New York Studio School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O.
- Income
- $4.9 million
- Spending
- $4.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- -2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 46
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $202,986, dean
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 55 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 39% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 31% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 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
0 of 7Reports no 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 August 31, 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 (3)
- $2.0 million spent. ART EDUCATION: DEDICATED TO CONVEYING A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LANGUAGE OF ART AND TO PROVIDING ARTISTS WITH THE TOOLS TO FOLLOW ANY ARTISTIC PATH THEY CHOOSE, THE SCHOOL OFFERS A MASTER OF FINE ARTS PROGRAM, A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM, EVENING & WEEKEND CLASSES, AND ITS SIGNATURE MARATHONS. THESE PROGRAMS TYPICALLY REQUIRE INTENSIVE WORK IN THE STUDIO AND FEATURE SMALL, CLOSE-KNIT COHORTS, EXTENSIVE CONTACT AND CRITIQUES WITH ARTIST-FACULTY, EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES, AND ENGAGEMENT WITH CONTEMPORARY ART DISCOURSES AND THE HISTORICAL SWEEP OF MILLENIA OF CREATIVE MARK-MAKING. THE SCHOOL TYPICALLY ENROLLS APPROXIMATELY 60 F/T STUDENTS AND 300+ P/T STUDENTS AND OFFERS AROUND 80-90 COURSES EACH YEAR.
- $580,049 spent. STUDENT SERVICES: NYSS TAKES CARE TO PROVIDE CRUCIAL AUXILIARY PROGRAMMING AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO ITS STUDENTS TO FOSTER THEIR INTELLECTUAL, CREATIVE, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THE LIBRARY CONNECTS STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND OTHER RESEARCHERS TO ITS RESOURCES AND COLLECTIONS AS WELL AS TO THOSE OF OTHER NYC COLLECTIONS. THE OFFICE OF STUDENT SERVICES ORGANIZES PROFESSIONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT EVENTS, FIELD TRIPS, AND OTHER EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, IN ADDITION TO COMMUNITY BUILDING AND NETWORKING. NYSS ALSO RUNS A RESIDENCY IN DUMBO DESIGNED TO SUPPORT SELECT RECENT GRADUATE AWARDEES WITH THEIR TRANSITION TO A POSTGRADUATE WORKING PRACTICE.
- $415,611 spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMMING: FOR NEARLY 60 YEARS NYSS HAS ORGANIZED PUBLIC PROGRAMMING THAT IS FREE AND OPEN TO ALL. THE EXHIBITION PROGRAMS AND TWICE-WEEKLY EVENING LECTURE SERIES BRING THE STUDENT BODY AND A WIDER ART COMMUNITY FROM NYC AND BEYOND INTO DIALOGUE WITH BOTH EMERGING AND ACCLAIMED ARTISTS, CURATORS, HISTORIANS, CRITICS, AND OTHERS. THE SCHOOL ORGANIZES APPROX EIGHT EXHIBITIONS IN ITS MAIN GALLERY EACH YEAR, PROVIDES ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE STUDENT GALLERY FOR STUDENT-CURATED EXHIBITIONS, AND HOSTS A SERIES OF OTHER EVENTS CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH A WIDER ART WORLD.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1964.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.