irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $349KEDUCATION:VLA EDUCATES INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, ARTS PROFESSIONALS WITHIN ACOS, ATTORNEYS, STUDENTS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT LEGAL AND BUSINESS ISSUES THAT AFFECT ARTISTS AND THEIR CREATIVE ENDEAVORS. CLASSES ARE OFTEN AN ARTIST'S FIRST EXPOSURE TO VLA. THEY PLAY A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE IN HELPING ARTISTS AND ACOS IDENTIFY IMPORTANT LEGAL AND BUSINESS ISSUES THEY FACE, AND TEACH THEM HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS.VLA'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE ALSO A VITAL RESOURCE FOR THE ARTS COMMUNITY AND THE LAWYERS WHO SERVE IT. IN FY25, VLA SERVED 1,435 ARTISTS, ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, ATTORNEYS, AND LAW STUDENTS THROUGH CLASSES, SEMINARS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, AND WORKSHOPS FOR THE ARTS AND LEGAL COMMUNITIES. VLA'S EDUCATION PROGRAMMING ALSO INCLUDES INTERNSHIPS FOR LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS, PARTICIPATION IN PREPARING MATERIALS FOR LEGAL PUBLICATIONS, AND VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY TRAINING PROGRAMS.VLA'S HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL CORE CLASSES INCLUDE COPYRIGHT FOR ARTISTS, CONTRACT ESSENTIALS FOR ARTISTS, FOR PROFIT INCORPORATION, AND NONPROFIT INCORPORATION AND TAX-EXEMPT STATUS. VLA ALSO OFFERS CLASSES THAT ADDRESS SPECIFIC LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO DIFFERENT CREATIVE DISCIPLINES SUCH AS CHOREOGRAPHY, CONTEMPORARY ART, DANCE, FASHION, FILMMAKING, MUSIC, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND THEATER. VLA'S COURSE CATALOG CONTINUES TO EVOLVE AS NEW LEGAL ISSUES EMERGE, WITH NEW CLASS OFFERINGS ON GENERATIVE AI, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND OTHER IN-DEMAND TOPICS ADDED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
CLE Credit Program
Provides Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit to attorneys who perform pro bono work through VLA, offering one credit for every 120 minutes of service, up to ten credits per biennial cycle.
Education Program
Offers classes, workshops, and seminars on legal and business issues affecting artists, including Copyright for Artists, Contract Essentials, nonprofit incorporation, and tax-exempt status. Programming also covers discipline-specific topics in film, music, theater, visual arts, and emerging issues like AI and social media.
Pro Bono Legal Services
Connects volunteer attorneys with artists and arts organizations needing legal assistance in areas including contracts, copyright, trademark, immigration, employment, and estate planning. Cases are vetted and matched through VLA’s case list system.
Volunteer Attorney Training
Offers orientation and training for attorneys interested in volunteering with VLA, ensuring they are prepared to handle cases involving artists and arts-related legal issues.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 6 activities
- Facilitation of pro bono legal services valued at over $20 million annuallyCoordinates a network of volunteer attorneys and law firms to deliver over $20 million in free legal services each year to artists and arts organizations across New York State.
- Legal and educational support for senior artistsProvides legal services, education, and resources tailored to senior artists, including will drafting, estate planning, counseling on digital use of artwork, access to free consultations, discounted memberships, and collaboration with the Performing Arts Legacy Project to document artistic careers.
- Legal assistance for nonprofit arts organization formation and complianceAssists start-up nonprofit arts organizations in forming 501(c)(3) corporations and obtaining federal and New York state tax-exempt status, and provides ongoing legal counseling to existing organizations including contract review, negotiation, and drafting.
- Legal services for artists with HIV/AIDSProvides free estate planning, legal clinics, and discounted educational services to artists with HIV/AIDS and to arts organizations with HIV/AIDS-related missions.
- Patent pro bono program for inventors in arts and design fieldsProvides pro bono patent application drafting services and matches income-eligible inventors—regardless of whether the invention is arts-related—with volunteer patent attorneys to file applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
- Provision of free legal services to artists and arts organizationsProvides free legal services to low-income artists and arts organizations across New York State, including in-house consultations, pro bono representation through law firm partnerships, and referrals to volunteer attorneys for complex matters. Services cover intellectual property, contracts, visas, incorporation, estate planning, and nonprofit tax-exempt status.
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Volunteer and Professional Training Programs 1 activity
- Capacity building and training for volunteer attorneysConducts orientation sessions for volunteer attorneys via Zoom to train them on program procedures and requirements, lasting approximately 30 minutes, and supports attorney engagement through structured onboarding.
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Legal Professional Development & Networking 1 activity
- Delivery of legal education programs for artists and legal professionalsOffers over 150 annual educational courses, workshops, panel discussions, and speaking engagements for artists, arts organizations, attorneys, and law students, reaching thousands annually. Provides on-demand access to recordings and collaborates with colleges and law schools.
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Conflict Mediation & Resolution Services 1 activity
- Operation of MediateArt program for arts-related disputesProvides mediation services for arts-related disputes, contract negotiations, and relationship management through the MediateArt program, which has operated since 1998. Each dispute is eligible for up to three three-hour sessions, with two volunteer mediators per session.
