 40 | $121K |
| AMANDA RINGGER | DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION | 40 | $113K |
board members · 17
- ANGELA GLOVER BLACKWELL — BOARD MEMBER
- BLAIR WASHINGTON — BOARD MEMBER
- CHANNING MARTIN — BOARD MEMBER
- CLAIRE DANES — BOARD MEMBER
- COURTNEY FLEE-MITCHELL — PRESIDENT
- HUGH DANCY — BOARD MEMBER
- IDITRA ETAWROO — BOARD MEMBER
- JAMIE CANNON — VICE-PRESIDENT
- JAMILA PONTON BRAGG — BOARD MEMBER
- JENETTE KAHN — BOARD MEMBER
- JENNA BOND — BOARD MEMBER
- JOANN K CHASE — BOARD MEMBER
- LACHANZE SAPP-GOODING — BOARD MEMBER
- MARK THOMAS — TREASURER
- MICHAEL A YOUNG — SECRETARY
- REBECCA ROBERTSON — BOARD MEMBER
- TAMARA TUNIE — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 47
Who they work with
- A. Philip Randolph High School Partner — Partnered with Harlem Stage for in-school residencies and student engagement programs.
- AILEY Partner — Landmark inaugural partnership to co-present and champion new choreographic works by emerging artists from the AILEY community.
- AILEY Partner — Partners with AILEY to present original dance works by commissioned choreographers in a student matinee.
- Babatunji Johnson Partner — Panelist in the Black Men in Dance event
- Bloomberg Philanthropies Funder — Foundation supporter of Harlem Stage
- Calvin Royal III Partner — Co-curates the Black Men in Dance student matinee event with Harlem Stage.
- Calvin Royal III Partner — Curator of the Black Men in Dance series
- Camille A. Brown Partner — Collaborates with Harlem Stage as a featured artist in a masterclass and conversation.
- Camille A. Brown and Dancers Partner — Collaborated with Harlem Stage to present community dance workshops for local students.
- Consolidated Edison Company Funder — Corporate supporter of Harlem Stage
- Donald Byrd Partner — Panelist in the Black Men in Dance event
- Doris Duke Foundation Funder — Foundation supporter of Harlem Stage
- Dr. Indira Etwaroo Partner — Participates as Harlem Stage CEO & Artistic Director in a public conversation with Camille A. Brown.
- Exodus Transitional Community Partner — Hosted teaching artist residencies led by Harlem Stage in community settings.
- Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation Funder — Endowment and foundation supporter of Harlem Stage
- Ford Foundation Funder — Foundation supporter of Harlem Stage
- Gerald Clayton Partner — Co-led music residencies with Harlem Stage for local students.
- Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Foundation supporter of Harlem Stage
- Leonard and Sophie Davis Fund Funder — Endowment and foundation supporter of Harlem Stage
- Lil Buck Partner — Performs and participates in a Q&A with students as part of the Black Men in Dance event hosted by Harlem Stage.
- Lil’ Buck Partner — Performer and panelist in the Black Men in Dance event
- Lower Manhattan Community Middle School Partner — Partnered with Harlem Stage for teaching artist residencies and educational programming.
- Manhattan Beer Distributors Funder — Corporate supporter of Harlem Stage
- Manhattan Borough President Government — Public supporter of Harlem Stage
- Manhattan Village Academy Partner — Partnered with Harlem Stage for teaching artist residencies and student engagement.
- Mumu Fresh Partner — Co-led music residencies with Harlem Stage for local students.
- National Congress of American Indians Partner — JoAnn K. Chase served as Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians prior to joining Harlem Stage, indicating a professional and leadership connection.
- New Heritage Theater Group Partner — Co-produced the SOWETO 50: We R the Future program at A. Philip Randolph Campus High School.
- New York City Council Government — Public supporter of Harlem Stage
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Public supporter of Harlem Stage
+ 17 more
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.
- Artist Commissioning as Creative Empowermentmethodology: artist_commissioning_fellowshipBy commissioning emerging and original choreographic work through a fellowship model, the organization fosters artistic innovation and cultural authenticity because structured creative support enables underrepresented voices to shape the artistic canon.
- Culturally Responsive Programming for Marginalized Historiesmethodology: culturally_responsive_programmingBy centering programming on Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ histories, the organization highlights resilience and community-building because representation in cultural narratives fosters visibility, belonging, and resistance to systemic erasure.
- Culture-as-Education for Intergenerational and Social Learningmethodology: culture-as-educationBy using live performance, intergenerational dialogue, and film, the organization engages young people in cultural education and reflection on activism and resistance because embedding art in social context enables deeper understanding and critical consciousness.
- Equity-Centered Practice Through Tailored Resourcesmethodology: equity-centered practiceBy providing resources and opportunities tailored to individuals' unique circumstances, rather than applying uniform treatment, the organization advances equity because equitable outcomes require responsiveness to systemic disparities and lived experiences.
- Place-Based Cultural Projection with Global Reachmethodology: place-based global outreachBy centering Harlem as a cultural foundation while amplifying its influence globally, the organization strengthens local identity and expands artistic impact because rootedness in a specific community enables authentic and resonant global narratives.