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The Apollo Theater Foundation Inc

EIN 13-3630066 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak46 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$16.3 million
Spending
$21.0 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
-19.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
402
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$422,147, president & 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

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 25 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $13.7 million spent. THE APOLLO'S 2024-2025 SEASON WAS ROOTED IN THE IDEAS OF GROWTH, EVOLUTION, AND DISRUPTION AS THE INSTITUTION EXPANDED ITS PHYSICAL FOOTPRINT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS NEARLY 90-YEAR HISTORY. THE APOLLO STAGES AT THE VICTORIA IS A DEDICATED ARTISTIC HOME FOR EARLY-AND MID-CAREER ARTISTS OF COLOR ACROSS DISCIPLINES AND A SPACE FOR LARGER DEVELOPMENTAL RESIDENCIES. THE THEMES OF ERASURE, DEFIANCE, DISRUPTION, ACTIVISM, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE WERE WOVEN INTO MORE THAN 80 ARTISTIC OFFERINGS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.
  2. $1.4 million spent. EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THE APOLLO REMAINS A LEADING CULTURAL ANCHOR FOR UPPER MANHATTAN AND THE 125TH STREET CORRIDOR, ENGAGING AN ANNUAL AUDIENCE OF MORE THAN 150,000, INCLUDING HARLEM AND NEW YORK RESIDENTS AS WELL AS NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS. IN ADDITION TO PERFORMING ARTS, THE APOLLO OFFERS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS IMPORTANT ISSUES AND MEANINGFULLY ENGAGE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD INCLUDING: A FREE ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE APOLLO HISTORIC BACKSTAGE TOURS SUBSIDIZED TICKETING PROGRAMS THE FREE UPTOWN HALL SERIES FOSTERING DIALOGUE AROUND PRESSING ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY; (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) A MONTH OF FREE AND AFFORDABLE HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING EACH DECEMBER; AND AN ARRAY OF FREE AND LOW-COST PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING A WIDE-REACHING TICKET ACCESS PROGRAM ENSURING BROAD ACCESSIBILITY TO THE THEATER'S RANGE OF PERFORMING ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. THE APOLLO THEATER IS COMMITTED TO ENGAGING STUDENTS AND YOUTH THROUGH INNOVATIVE EDUCATION INITIATIVES. THE APOLLO THEATER ACADEMY OFFERS HANDS-ON PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP CAREER AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN UNDER-SERVED TEENS BY ENGAGING THEM IN "BEHIND THE SCENES" ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PROFESSIONS INCLUDING TECHNICAL THEATER APPRENTICESHIPS, ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNSHIPS, AND INFORMATIVE PANEL DISCUSSIONS. THE APOLLO ORAL HISTORY PROJECT IS AN IN-DEPTH IN SCHOOL PROGRAM WHERE HARLEM STUDENTS TRANSFORM LOCAL HISTORY INTO ORIGINAL THEATRICAL AND MULTIMEDIA PROJECTS. EXTENDING THE APOLLO EXPERIENCE TO A NEW GENERATION OF THEATERGOERS WHILE SUPPORTING CLASSROOM LEARNING AND IN-SCHOOL WORK, SCHOOL DAY LIVE AND FAMILY SHOWTIME PERFORMANCES ALLOW MORE THAN 11,000 STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND FAMILIES TO EXPERIENCE WORLD-CLASS PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTATIONS ON THE APOLLO STAGES. THROUGH ITS PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, AND OTHER ENDEAVORS SUCH AS DIGITAL MEDIA AND THE ARCHIVES, THE ICONIC APOLLO THEATER EXTENDS ITS LEGACY AS A WORLD RENOWNED PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND A NURTURING HOME FOR DIVERSE ARTISTS. THE THEATER CONTINUES TO SHOWCASE POPULAR AND EMERGING TALENT AND ENGAGE AUDIENCES WITH ITS ARTISTIC, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING. WITH DEMONSTRATED LONGEVITY AS A SIGNIFICANT AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER, THE APOLLO REMAINS A CELEBRATED AND ACCESSIBLE VENUE FOR DIVERSE AUDIENCES, ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES.

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 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 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 November 1991.

    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.