Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

National Independent Venue Foundation

EIN 85-2436574 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE NATIONAL INDEPENDENT VENUE FOUNDATION (NIVF) IS TO PRESERVE AND NURTURE THE ECOSYSTEM OF INDEPENDENT LIVE PERFORMANCE VENUES AND PROMOTERS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES BY SUPPORTING A TRANSPARENT, COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE SERVING A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS, FANS, AND INDUSTRY WORKERS.

Income
$604,753
Spending
$574,717
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
0
Volunteers
9

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 114% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $198,875 spent. EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND: NIVF ADMINISTERS AN EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND THAT PROVIDES ECONOMIC RELIEF TO INDEPENDENT LIVE PERFORMANCE VENUES AND PROMOTERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES EXPERIENCING A CRITICALLY SEVERE EMERGENCY DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THEIR CONTROL. THIS WORK WAS BORN OUT OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS BUT CARRIES ON AS A CRITICAL SAFETY NET FOR THE INDEPENDENT SPACES AND WORKERS WHO SERVE AS THE HUBS AND INCUBATORS FOR CREATIVE CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND WORK HAS ALSO EXPANDED TO INCLUDE PROACTIVE PLANNING AND SUPPORT MEASURES, SUCH AS THE WEATHER EMERGENCY RESOURCE LISTING.
  2. $193,554 spent. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: CREATING AND SHARING RESOURCES FOR INDEPENDENT VENUES AND PROMOTERS, AND SUPPORTING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION EFFORTS REMAIN CORE TO THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION. NIVF HAS DELIVERED OVER 45 FREE VIRTUAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS SERVING 5,000+ REGISTERED ATTENDEES REPRESENTING LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ORGANIZATIONS. TO DATE, THE VENUE OPERATIONS EXPERIENCE (VOX) HAS SUPPORTED 63 PARTICIPANTS THROUGH CERTIFICATION, MENTORSHIP, AND PAID INTERNSHIPS; IN 2025, 86% OF COHORT MEMBERS SECURED EMPLOYMENT IN LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. THE NIVF TRAINING HUB SERVED 3,700+ USERS, AND 3,600 JOB SEEKERS AND EMPLOYERS UTILIZED THE INDEPENDENT VENUE JOB BOARD. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DRAKE BUSINESS INNOVATION HUB AT DRAKE UNIVERSITY'S ZIMPLEMAN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, NIVF LAUNCHED A STATE FUNDING RESOURCE DATABASE, WHICH RECEIVED 2,200+ VISITS SINCE LAUNCH.
  3. $66,169 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS: THE NIVF CONFERENCE TRAVEL GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDED UP TO A $500 TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT FOR FLIGHT OR ESTIMATED FUEL COSTS TO DRIVE TO THE NIVA '25 CONFERENCE HELD IN JUNE 2025. THE REIMBURSEMENT GRANTS WERE FUNDED BY A GENEROUS DONOR AND WERE PROVIDED TO THOSE IN NEED OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR TRAVEL TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE. IN ADDITION, NIVF ONCE AGAIN PARTNERED WITH CALLING ALL CROWS' #HEREFORTHEMUSIC PROGRAM TO PRESENT AN INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP AT THE NIVA '25 CONFERENCE, EQUIPPING VENUE MANAGERS WITH THE TOOLS TO TRAIN THEIR TEAMS ON WORKPLACE SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAWS, POLICIES, AND PROTOCOLS. PARTICIPANTS GAINED PRACTICAL STRATEGIES TO CONFIDENTLY DELIVER SENSITIVE CONTENT, NAVIGATE CHALLENGING QUESTIONS, AND FOSTER A CULTURE OF SAFETY AND RESPECT WITHIN THEIR VENUES.

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 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 September 2020.

    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.