New York City Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF NEW YORK CITY CENTER IS TO BE NEW YORK CITY'S LEADING CENTER FOR DANCE AND MUSICAL THEATER. DEDICATED TO MAKING THE ARTS ACCESSIBLE TO THE BROADEST POSSIBLE AUDIENCE, CITY CENTER SEEKS TO CREATE A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT AND ENGAGE AUDIENCES WITH INSPIRING PROGRAMMING THAT REFLECTS THE ECLECTICISM, ENERGY, AND SPIRIT OF NEW YORK CITY.
- Income
- $31.0 million
- Spending
- $32.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 9.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 50%
- Employees
- 929
- Volunteers
- 33
- Highest pay
- $485,062, president and ceo
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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2532 of 33 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 (4)
- $20.3 million spent. PRODUCTIONS AND PROGRAMMINGCITY CENTER'S 2024-2025 SEASON OPENED WITH THE FALL FOR DANCE FESTIVAL, ONE OF OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAMS THAT HAS LAUNCHED THE SEASON FOR OVER 20 YEARS. RENOWNED FOR ITS DIVERSE PROGRAMMING AND AFFORDABLE $30 TICKETS, FALL FOR DANCE BRINGS TOGETHER TOP DANCE COMPANIES FROM NEW YORK CITY, ACROSS THE U.S., AND AROUND THE WORLD, ATTRACTING A BROAD AUDIENCE WHILE NURTURING NEW DANCE LOVERS. THE FESTIVAL ALSO CONTINUES TO DRIVE INNOVATION THROUGH ITS COMMISSIONING PROGRAM, WHICH HAS PRODUCED 52 WORLD PREMIERES, 56 U.S. PREMIERES, AND 64 NEW YORK CITY PREMIERES TO DATE. THIS YEAR'S FALL FOR DANCE INCLUDED PERFORMANCES BY NATIONAL BALLET OF UKRAINE (UKRAINE), BOSTON BALLET, KNONAME ARTIST RODERICK GEORGE, ANNE PLAMONDON PRODUCTIONS (CANADA), M.A.D.D. RHYTHMS, CANADA'S ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET (CANADA), A.I.M. BY KYLE ABRAHAM, CCN/ATERBALLETTO (ITALY), DUTCH NATIONAL BALLET (NETHERLANDS), SARA MEARNS AND TYLER ANGLE, CASSANDRA TRENARY, AND GANDINI JUGGLING (UNITED KINGDOM). THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL INCLUDED TWO WORLD PREMIERES, TWO US PREMIERES, AND FOUR NEW YORK PREMIERES, AS WELL AS TWO CITY CENTER COMMISSIONS. IN PROGRAM ONE, AMERICAN BALLET THEATER'S ARAN BELL TOOK THE STAGE TO PERFORM PIANO SONGS, A CITY CENTER CO-COMMISSION (WITH THE VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL) FOR ACCLAIMED DANCER TILER PECK. THE SECOND, THE SPECTER OF THE ROSE, CHOREOGRAPHED BY AMERICAN BALLET THEATER DANCER HERMAN CORNEJO, WHO PERFORMED THE DUET WITH FELLOW ABT DANCER SKYLAR BRANDT.CITY CENTER'S FALL DANCE SEASON ALSO INCLUDED A PRESENTATION OF DORRANCE DANCE. THIS HOLIDAY-THEMED DOUBLE BILL FEATURED PERFORMANCES OF AN ELLA'QUENT HOLIDAY SWING (BUILT AROUND THE MUSIC OF ELLA FITZGERALD AND FRANK DEVOL) AND THE NUTCRACKER SUITE (FROM THE DUKE ELLINGTON-BILLY STRAYHORN RENDITION OF TCHAIKOVSKY'S FAMOUS BALLET) PERFORMED BY A CORPS OF TAP DANCERS. A JAZZY AND COLORFUL PRODUCTION, THIS PRESENTATION OF DORRANCE DANCE REPRESENTED A DEEPER FORAY INTO FAMILY-CENTRIC PROGRAMMING FOR CITY CENTER, INCLUDING TWO SPECIAL "FAMILY MATINEE"PERFORMANCES WITH ASSORTED PRE-SHOW ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ORGANIZED BY OUR EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT.THE SPRING DANCE SEASON BEGAN WITH THE RETURN OF THE FLAMENCO FESTIVAL, A CITY CENTER STAPLE FOR OVER TWO DECADES. IT FEATURED PERFORMANCES BY NATIONAL BALLET OF SPAIN, OLGA PERICET, AND GALA FLAMENCA, EACH OF WHICH DEMONSTRATED VIRTUOSIC TALENT IN VARYING STYLES. ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT OF THE SPRING SEASON INCLUDED TWYLA THARPS DANCE DIAMOND JUBILEE, WITH TWO NEW YORK PREMIERES THAT HIGHLIGHT THE INIMITABLE ARTISTRY AND SENSE OF PLAYFULNESS THAT HAS DEFINED HER LEGENDARY CAREER. THE DANCE SEASON CONCLUDED WITH THE LATEST ITERATION OF OUR ARTISTS AT THE CENTER SERIES, WHICH GIVES HIGHLY ACCOMPLISHED DANCERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CURATE A DANCE PROGRAM THAT SPEAKS TO THEIR UNIQUE AESTHETICS. THIS YEAR HIGHLIGHTED SARA MEARNS, THE HIGHLY LAUDED NEW YORK CITY BALLET PRINCIPAL. HER PROGRAM FEATURED TWO WORLD PREMIERE CITY CENTER COMMISSIONS: DON'T GO HOME AND DANCE IS A MOTHER.MAINSTAGE MUSICAL THEATER PRODUCTIONS:CITY CENTER PRODUCED A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED REVIVAL OF RAGTIME FOR ITS ANNUAL GALA PRESENTATION THIS SEASON. FEATURING A SCORE BY STEPHEN FLAHERTY AND LYNNE AHRENS AND A BOOK BY TERRANCE MCNALLY, RAGTIME IS AN EPIC MUSICAL EXAMINATION OF CLASS, RACE, AND IDENTITY IN TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY NEW YORK. OUR STAR-STUDDED PRODUCTION FEATURED BROADWAY LUMINARIES SUCH AS JOSHUA HENRY, CAISSIE LEVY, AND BRANDON URANOWITZ AND WAS DIRECTED BY OUTGOING ENCORES! ARTISTIC DIRECTOR LEAR DEBESSONET. HAILED AS BOTH "EXHILARATING AND "MOVING" BY JESSIE GREEN IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, THIS PRODUCTION WAS A SMASH HIT, DRAWING IN AUDIENCES WITH OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES AND GENUINE PATHOS. ITS SUCCESS LED TO A BROADWAY TRANSFER TO LINCOLN CENTER THEATER, WHICH OPENED IN NOVEMBER 2025 AND IS SET TO CLOSE IN JUNE 2026.THE 2025 ENCORES! SEASON CURATED BY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR LEAR DEBESSONET, CREATIVE DIRECTOR CLINT RAMOS, MUSIC DIRECTOR MARY-MITCHELL CAMPBELL, AND VP AND PRODUCER JENNY GERSTON, THE SEASON INCLUDED TWO-WEEK RUNS FOR EACH SHOW. THE SEASON OPENED WITH URINETOWN, A SATIRICAL AND BRECHTIAN SENDUP OF THE EXCESSES OF CAPITALISM THAT FOLLOWS EVERYMAN BOBBY STRONG (JORDAN FISHER) AS HE LEADS A REVOLT AGAINST THE URINE GOOD COMPANY LED BY THE DEVILISH CALDWELL B. CLADWELL (A HILARIOUS RAINN WILSON). THIS PRODUCTION WAS A HIT WITH BOTH AUDIENCES AND CRITICS, EARNING OUR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE "CRITIC'S PICK" DESIGNATION. NEXT, ENCORES! PRESENTED LOVE LIFE, A PROTO-CONCEPT MUSICAL THAT TRACES SHIFTING SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC NORMS THROUGHOUT AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH THE EXPERIENCES OF MARRIED COUPLE SUSAN AND SAM COOPER, PLAYED BY KATE BALDWIN AND BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL. THE SEASON CONCLUDED WITH WONDERFUL TOWN; SET IN 1935, WONDERFUL TOWN FOLLOWS RUTH (ANIKA NONI ROSE) AND EILEEN (AISHA JACKSON), TWO SISTERS WHO MOVE FROM OHIO TO GREENWICH VILLAGE IN PURSUIT OF THEIR CREATIVE DREAMS. MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED THE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR BERNSTEIN'S SCORE RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL 28-PIECE ORCHESTRATIONS, PAIRED WITH STANDOUT CHOREOGRAPHY BY LORIN LATARRO AND AYODELE CASEL.
- $2.3 million spent. OFFICE TOWER AND STUDIO RENTALSTUDIO AND OFFICE RENTAL PROGRAMS ARE CONDUCTED AS PART OF THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. CITY CENTER'S THREE REHEARSAL STUDIOS WERE RENTED BY HUNDREDS OF DANCERS, CHOREOGRAPHERS AND COMPANIES, MANY OF THEM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A SUBSIDIZED RATE OF $20 PER HOUR.
