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Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts

EIN 13-2792668 · Wheatley Hts, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE INVITE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO EXPERIENCE THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF OUR CAMPUS AND THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE ARTS. USDAN WAS FOUNDED ON JEWISH VALUES THAT INSPIRE US TO MAKE THE WORLD MORE JUST AND MORE BEAUTIFUL. WHEN WE WELCOME THE DIVERSE GROUP OF PASSIONATE YOUNG ARTISTS HERE EACH SUMMER THE HEART OF USDAN COMES ALIVE. OUR GOAL IS TO INSTILL IN OUR COMMUNITY A DESIRE AND DRIVE TO CONTRIBUTE CREATIVELY TO THE WORLD NOW AND FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

Income
$9.0 million
Spending
$9.7 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 82%
Employees
0
Volunteers
27
Highest pay
$340,078, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $5.7 million spent. USDAN IS THE NATION'S PREEMINENT NOT-FOR-PROFIT DAY CAMP FOR THE ARTS. THE CAMP HAS BEEN PROFILED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES AND TIME MAGAZINE, AND HAS BEEN NAMED A "BEST OF" CAMP BY TIMEOUT NY/KIDS AND NY METRO PARENTS. USDAN'S PARENTS AND STUDENTS DESCRIBE USDAN AS "MAGICAL," "TRANSFORMING, AND "INCLUSIVE." NESTLED IN A 140-ACRE FORESTED OASIS, USDAN'S MISSION IS TO INVITE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO EXPERIENCE THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF OUR CAMPUS AND THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE ARTS. SINCE 1968, USDAN HAS WELCOMED APPROXIMATELY 1,400 STUDENTS EACH SUMMER FROM ACROSS LONG ISLAND AND NYC TO PARTICIPATE IN RIGOROUS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN THEATER, DANCE, MUSIC, VISUAL ARTS, CREATIVE WRITING, NATURE AND SUSTAINABILITY, CHESS, AND RECREATION TAUGHT BY WORLD-CLASS INSTRUCTORS AND PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)USDAN'S STUDENT POPULATION REPRESENTS ALL DIFFERENT RACES, RELIGIONS, ETHNICITIES, AND SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS. ROUGHLY A THIRD IDENTIFY AS NEURO-DIVERGENT, BROADLY DEFINED. THE IMPACT OF USDAN'S 50,000 ALUMNI EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE REGION WITH THE VAST MAJORITY OF ALUMNI BECOMING EDUCATORS OR PRACTICING ARTISTS.
  2. $2.1 million spent. SINCE USDAN'S FOUNDING IN 1968, A GUIDING VALUE HAS BEEN TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO USDAN'S ARTS EDUCATION EXPERIENCE TO STUDENTS OF ALL ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS. TO CONTINUE TO WELCOME AS MANY CHILDREN AS POSSIBLE REGARDLESS OF THEIR FAMILY'S FINANCIAL RESOURCES, USDAN OFFERS A ROBUST SCHOLARSHIP AND TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EACH YEAR. USDAN'S GENEROUS SCHOLARSHIP INITIATIVES ARE DESIGNED TO ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY BY MAKING SURE THAT NO CHILD WHO WISHES TO ATTEND USDAN WILL ENCOUNTER COST AS A BARRIER. IN 2024, USDAN OFFERED $2.1 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND TUITION ASSISTANCE TO 57% OF THE STUDENT POPULATION.
  3. $101,809 spent. ROOTED IN PRINCIPLES SUCH AS INCLUSIVITY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND FREEDOM OF CREATIVE EXPRESSION, USDAN ACTIVELY ENGAGES WITH THE COMMUNITY. USDAN OFFERS MULTI-SEASON ACCESS TO OUR PRISTINE WOODLAND SITE AND FACILITIES TO A DIVERSE RANGE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THESE PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE CREATIVE RESIDENCIES FOR ARTISTS, CULTURAL AND NATURE-BASED PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AS WELL AS PROVIDING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO HOST THEIR OWN FESTIVALS, PERFORMANCES, CELEBRATIONS, AND CULTURAL EVENTS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. 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 November 6, 2026.

  3. 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1974.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.