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54 Below Inc

EIN 88-2174944 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak34 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

AT 54 BELOW, OUR MISSION IS TO PRESERVE AND EXPAND THE ART OF THE CABARET WHILE PROVIDING AN UNPARALLELED AUDIENCE EXPERIENCE. WE'RE COMMITTED TO GROWING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES OF EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED ARTISTS AND TO EXPANDING THEIR AUDIENCES. WE AIM TO PRESENT WORK THAT IS VIVID, IMMEDIATE, ENLIGHTENING AND ENTERTAINING THAT REFLECTS THE WORLD AROUND US AND THE IMAGINATION OF THE ARTISTS. WE HONOR THE CABARET TRADITION AND THE MUSIC AND COMMUNITY OF BROADWAY BY PURSUING EXCELLENCE IN CONTENT, PERFORMANCE, HOSPITALITY AND CUISINE.

Income
$8.6 million
Spending
$9.4 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
-7.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 58%
Employees
117
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$158,549, creative and programming director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 335% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 56% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

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

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (1)
  1. $8.3 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO FOSTER AND PROMOTE THE UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE PERFORMING ARTS AND THE ART FORM OF THE AMERICAN CABARET, SPECIALIZING IN THE MUSIC, HISTORY AND PERFORMERS OF THE AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE AND THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES A CLASSIC CABARET THEATER THAT FEATURES PERFORMANCES OF THE ABOVE MUSIC PLUS OCCASIONALLY CLASSICAL MUSIC AND OPERA. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SERVES AS A LABORATORY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW MUSIC AND MUSICALS, A TRAINING GROUND FOR NASCENT ARTISTS, A HOME FOR MORE ESTABLISHED ARTISTS TO BROADEN THEIR REPERTOIRE, AND A PLACE FOR COLLECTIVE SOTRYTELLING AND GATHERING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 November 2022.

    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.