National Independent Venue Association
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
AS THE NATION'S LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ASSOCIATION, OUR MISSION IS TO CULTIVATE, ELEVATE, AND ADVOCATE FOR A SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE ECOSYSTEM OF INDEPENDENT PERFORMANCE VENUES, FESTIVALS, AND PROMOTERS.
- Income
- $2.7 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $171,817, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)
- MEMBERSHIP:NIVA MEMBERS REPRESENT THE SMALL BUSINESSES, NON-PROFITS, AND PUBLICLY-OWNED SPACES THAT MAKE UP MOST OF THE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ECOSYSTEM. NIVA OFFERS A RANGE OF VALUABLE MEMBER SERVICES DESIGNED TO SUPPORT AND UPLIFT ITS COMMUNITY OF NEARLY 1,500 MEMBERS. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE A PLATFORM FOR NETWORKING AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE WITHIN THE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, MONTHLY TOWN HALL MEETINGS, EXCLUSIVE PARTNER DISCOUNTS, AND ADVOCACY ON THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS. NIVA ALSO HAS A GROUP DISCOUNT PROGRAM TO LEVERAGE THE COLLECTIVE BUYING POWER OF OUR MEMBERS TO PROVIDE DISCOUNTS ON EVERY-DAY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES USED BY OUR MEMBERS. NIVA AIMS TO PROVIDE EVERY MEMBER THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE, WHICH IN TURN CONTRIBUTES TO THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF OUR SECTOR AND THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
- ADVOCACY: NIVA ENGAGES WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL POLICYMAKERS TO PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN THE INDEPENDENT LIVE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY AND ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF INDEPENDENT VENUES, PROMOTERS, FESTIVALS, AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IN FY 2025, NIVA ENGAGED ON LEGISLATION ACROSS 24 STATES AND CONTINUED LEADING THE FIX THE TIX COALITION, A BROAD ALLIANCE OF LIVE EVENT INDUSTRY ORGANIZATIONS AND PROFESSIONALS WORKING TO COMBAT PRICE GOUGING, SPECULATIVE TICKETING, DECEPTIVE MARKETING, HIDDEN FEES, AND OTHER HARMFUL PRACTICES IMPACTING FANS, ARTISTS, AND INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES. TO FURTHER SUPPORT THESE ADVOCACY EFFORTS, NIVA LAUNCHED THE STATE OF LIVE, THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY FOCUSED ON THE INDEPENDENT LIVE ENTERTAINMENT SECTOR. RELEASED ON JUNE 23, 2025, THE REPORT QUANTIFIES THE INDUSTRY'S ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS, EXAMINES THE CHALLENGES THREATENING ITS SUSTAINABILITY, AND PROVIDES CRITICAL DATA TO INFORM POLICYMAKING AND PUBLIC AWARENESS EFFORTS. THE STUDY EMPOWERS NIVA MEMBERS WITH STATE AND LOCALIZED ECONOMIC IMPACT DATA AND INDUSTRY INSIGHTS TO STRENGTHEN ADVOCACY EFFORTS AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVEL AND REINFORCE THE ESSENTIAL ROLE INDEPENDENT LIVE ENTERTAINMENT PLAYS IN COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL ECONOMIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
- CONFERENCE: NIVA CONTINUES ITS GROWING AND INCREASINGLY IMPACTFUL CONFERENCE. NIVA HAS GROWN FROM A 550 ATTENDEE CONFERENCE IN 2022 TO A 1400 ATTENDEE CONFERENCE IN 2025. NIVA'S CONFERENCE HAS TAKEN PLACE IN CLEVELAND, WASHINGTON (D.C.), NEW ORLEANS AND MILWAUKEE. THE CONFERENCE PROVIDES ITS DIVERSE MEMBERS, AFFILIATES, AND PARTNERS WITH FOUR DAYS OF PROGRAMMING, EDUCATION, NETWORKING AND ENTERTAINMENT. IMPORTANT TOPICS DISCUSSED INCLUDED INDUSTRY DIVERSITY, MENTAL HEALTH, SAFETY, INSURANCE, ECONOMIC IMPACT OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, BOOKING, ARTIST DEVELOPMENT, TICKETING, AND THE ROLE OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT IN POLICYMAKING. MONUMENTAL MOMENTS FROM NIVA '25 INCLUDED THE DEBUT OF THE STATE OF LIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY, THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF MINNEAPOLIS AS THE HOST CITY FOR NIVA '26, DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO ADDRESS THE LIVE NATION MONOPOLY AND PROS NOT PAYING SONGWRITERS. NIVA '26 PLANNING, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE JUNE 7 TO JUNE 10, 2026, IS WELL UNDERWAY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(6) business league.
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 November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 September 2020.
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 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.