New York Foundation for the Arts Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ESTABLISHED IN 1971, THE MISSION OF THE NEW YORK FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS (NYFA) IS TO EMPOWER ARTISTS IN ALL DISCIPLINES, AS WELL AS CULTURAL WORKERS, TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS ON THEIR OWN TERMS BY PROVIDING CRITICAL SUPPORT, RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES. NYFA ENVISIONS A WORLD WHERE ARTISTS THRIVE IN THE PRACTICE AND EXPRESSION OF THEIR CREATIVE WORK, A WORLD THAT CELEBRATES AND SUPPORTS THEM. WE SERVE APPROXIMATELY 1M CONSTITUENTS IN PERSON AND ONLINE, ANNUALLY, THROUGH FOUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAMS: LEARNING, AWARDS & GRANTS, FISCAL SPONSORSHIP, AND ONLINE RESOURCES.
- Income
- $24.2 million
- Spending
- $17.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 74%
- Employees
- 32
- Volunteers
- 27
- Highest pay
- $480,110, chief executive officer
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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 51% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 13% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2527 of 27 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
0 of 10Did not give 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)
- $6.2 million spent. FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS: SINCE 1976, NYFA HAS PROVIDED FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS TO INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND EMERGING ORGANIZATIONS, MAKING IT THE OLDEST PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY. IT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WITHOUT NOT-FOR-PROFIT STATUS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR UPCOMING FILMS, THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES, ART INSTALLATIONS, AND OTHER PROJECTS.
- $1.3 million spent. NYFA LEARNING: NYFA LEARNING PROVIDES ARTISTS WITH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH WORKSHOPS, MENTORING PROGRAMS, NETWORKING EVENTS, COLLABORATIONS, AND A VARIETY OF RESOURCES.
- $1.2 million spent. NYC MADE IN NY WOMEN'S FILM: THE NYC WOMEN'S FUND FOR MEDIA, MUSIC, AND THEATRE ("WOMEN'S FUND"), ADMINISTERED BY THE NEW YORK FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS (NYFA) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF NEW YORK MAYOR'S OFFICE OF MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT (MOME), IS PART OF A GROUNDBREAKING SERIES OF INITIATIVES THAT ADDRESS THE UNDERREPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN FILM, MUSIC, TELEVISION, AND THEATRE. THE FUND PROVIDES GRANTS TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THE CREATION OF CONTENT THAT REFLECT THE VOICES AND PERSPECTIVES OF ALL WHO IDENTIFY AS WOMEN.
- $7.2 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS: OTHER PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION INCLUDE THE NYSCA-NYFA FELLOWSHIP GRANTS, THE RAUSCHENBERG MEDICAL RELIEF GRANTS TO ARTISTS AND DANCERS, AND ARTIST FUNDS SUCH AS THE LATINX FELLOWSHIP FUNDED THROUGH THE MELLON AND FORD FOUNDATIONS.
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 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 June 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 July 1994.
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.