named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Acoustic Guitar Project
Annual concert event and global music initiative where musicians write and record a song in one week on the same guitar, presented as part of the Folkus season.
Family Music & Dance Festival
Annual event offering intergenerational programming with live music and dance activities for families in the Central New York community.
Monthly Concert Series
Volunteer-run live music events held twice monthly from September to May, featuring local, national, and international acoustic musicians in an accessible venue in Syracuse.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Performing Arts Ticket Access Programs 3 activities
- Ensure accessibility and safety at performancesAdmits children 12 and under free when accompanied by an adult, allows mask-wearing per artist requirements, provides hand sanitizer and masks, and uses CDC-certified MERV-13 air filters changed every six months at the performance venue.
- Manage concert ticketing and salesSells advance tickets via Eventbrite up to noon on the day of the show or until sold out, accepts mail-in orders one week prior to the event, and accepts cash, checks, and credit card payments through Eventbrite while covering all processing fees.
- Provide membership benefits for concertgoersOffers members discounted tickets ($3 savings per ticket), advance ticket sales for preferred seating, early notification of season schedules and special shows, and access to a special annual event.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Communicate with audience via email updatesSends one email prior to each show and occasional news updates to subscribers to inform them about performances and organizational news.
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Regional Arts Advocacy & Promotion 1 activity
- Highlight regional music venues and organizationsPromotes public awareness and enjoyment of music venues and organizations in Central New York and surrounding regions through outreach and programming.
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Event and Production Volunteer Coordination 1 activity
- Operate volunteer-led concert organizationRuns entirely on volunteer labor with no paid staff, relying on a core team of approximately a dozen lead volunteers and additional supporting volunteers to staff concerts and manage organizational tasks.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Present live folk and acoustic music concertsOrganizes and presents live acoustic music performances twice monthly during the September to May season at the May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society in Syracuse, NY, featuring both seasoned and emerging artists such as Emma's Revolution, Joe Crookston, Jake Blount, and Eileen Ivers & The Brigideens. The series includes special events like the Acoustic Guitar Project and Family Music & Dance Festival.
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Benefit Events for Arts and Culture 1 activity
- Support venue and community partnershipsDonates net proceeds from intermission refreshments and makes an annual financial gift to the May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, the wheelchair-accessible venue hosting the concert series.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Secure public and member fundingReceives financial and programmatic support from Folkus members and public funding through the Statewide Community Regrants Program (supported by NY State Council on the Arts, Governor’s Office, and Legislature) and the Tier Three Project Support program (supported by Onondaga County and County Executive).
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$59K
Contributions & grants$16K27%
Program service revenue$43K73%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$53K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$56K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$56K
3 years on record · 2022–2024 · YoY revenue -19.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 4
- Chris Finkle — Director
- Jeff Peneston — Director
- Jon Peterson — Director
- Nancy Susan Weiss — Director
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- CNY Arts Government — Administers regrant funding from the New York State Council on the Arts and the County of Onondaga to support Folkus Project events.
- CNY Arts Partner — Administers regrant programs from the New York State Council on the Arts and Onondaga County that fund Folkus Project events.
- County of Onondaga Government — Provides funding support through the Tier Three Project Support program, administered by CNY Arts.
- County of Onondaga Government — Supports the Tier Three Project Support program administered by CNY Arts, which funds Folkus Project activities.
- Eventbrite Partner — Platform used for online ticket sales; processing fees are absorbed by The Folkus Project.
- May Memorial Partner — Hosts Folkus membership tables at its shows.
- May Memorial Partner — Venue partner hosting performances with upgraded air filtration and safety measures.
- May Memorial UU Society Partner — Host venue for regular Friday night concerts organized by The Folkus Project.
- May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society Partner — Donates venue space for Folkus Project music shows and receives financial support in return.
- May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society Partner — Hosts the Folkus Project concert series at its facility in Syracuse since 2003.
- May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society Partner — Provides venue space for music performances.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides funding support through the Statewide Community Regrants Program, administered by CNY Arts.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides funding through the Statewide Community Regrants Program, supporting Folkus Project initiatives.
- Signature Sound Partner — Collaborates with Signature Sound students, who have participated in Folkus events such as the member dinner.
- friends@folkus.org Partner — Contact point for updating broken links to partner organizations and music venues.
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.
- Community Through Live Musicmethodology: communal_resonance_through_live_musicBy presenting high-quality live acoustic music in accessible settings, the organization fosters deep communal connection and shared transcendence, because shared live experiences—especially moments of musical resonance like "The Long Note"—create emotional unity between performers and audiences.
- Inclusive Access Model for Community Engagementmethodology: inclusive-accessible-programmingBy combining low ticket prices, accessible venues, and inclusive programming, the organization broadens participation in live music, because reducing financial and physical barriers increases equity and strengthens community identity through diverse cultural engagement.
- Music as Cultural Activism and Storytellingmethodology: music-as-activismBy curating music that weaves narratives of freedom, resilience, and injustice, the organization inspires hope and engagement, because emotionally resonant storytelling through folk and acoustic traditions transforms music into a vehicle for social reflection and change.
- Volunteer and Membership-Based Sustainabilitymethodology: volunteer-led_sustainabilityBy engaging volunteers based on personal interests and availability and incentivizing membership through benefits like preferred seating, the organization ensures financial and operational continuity, because community ownership through participation and sustained support strengthens organizational resilience independent of individual leaders.