VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS INC

EIN: 132936291 501(c)(3) Arts, Culture & Humanities

NEW YORK, NY

Total Revenue
$1,703,407
Total Expenses
$1,288,577
Total Assets
$2,908,508
Net Assets
$2,057,082
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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1969
Legal Domicile
NY
Principal Officer
KATHRYN E WAGNER ESQ
Phone
2123192787
Tax Period
2022-07-01 to 2023-06-30

VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS INC, founded in 1969, is a community nonprofit in the Arts, Culture & Humanities sector that reported $1.7M in total revenue in fiscal year 2022. Revenue grew 19% year-over-year, indicating healthy expansion. The organization ran a surplus of $415K, a strong 24% operating margin.

Mission

VLA'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO DEDICATED LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND EDUCATION TO INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS (ACOS). FOCUSING ON NEW YORK STATE AND THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN AREA, VLA STRIVES TO PROTECT THE LIVELIHOODS, BUSINESSES, AND CREATIVE WORKS OF THE ARTISTIC COMMUNITY. TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, VLA PROVIDES PRO BONO LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND ACOS. VLA ALSO OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND A RANGE OF OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS LEGAL COUNSELING, ADVOCACY, ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION, AND TRAINING OF LAWYERS IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT LAW.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $744,072 Revenue: $12,660

VLA'S DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDES THE ARTS COMMUNITY WITH ACCESS TO SERVICES THROUGH LEGAL CLINICS AND IN-HOUSE CONSULTATIONS, WHERE ARTISTS AND ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS (ACOS) CAN...

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VLA'S DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDES THE ARTS COMMUNITY WITH ACCESS TO SERVICES THROUGH LEGAL CLINICS AND IN-HOUSE CONSULTATIONS, WHERE ARTISTS AND ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS (ACOS) CAN SEEK ADVICE ON ARTS-RELATED LEGAL ISSUES FROM VLA STAFF AND VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS; AS WELL AS PRO BONO PLACEMENTS FOR LOW-INCOME ARTISTS AND ACOS WITH ONE OF APPROXIMATELY 1,285 VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS.IN FY23, VLA PROVIDED MORE THAN 28,000 HOURS OF PRO BONO LEGAL WORK TO THE NEW YORK ARTS COMMUNITY. APPROXIMATELY 1,285 VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS, 3 STAFF ATTORNEYS, AND 50 LAW STUDENT INTERNS AND LEGAL FELLOWS PROVIDED VITAL INFORMATION AND LEGAL COUNSELING TO THOUSANDS OF ARTISTS AND ACOS ON ISSUES AFFECTING THEIR ART.FOR EXAMPLE, VLA ATTORNEYS REVIEW A WIDE RANGE OF CONTRACTS INCLUDING GALLERY CONSIGNMENT AGREEMENTS, TALENT RELEASE AGREEMENTS, LICENSING AGREEMENTS FOR MUSICIANS AND FASHION DESIGNERS, AND COLLABORATION AGREEMENTS FOR CHOREOGRAPHERS. VLA ALSO ASSISTS ARTS ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS DANCE AND THEATER COMPANIES WITH INCORPORATING AS NONPROFITS AND RECEIVING 501(C)(3) TAX-EXEMPT STATUS. VLA ATTORNEYS ALSO REPRESENT ARTISTS AND ACOS IN COPYRIGHT AND CONTRACTUAL DISPUTES BEFORE COURTS AND MEDIATORS.

Program 2
Expenses: $325,007 Revenue: $80,522

EDUCATION:VLA EDUCATES INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, ARTS PROFESSIONALS WITHIN ACOS, ATTORNEYS, STUDENTS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT LEGAL AND BUSINESS ISSUES THAT AFFECT ARTISTS AND THEIR CREATIVE...