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Professional Certification and Continuing Education 1 activity
- Provision of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits for pro bono serviceIs certified by the New York State Bar CLE Board to grant CLE credits to attorneys who perform eligible pro bono legal services, offering up to 10 pro bono CLE credits per biennial cycle, with one credit hour awarded per 50 minutes of service.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.62M
Contributions & grants$1.47M90%
Program service revenue$107K7%
Investment income$49K3%
Other revenue$4
expenses
Total expenses$1.50M
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$1.13M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.15M
Cash$1.06M
Investments$1.17M
Liabilities$692K
Net assets$2.46M
Liquid reserves17.9 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +6.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATHRYN E WAGNER ESQ | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $299K |
| AMY A LEHMAN ESQ | DIRECTOR OF LEGAL SERVICES | 40 | $213K |
board members · 23
- ALISON I STEIN ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- ANDRES SERRANO — BOARD MEMBER
- BARRY I SLOTNICK ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- CYNTHIA DAIGNAULT — BOARD MEMBER
- CYNTHIA S ARATO ESQ — VICE CHAIR
- DANIEL ILAN ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID LEICHTMAN ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- DEIRDRE M MCDONALD ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- DONNA ROSS DANIELS ESQ — TREASURER
- DOUGLAS R NEMEC ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- EDWARD COPELAND ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- ELEANOR M LACKMAN ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- GARY H GLASER ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- JAY COHEN ESQ — CHAIR
- JOHN F DELANEY ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- JONATHAN D DAVIS ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- JORDAN ROMANOFF ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- JOSEPH C TEDESCHI ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- JUSTIN G HAMILL ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- MARGARET A DALE ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- MARK P HANNAFEY ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- MICHAEL C LASKY ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- MICHAEL E SALZMAN ESQ — SECRETARY
relationships · 59
Who they work with
- A&O Shearman Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP Partner — Corporate member supporting VLA's pro bono legal services for artists.
- Advance Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP Partner — Benefactor-level law firm member providing institutional support.
- Art Law Line Partner — Collaborates with the Art Law Line to assist individuals in finding attorneys for MediateArt sessions.
- Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Funder — Partial funder of the Artist Legacy Project.
- Brooklyn Arts Council Partner — Collaborates with or refers to Brooklyn Arts Council, which provides annual grants to artists in New York City.
- California Lawyers for the Arts Partner — Partner organization listed in wildfire relief resource network.
- Center for Art Law Partner — Lists Center for Art Law as a resource for legal information and advocacy in the arts.
- Center for Cultural Innovation Partner — Partner in administering the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund.
- City University of New York Elder Law Clinic Partner — Collaborates with VLA to maintain the Elder Artists’ Legal Resource website.
- Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP Partner — Benefactor-level law firm member providing institutional support.
- Columbia Law School’s Lawyering in the Digital Age Clinic Partner — Collaborates with VLA to maintain the Elder Artists’ Legal Resource website.
- Covington & Burling LLP Partner — Benefactor-level law firm member providing institutional support.
- Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+) Partner — Partner organization providing emergency financial assistance to artists affected by wildfires.
- DLA Piper LLP Partner — Sustainer-level law firm member providing institutional support.
- Davis & Gilbert LLP Partner — Benefactor-level law firm member providing institutional support.
- Debevoise & Plimpton LLP Partner — Benefactor-level law firm member providing institutional support.
- Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP Partner — Sustainer-level law firm member providing institutional support.
- Entertainment Community Fund Partner — Partner organization offering emergency financial assistance and support services to entertainment professionals.
- Entertainment Community Fund Partner — Provides referral to the Entertainment Community Fund for support services to entertainment industry professionals.
- Ernst & Young LLP Partner — Sustainer-level corporate member providing institutional support.
- Fractured Atlas Partner — Lists Fractured Atlas as a resource for fiscal sponsorship services for artists.
- Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP Partner — Benefactor-level law firm member providing institutional support.
- IATSE—Walsh/Di Tolla/Spivak Foundation Partner — Partner providing disaster relief funds and shelter for IATSE members affected by wildfires.
- Jenner & Block LLP Partner — Benefactor-level law firm member providing institutional support.
- Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Partner — Benefactor-level law firm member providing institutional support.
- Latham & Watkins LLP Partner — Benefactor-level law firm member providing institutional support.
- Lawyer’s Alliance for New York Partner — Partners with Lawyer’s Alliance for New York for nonprofit legal support, real estate, and tax services.
- Legal Services NYC Partner — Refers clients to Legal Services NYC for various legal needs including bankruptcy, employment, family law, housing, and immigration.
- Loeb & Loeb LLP Partner — Benefactor-level law firm member providing institutional support.
- Lowenstein Sandler LLP Partner — Sustainer-level law firm member providing institutional support.
+ 29 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.
- Arts-Specific Dispute Resolutionmethodology: party-centered_resolutionBy using neutral, confidential mediation led by professionals who understand both legal and artistic contexts, the organization helps parties reach self-determined settlements because culturally competent, party-centered processes increase trust, openness, and sustainable resolution in sensitive arts-related conflicts.
- Incentivized Pro Bono Engagement Modelmethodology: cle_credit_incentive_modelBy offering Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits and structured professional development opportunities, the organization increases attorney participation in pro bono services because aligning public service with career advancement motivates sustained involvement from legal professionals.
- Integrated Legal and Mediation Support for Artistsmethodology: integrated_legal_servicesBy combining in-house legal staff, pro bono partnerships, volunteer placements, and specialized mediation, the organization delivers comprehensive legal support tailored to artists’ unique needs because integrating multiple service modalities increases accessibility, relevance, and effectiveness of legal interventions in the arts community.
- Legacy and Dignity Preservation for Vulnerable Artistsmethodology: legacy_preservation_through_legal_supportBy providing estate planning, will drafting, and legal support specifically for senior and HIV-affected artists, the organization ensures control over artistic legacies because securing posthumous rights affirms dignity, protects cultural contributions, and reduces exploitation of vulnerable creators.
- Preventive Legal Empowerment Through Educationmethodology: education-first engagementBy offering legal education and on-demand courses on intellectual property, business practices, and emerging issues like AI, the organization empowers artists to identify and address legal risks early because preventive knowledge reduces future legal crises and builds long-term resilience in creative careers.