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Brooklyn Steppers

EIN 27-1223035 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BROOKLYN STEPPERS INC. SEEKS TO DEVELOP A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH INNOVATIVE QUALITY PERFORMANCE ARTS EDUCATION AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN ARTS RELATED CAREERS.

Income
$359,620
Spending
$329,375
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 49%
Employees
25
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$41,500, 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% 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 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (9)
  1. $143,735 spent. SCHOOL MUSIC AND DANCE RESIDENCIES - BROUGHT HIGH-QUALITY ARTS INSTRUCTION TO SCHOOLS ACROSS NEW YORK CITY AND BEYOND. STUDENTS RECEIVED HANDS-ON TRAINING IN MARCHING PERCUSSION (SNARE DRUMS, BASS DRUMS, TENOR DRUMS, CYMBALS, BUCKETS, DJEMBES) AND URBAN CONTEMPORARY DANCE ROOTED IN THE AFRICAN DIASPORA. THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZED MUSICAL SKILL, DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK, AND CULTURAL AWARENESS. RESIDENCIES WERE IMPLEMENTED AT HAWTREE CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL IN QUEENS, THE UNCOMMON CHARTER SCHOOL NETWORK IN BROOKLYN, ROCHESTER PREP HIGH SCHOOL IN ROCHESTER, PUBLIC SCHOOL 316 IN BROOKLYN, MIDWOOD HIGH SCHOOL IN BROOKLYN, UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL IN THE BRONXS, AND AFTER- SCHOOL ALL-STARS/ACHIEVEMENT FIRST.
  2. $17,745 spent. BKSTEPPERS SATURDAY DRUM WORKSHOP - SERVED APPORXIMATELY 53 STUDENTS AGED 6 TO 18, OFFERING WEEKLY INSTRUCTION IN HBCU-STYLE MARCHING PERCUSSION. THE PROGRAM INCLUDED BIANNUAL PERFORMANCES AT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND EMPHASIZED CONSISTENCY, COMMUNITY, AND CULTURAL EXPRESSION
  3. $12,187 spent. BKSTEPPERS PRO DRUMLINE - PROVIDED PAID PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR 15 TALENTED PERCUSSIONISTS, PRIMARILY BKSTEPPERS ALUMNI AND HBCU BAND GRADUATES. THESE PERFORMERS PARTICIPATED IN HIGH-PROFILE EVENTS, INCLUDING PERFORMANCES AT CARNEGIE HALL AND THE DVF INCHARGE EVENT. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS ARTIST VISIBILITY, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND INCOME GENERATION WITHIN THE MARCHING ARTS.
  4. $8,628 spent. X-FACTOR DRUMLINE - BASED IN MOUNT VERNON, NY, SERVED 27 STUDENTS THROUGH A REVENUE-GENERATING PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLE. THE PROGRAM COMBINED SHOWSTYLE DRUMMING WITH DANCE, STICK TRICKS, AND CROWD INTERACTION. STUDENTS PERFORMED AT LOCAL PARADES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, TRANSFORMING EVERYDAY GATHERINGS INTO MEMORABLE CELEBRATIONS OF YOUTH AND RHYTHM.
  5. $3,775 spent. TEAM-BUILDING WORKSHOP - BKSTEPPERS PARTNERED WITH THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ARTS OFFICE TO LEAD A RHYTHM-BASED TEAM-BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR 25 ARTS PROFESSIONALS. THE SESSION SUPPORTED COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION WITHIN THE DEPARMENT AND DEMONSTRATED THE POWER OF PERCUSSION IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SETTINGS.
  6. $50,149 spent. NEXT WAVE PERCUSSION FESTIVAL - LAUNCHED THIS YEAR AS A CITYWIDE CELEBRATION OF STUDENT MUSICIANSHIP. HOSTED AT LAGUARDIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THE EVENT FEATURED WORKSHOPS AND PERFORMANCES BY EIGHT SCHOOL DRUMLINES AND 111 STUDENT PERFORMERS. IT CONCLUDED WITH A MASS ENSEMBLE FINALE. THE FESTIVAL WAS WELL- RECEIVED BY EDUCATORS AND HAS STRONG MOMENTUM.
  7. X-FACTOR DRUMLINE - BASED IN MOUNT VERNON, NY, SERVED 8628. 0. 4000.
  8. TEAM-BUILDING WORKSHOP - BKSTEPPERS PARTNERED WITH 3775. 0. 1750.
  9. NEXT WAVE PERCUSSION FESTIVAL - LAUNCHED THIS YEAR 50149. 0. 23250.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on November 15, 2023 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on November 15, 2023.

    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 April 2024.

    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.