54 Below INC

Tax-deductible

New York, NY501(c)(3)Since 2022Arts & CultureEIN 88-2174944Revenue $8.6M in FY2024

On file with the IRS54below.org254 W 54th St 10th FL, 10019-5516 · New York, NYTax-exempt since Nov 2022Publicly supported — 509(a)(2)

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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.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
87¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$936K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
0 of 2
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $664K a year · 9% of revenue · last 2 filings
Concern: a surplus in 0 of the last 2 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 2 filings
Spent on programs
87%
of spending
Looks good: 87% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$936K
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 66% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Concern: 0.0 months of spending in cash; under 2 weeks.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
21
named funders · $754K
Looks good: 21 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$8.2M
335% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 335% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
15
of 16 voting members
Looks good: 15 of 16 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$8.6M
+56% vs prior year
Spent
$9.4M
To programs
87%
Net assets
−$5.7M
By yearFY2023–FY2024
Revenue
$8.6M
FY2024▲ +56%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2023$5.5M
FY2024$8.6M
Expenses
$9.4M
FY2024▲ +57%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2023$6.0M
FY2024$9.4M
Net assets
−$5.7M
FY2024▼ -20%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2023−$4.8M
FY2024−$5.7M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Nov 2022.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

87 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 87% · $8.3M Management & general 10% · $972K Fundraising 2% · $220K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

23 people listed on the 990; $936K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Creative and Programming Director
$149,890Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Development
$149,620Pt VII · Sec A
General Manager
$146,417Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$132,510Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Private Events
$103,135Pt VII · Sec A
Deputy Programming Director
$102,875Pt VII · Sec A
Managing Director
$100,000Pt VII · Sec A
$51,278Pt VII · Sec A

Jennifer Tepper’s $150K as Creative and Programming Director is at the 66th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3924 $1–10M arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023
Jennifer Tepper$149,890—
Kathleen German$149,620—
Mandisa Boxil$146,417—
Heidi Libby$132,510$82,384
Sandra Bowers$103,135—
Pier Lamia Porter$102,875—
Richard Frankel$100,000$20,000
Georgia Ossoguine$51,278—

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Preserves and expands cabaret art, offering diverse artist opportunities and enriching audience experiences.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $8.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

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.

$8.3Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
See all 21 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$8.6M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$5.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$2.3M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.4M
Money outPt IX
$9.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$8.3M
Managementcol C$972K
Fundraisingcol D$220K
Owns and owesPt X
−$5.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$9K
Total assetsLn 16$2.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$8.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
23
listed · VII A
PaidVII A8
Voting boardVI 1a16
IndependentVI 1b15
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.4M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$4K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$30K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$5.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$8
Other incomeLn 4–11$2.3M
Total revenueLn 12$8.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$9K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$9K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$473K
Other assetsLn 15$1.8M
Total assetsLn 16$2.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$8.2M
Net assetsLn 32−$5.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5117
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aNo
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$539K$9K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$651K$473K
Total assetsLn 16$3.1M$2.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$7.9M$8.2M
Net assetsLn 32−$4.8M−$5.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$240$240
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$284K$249K$25K$10K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.7M$3.2M$325K$129K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$289K$259K$21K$9K
Payroll taxesLn 10$441K$396K$32K$14K
Legal feesLn 11b$18K$18K
Accounting feesLn 11c$116K$116K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$32K$32K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2.1M$2.1M
Advertising and promotionLn 12$404K$404K
Office expensesLn 13$75K$57K$18K
Information technologyLn 14$78K$37K$14K$27K
OccupancyLn 16$937K$703K$234K
TravelLn 17$20K$63$20K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$18K$18K
InterestLn 20$13K$13K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$178K$178K
InsuranceLn 23$104K$104K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$642K$635K$7K
All other expensesLn 24e$23K$18K$5K
Total functional expensesLn 25$9.4M$8.3M$972K$220K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $8.6M$9.4M−$845K−$5.7M 990 PDF
FY2023 $5.5M$6.0M−$483K−$4.8M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $8,597,609 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $832,085$1,366,315
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $3,238,744$4,950,483
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $9$8
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $1,448,148$2,280,803
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,518,986$8,597,609
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$240
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $3,063,485$4,678,861
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $75,600$31,750
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,862,576$4,731,498
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $6,001,661$9,442,349
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$482,675−$844,740
Part VI · Governance 15 of 16 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body16
VI-1b Independent voting members15
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyNo
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $8,597,609 across 8 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $2,266,993 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$29,753
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,336,562
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$4,380
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,366,315
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $4,950,483$4,950,483
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $8$8
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $13,810$13,810
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $7,216,476 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $14,818$8,597,609
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $9,442,349 across 20 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $240$240
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $248,642 · Management $25,165 · Fundraising $9,981$283,788
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $3,210,884 · Management $324,975 · Fundraising $128,894$3,664,753
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $259,133 · Management $21,069 · Fundraising $8,875$289,077
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $395,537 · Management $32,159 · Fundraising $13,547$441,243
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $18,224$18,224
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $116,190$116,190
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $31,750$31,750
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $2,103,298$2,103,298
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $403,835$403,835
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $57,459 · Management $18,017$75,476
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $37,021 · Management $14,296 · Fundraising $27,133$78,450
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $703,099 · Management $234,002$937,101
IX-17 TravelPrograms $63 · Management $20,124$20,187
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsManagement $18,003$18,003
IX-20 InterestManagement $13,125$13,125
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $177,850$177,850
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $103,827$103,827
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $635,062 · Management $7,398$642,460
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $18,400 · Management $5,072$23,472
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $8,250,523 · Management $971,646 · Fundraising $220,180$9,442,349
Part X · Balance sheet $2,441,657 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $538,804$9,407
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $44,176$51,539
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $103,775$86,741
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $8,592$2,898
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $650,794$472,945
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,752,720$1,818,127
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,098,861$2,441,657
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $889,305$1,396,702
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $621,653$582,525
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $2,639,382$2,535,019
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $3,711,393$3,651,651
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $7,887,522$8,180,435
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year −$4,788,661−$5,738,778
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year −$4,788,661−$5,738,778
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,098,861$2,441,657
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$5,738,778 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$8,597,609
XI-2 Total expenses$9,442,349
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$844,740
XI-4 Net assets at start of year−$4,788,661
XI-8 Prior period adjustments−$105,377
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$5,738,778

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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