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Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Inc

EIN 13-2936291 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

VLA'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO DEDICATED LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND EDUCATION TO INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS (ACOS). FOCUSING ON NEW YORK STATE AND THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN AREA, VLA STRIVES TO PROTECT THE LIVELIHOODS, BUSINESSES, AND CREATIVE WORKS OF THE ARTISTIC COMMUNITY. TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, VLA PROVIDES PRO BONO LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND ACOS. VLA ALSO OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND A RANGE OF OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS LEGAL COUNSELING, ADVOCACY, ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION, AND TRAINING OF LAWYERS IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT LAW.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
18 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
7
Volunteers
1,000
Highest pay
$298,933, executive director

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

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 31 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 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 (2)
  1. $885,172 spent. LEGAL SERVICES:VLA'S DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDES THE ARTS COMMUNITY WITH ACCESS TO SERVICES THROUGH LEGAL CLINICS AND IN-HOUSE CONSULTATIONS, WHERE ARTISTS AND ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS (ACOS) CAN SEEK ADVICE ON ARTS-RELATED LEGAL ISSUES FROM VLA STAFF AND VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS; AS WELL AS PRO BONO PLACEMENTS FOR LOW-INCOME ARTISTS AND ACOS WITH ONE OF APPROXIMATELY 1,000 VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS.IN FY25, VLA PROVIDED MORE THAN 34,000 HOURS OF PRO BONO LEGAL WORK TO THE NEW YORK ARTS COMMUNITY. APPROXIMATELY 1,000 VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS, 3 STAFF ATTORNEYS, AND 50 LAW STUDENT INTERNS AND LEGAL FELLOWS PROVIDED VITAL INFORMATION AND LEGAL COUNSELING TO THOUSANDS OF ARTISTS AND ACOS ON ISSUES AFFECTING THEIR ART.FOR EXAMPLE, VLA ATTORNEYS REVIEW A WIDE RANGE OF CONTRACTS INCLUDING GALLERY CONSIGNMENT AGREEMENTS, TALENT RELEASE AGREEMENTS, LICENSING AGREEMENTS FOR MUSICIANS AND FASHION DESIGNERS, AND COLLABORATION AGREEMENTS FOR CHOREOGRAPHERS. VLA ALSO ASSISTS ARTS ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS DANCE AND THEATER COMPANIES WITH INCORPORATING AS NONPROFITS AND RECEIVING 501(C)(3) TAX-EXEMPT STATUS. VLA ATTORNEYS ALSO REPRESENT ARTISTS AND ACOS IN COPYRIGHT AND CONTRACTUAL DISPUTES BEFORE COURTS AND MEDIATORS.
  2. $348,573 spent. EDUCATION: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.

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

  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 October 13, 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 June 2025.

    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 May 1978.

    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 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.