- $1.6 million spent. EDUCATIONCITY CENTER'S EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (EDUCE) PROGRAMS ARE INTEGRAL TO OUR MISSION OF BROADENING ACCESS TO THE PERFORMING ARTS IN NEW YORK CITY. THESE INITIATIVES INCLUDE ARTS EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, RESIDENCIES, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES DESIGNED FOR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND EMERGING PROFESSIONALS. THROUGHOUT THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, CITY CENTER SERVED SCHOOLS IN ALL FIVE BOROUGHS AND THE GREATER TRI-STATE AREA. WORKSHOPS ARE TYPICALLY SHORT, INTRODUCING STUDENTS TO A SPECIFIC ART FORM, SUCH AS MODERN OR FLAMENCO DANCE, WHILE RESIDENCIES OFFER MORE IN-DEPTH TECHNICAL AND HISTORICAL STUDY OVER SEVERAL WEEKS. BOTH PROGRAMS CULMINATE IN STUDENT MATINEES, WHERE PARTICIPANTS WATCH THE TECHNIQUES THEY'VE STUDIED PERFORMED LIVE ON STAGE.THE STUDENT MATINEE PROGRAM, A CORNERSTONE OF OUR EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS, IS DESIGNED TO MAKE PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES ACCESSIBLE TO ALL STUDENTS. FOR THE 2024-2025 SEASON, CITY CENTER HOSTED SEVEN STUDENT MATINEES, INCLUDING TWO PERFORMANCES BY ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER, AS WELL PERFORMANCES OF DORRANCE DANCE, RAGTIME, URINETOWN AND THE FLAMENCO FESTIVAL. TEACHERS WHO BRING THEIR STUDENTS TO THESE PERFORMANCES ARE PROVIDED WITH STUDY GUIDES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS TO HELP THEM INTEGRATE THE LESSONS FROM THE STAGE INTO THEIR DAILY CURRICULUM. BY OFFERING PERFORMANCES AT PRICES AS LOW AS $2 PER STUDENT--OR EVEN FREE FOR PARTNER SCHOOLS--CITY CENTER ENSURES THAT ACCESS TO THE PERFORMING ARTS REMAINS ATTAINABLE FOR ALL STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL BARRIERS.CITY CENTER'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES FURTHER EXPAND ACCESS TO THE ARTS BY PARTNERING WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES ACROSS NEW YORK CITY. ONE OF THE STANDOUT PROGRAMS IS ARTIVISM, WHICH EMPOWERS YOUNG ARTISTS AGED 18-24 TO USE THEIR CREATIVE PRACTICE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN A TEN-WEEK PROGRAM WHERE THEY LEARN THE INTERSECTION OF ART AND ACTIVISM, CULMINATING IN A PUBLIC PRESENTATION OF THEIR WORK. ADDITIONALLY, THE STREET DANCE AMBASSADORS PROGRAM OFFERS EMERGING STREET DANCE ARTISTS ADVANCED TRAINING FROM RENOWNED PROFESSIONALS WHILE PROVIDING STUDIO SPACE AND A STIPEND TO DEVELOP THEIR ORIGINAL PIECES. BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHT CITY CENTER'S ROLE AS A HUB FOR NURTURING INNOVATIVE, SOCIALLY-CONSCIOUS ARTISTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS.CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAMS AT CITY CENTER PROVIDE VALUABLE TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, COLLEGE GRADUATES, AND EARLY-CAREER PROFESSIONALS. THIS SEASON, 41 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN EXTERNSHIPS DESIGNED TO EXPOSE THEM TO VARIOUS CAREERS IN THE PERFORMING ARTS. CITY CENTER'S ADMINISTRATIVE APPRENTICESHIPS AND CREATIVE FELLOWSHIPS ALSO OFFERED RECENT GRADUATES AND EMERGING ARTISTS OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK ALONGSIDE LEADING PROFESSIONALS. APPRENTICESHIPS WERE AVAILABLE IN DANCE PROGRAMMING, DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND MARKETING/GRAPHIC DESIGN, WHILE OUR FELLOWSHIPS FOCUSED ON MUSICAL THEATER DIRECTION AND CHOREOGRAPHY. OUR ANN REINKING ENCORES! CHOREOGRAPHY FELLOWSHIP, AWARDED TO KHALI SYKES, PROVIDED HER WITH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WORKING ON FOUR PRODUCTIONS AND COLLABORATING ON CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT. THESE PROGRAMS FOSTER ARTISTIC GROWTH AND EQUIP PARTICIPANTS WITH PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS THAT WILL SUPPORT THEIR CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR YEARS TO COME.
- $793,209 spent. STAGES I & II:MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB PRESENTED SEVERAL SHOWS ON CITY CENTER'S STAGES I AND II, INCLUDING THE TWO WORLD PREMIERS VLADIMIR AND DAKAR 2000.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1976.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.