52nd Street Project Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of The 52nd Street Project, a community-based arts organization, is to bring together young people from Hell's Kitchen in Manhattan, starting at age ten and lasting through their teens, with theater professionals to create original theater offered free to the general public. By building on the core experience of accomplishment and collaboration, the Project fosters a sense of inclusion in a place where the children belong and where their creative work is the driving force. Through long-term mentoring relationships and exposure to diverse art forms (including Poetry, Photography, Theatrical Design, Dance, and Filmmaking), the Project seeks to expand the children's means of expression and to improve their literacy, their life skills, and their attitude towards learning.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $2.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 22.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 54
- Volunteers
- 22
- Highest pay
- $448,647, 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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 22.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 57% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 75% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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 2520 of 22 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)
- $2.2 million spent. The Project produced 17 performances in our theater across 9 productions; engaging 115 young people, aged 9 to 18, in our innovative writing and performance programs. Additionally, 180 arts and education professionals volunteered their time and talents to support our young people by volunteering as actors, writers, directors, technical designers, tutors, and mentors. 1,860 audience members attended our performances in person at our Five Angels Theatre. 29 Project Member alumni were enrolled in postsecondary education and received scholarships from our Ron Black Memorial Scholarship Fund. In spring 2025, we conducted the first round of our Creative Group Therapy program with seven 5th and 6th grade girls, led by Liz Bell, our Clinical Consultant and a L.C.S.W. This program was a six-session group therapy program that focused on how to approach stress, anxiety, and emotions. In addition to group discussions, this program applied improvisation, theatre games, mindfulness, and meditation as tools for building self-awareness and the ability to regulate in the face of anxiety. In FY25, we ran our Playmaking at P.S.111 program in the Fall and Spring and engaged a total of 51 4th graders. The Project began this partnership in January 2023, in response to an influx of students in the school from migrant families that were sent to our city (and our neighborhood) by outside states. The success of this program has strengthened our relationship with P.S. 111 and allows us to make connections with young people who we think could benefit from our programs. In the Spring session, we engaged a group of 4th graders that spoke many different languages. Staff who ran this program did their best to create a meaningful experience for each young person - and during the public sharing of the 4th grader's monologues, we were proud to have a cast of actors that performed in English, Spanish, French, and Arabic.
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 1993.
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.