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EDUCATION:VLA EDUCATES INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, ARTS PROFESSIONALS WITHIN ACOS, ATTORNEYS, STUDENTS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT LEGAL AND BUSINESS ISSUES THAT AFFECT ARTISTS AND THEIR CREATIVE ENDEAVORS. CLASSES ARE OFTEN AN ARTIST'S FIRST EXPOSURE TO VLA. THEY PLAY A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE IN HELPING ARTISTS AND ACOS IDENTIFY IMPORTANT LEGAL AND BUSINESS ISSUES THEY FACE, AND TEACH THEM HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS.VLA'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE ALSO A VITAL RESOURCE FOR THE ARTS COMMUNITY AND THE LAWYERS WHO SERVE IT. IN FY23, VLA SERVED 1,204 ARTISTS, ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, ATTORNEYS, AND LAW STUDENTS THROUGH CLASSES, SEMINARS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, AND WORKSHOPS FOR THE ARTS AND LEGAL COMMUNITIES. VLA'S EDUCATION PROGRAMMING ALSO INCLUDES INTERNSHIPS FOR LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS, PARTICIPATION IN PREPARING MATERIALS FOR LEGAL PUBLICATIONS, AND VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY TRAINING PROGRAMS.VLA'S HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL CORE CLASSES INCLUDE COPYRIGHT FOR ARTISTS, CONTRACT ESSENTIALS FOR ARTISTS, FOR PROFIT INCORPORATION, AND NONPROFIT INCORPORATION AND TAX-EXEMPT STATUS. VLA ALSO OFFERS CLASSES THAT ADDRESS SPECIFIC LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO DIFFERENT CREATIVE DISCIPLINES SUCH AS PHOTOGRAPHY, CONTEMPORARY ART, CHOREOGRAPHY, DANCE, FILMMAKING, MUSIC, AND THEATER. VLA'S COURSE CATALOG CONTINUES TO EVOLVE AS NEW LEGAL ISSUES EMERGE, WITH NEW CLASS OFFERINGS ON AI, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND OTHER IN-DEMAND TOPICS BEING ADDED IN THE LAST YEAR.

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Trantor Score

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2022)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $1,601,838
Program Service Revenue $92,882
Investment Income $8,192
Other Revenue $495
TOTAL REVENUE $1,703,407

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $982,770
Fundraising Expenses $133,535
Program Expenses $1,069,079
Other Expenses $305,807
TOTAL EXPENSES $1,288,577

Year-over-Year Comparison

2022 2021 Change
Revenue $1,703,407 $1,425,584 +0.2%
Expenses $1,288,577 $1,274,677 +0.0%
Net Income $414,830 $150,907 +1.7%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Governance

Voting Members
31
Independent Members
30
Employees
9
Volunteers
1285

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
5
$277,285
Total Directors
31
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
1
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
JAY COHEN ESQ CHAIR 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
CYNTHIA S ARATO ESQ VICE CHAIR 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
DONNA ROSS DANIELS ESQ TREASURER 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
MICHAEL E SALZMAN ESQ SECRETARY 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
RICHARD ALSOP ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
HARRY BALLAN ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
EDWARD COPELAND ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CYNTHIA DAIGNAULT BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MARGARET A DALE ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JONATHAN D DAVIS ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JOHN F DELANEY ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
NICHOLAS GAGLIO ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
TIMOTHY GILMAN ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
GARY H GLASER ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JUSTIN G HAMILL ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MARK P HANNAFEY ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MICHAEL T HEYRICH ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
DANIEL ILAN ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ELEANOR M LACKMAN ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MICHAEL C LASKY ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
DEIRDRE M MCDONALD ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
DOUGLAS R NEMEC ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
PETER R RIENECKER ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MICHAEL SCHAPER ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ANDRES SERRANO BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
PRITESH P SHAH ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
SABRINA SILVERBERG ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
BARRY I SLOTNICK ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ALISON I STEIN ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JOSEPH C TEDESCHI ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
PAULA VIOLA ESQ BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KATHRYN E WAGNER ESQ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00
Officer
$257,470 $19,815 $277,285
AMY A LEHMAN ESQ DIRECTOR OF LEGAL SERVICES 40.00
Highest
$167,283 $21,152 $188,435
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2025 No data No data No data No data
2024 No data No data No data No data
2023 $1,703,407 $1,288,577 $2,908,508 $414,830
2022 $1,425,584 $1,274,677 $1,654,804 $150,907
2021 $1,417,543 $1,097,237 $1,760,254 $320,306
2020 $1,005,284 $1,077,286 $1,356,829 $-72,002
2019 $1,294,574 $1,037,037 $1,294,368 $257,537
2018 $1,005,203 $1,035,038 $1,018,797 $-29,835
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