Harlem School of the Arts Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE HARLEM SCHOOL OF THE ART'S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER AND ENRICH YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS FROM THE HARLEM AND BEYOND THROUGH DIRECT EXPOSURE TO, AND TRAINING IN, THE CORE DISCIPLINES OF DANCE, MUSIC, THEATER AND VISUAL ARTS.
- Income
- $5.2 million
- Spending
- $6.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- -1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 49%
- Employees
- 222
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $301,316, ceo & president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 40 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $5.4 million spent. 1. STUDENT SERVICES: DURING FY2025, STUDENT SERVICES CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN ITS OPERATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND STUDENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS, ENSURING THAT FAMILIES EXPERIENCED A SEAMLESS AND TRANSPARENT ENROLLMENT PROCESS. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ANN KIM, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION OPERATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS, THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUED TO REFINE DATA REPORTING SYSTEMS, PROVIDING LEADERSHIP AND THE BOARD WITH REGULAR UPDATES ON ENROLLMENT, TUITION REVENUE, AND FINANCIAL AID UTILIZATION. THE TEAM ALSO CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS TO HSA'S REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL AID SYSTEMS, HELPING FAMILIES NAVIGATE ENROLLMENT MORE EASILY WHILE INCREASING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY. STUDENT SERVICES EXPANDED ITS SUPPORT PROGRAMMING THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS, INCLUDING COLLEGE PREPARATION GUIDANCE, FINANCIAL LITERACY SESSIONS, AND INFORMATIONAL EVENTS FOR HSA PREP FAMILIES. THESE IMPROVEMENTS STRENGTHENED THE SCHOOL'S ABILITY TO SCALE ENROLLMENT WHILE MAINTAINING A HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE AND RESPONSIVENESS. 2. PROGRAMS & IMPACT: IN FY2025, HARLEM SCHOOL OF THE ARTS EXPANDED ITS REACH SIGNIFICANTLY, SERVING WELL OVER 2,000 STUDENTS ACROSS ONSITE AND OFFSITE PROGRAMS AND ENGAGING THOUSANDS OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH PERFORMANCES, EXHIBITIONS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. OUR CORE PROGRAM AREAS INCLUDED: - YEAR-ROUND ARTS INSTRUCTION AND PRIVATE LESSONS IN MUSIC, DANCE, DRAMA, AND MEDIA & DESIGN - HSA PREP, OUR TUITION-FREE PRE-PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS AGES 818 - THE DIZZY GILLESPIE JAZZ ACADEMY, PROVIDING HIGH-LEVEL JAZZ TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES - SUMMER ARTS INTENSIVES ACROSS ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES - HARLEM SUMMER ARTS EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN AGES 512 - COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS AND YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS - FAMILY PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC PERFORMANCES THE EXPANSION OF SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT THROUGH THE AVANT FUND ALLOWED MORE STUDENTS THAN EVER BEFORE TO PARTICIPATE IN HSA PROGRAMS. FY2025 ALSO SAW THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF PARTNERSHIPS THAT EXPANDED HSA'S REACH INTO SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS UPPER MANHATTAN AND BEYOND. WE ALSO LAUNCHED OUR CREATIVE CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM WHICH WORKS TO INTENTIONALLY CONNECT HSA STUDENTS TO THE CREATIVE ECONOMY. SELECTED PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: - THE DIZZY GILLESPIE JAZZ ACADEMY CONTINUED TO GROW AS A FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, PROVIDING INTENSIVE TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING YOUNG MUSICIANS. - HSA PREP EXPANDED ITS REACH AND STRENGTHENED ITS TRAINING MODEL, PROVIDING RIGOROUS MULTI-DISCIPLINARY INSTRUCTION FOR PRE-PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS. - PRIVATE LESSONS CONTINUED TO GROW ACROSS DISCIPLINES, OFFERING INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION IN MUSIC, DANCE, THEATER, AND MEDIA ARTS. - THE CHILDREN'S ENRICHMENT PROGRAM SERVED HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS ACROSS FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS, CULMINATING IN SHOWCASES AND PERFORMANCES ACROSS DISCIPLINES. - THE HARLEM SUMMER ARTS EXPERIENCE ONCE AGAIN PROVIDED VIBRANT INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN AGES 512. - STUDENTS PERFORMED IN NUMEROUS PUBLIC PERFORMANCES AND COLLABORATIONS ACROSS NEW YORK CITY, GAINING REAL-WORLD ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE. - SEASONAL PERFORMANCES AND SHOWCASES BROUGHT FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOGETHER AND HIGHLIGHTED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT ACROSS ALL ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES. - FREE COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS AND NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN HSA'S ROLE AS A CULTURAL HUB FOR HARLEM FAMILIES. 3. LOOKING AHEAD: FY2025 POSITIONED HARLEM SCHOOL OF THE ARTS FOR CONTINUED GROWTH AND LONG-TERM IMPACT. WITH SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES EXPANDING, ENROLLMENT INCREASING, AND PARTNERSHIPS STRENGTHENING, HSA IS MOVING TOWARD A FUTURE IN WHICH MORE YOUNG PEOPLE THAN EVER BEFORE CAN ACCESS HIGH-QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION. THE SCHOOL CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE GROWTH BALANCING PROGRAM EXPANSION WITH DISCIPLINED FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP AND STRATEGIC PLANNING. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, HARLEM SCHOOL OF THE ARTS REMAINS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT EVERY YOUNG PERSON WITH ARTISTIC POTENTIAL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, CREATE, AND THRIVE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1965.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
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