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Nonprofit · EIN 13-2936291

VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS INC

Tax-exempt · NEW YORK, NY 10019

Financials

$1.7M$1.3M2022$1.5M$1.4M2023$1.6M$1.5M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS INC by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
June 30, 2025990$1,624,073$1,499,413$124,660$3,147,628$691,820$2,455,808
June 30, 2024990$1,532,548$1,424,654$107,894$3,030,359$782,598$2,247,761
June 30, 2023990$1,703,407$1,288,577$414,830$2,908,508$851,426$2,057,082
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$1,468,510
of which government grants
$225,055
Membership dues
$65,973
Program service revenue
$106,630
Investment income
$48,929
Other revenue
$4

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$292,117
Other salaries and wages
$629,171
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$1,129,812
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Accounting fees
$18,735
Occupancy
$124,136
Travel
$8,363
Depreciation
$6,647
Program services (functional)
$1,233,745
Management and general (functional)
$104,232
Fundraising (functional)
$161,436

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$3,030,359
Total assets, end of year
$3,147,628
Total liabilities, end of year
$691,820
Net assets, end of year
$2,455,808
Land, buildings and equipment
$22,698
Publicly traded securities
$1,174,129
Net assets without donor restrictions
$2,269,863
Net assets with donor restrictions
$185,945
Gross receipts
$1,813,713
Employees
7
Volunteers
1,000
Year formed
1969
State of legal domicile
NY

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
KATHRYN E WAGNER ESQEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$277,867$21,066
AMY A LEHMAN ESQDIRECTOR OF LEGAL SERVICES
Highest-paid employee
40$190,800$22,632
JAY COHEN ESQCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
CYNTHIA S ARATO ESQVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
DONNA ROSS DANIELS ESQTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
MICHAEL E SALZMAN ESQSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
RICHARD ALSOP ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
EDWARD COPELAND ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
CYNTHIA DAIGNAULTBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MARGARET A DALE ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JONATHAN D DAVIS ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JOHN F DELANEY ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
PRISCILLA FASORO ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NICHOLAS GAGLIO ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
GARY H GLASER ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
22 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
JUSTIN G HAMILL ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
MARK P HANNAFEY ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
MICHAEL T HEYRICH ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
DANIEL ILAN ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
PALISA KELLEY ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
ELEANOR M LACKMAN ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
RACHELLE L LAROCHE ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
MICHAEL C LASKY ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
DAVID LEICHTMAN ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
DEIRDRE M MCDONALD ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
DOUGLAS R NEMEC ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
PETER R RIENECKER ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
JORDAN ROMANOFF ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
MICHAEL SCHAPER ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
ANDRES SERRANOBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
PRITESH P SHAH ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
SABRINA SILVERBERG ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
BARRY I SLOTNICK ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
ALISON I STEIN ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
PETER R STERN ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
JOSEPH C TEDESCHI ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
PAULA VIOLA ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 35 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
KATHRYN E WAGNER ESQEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$268,837$22,519
AMY A LEHMAN ESQDIRECTOR OF LEGAL SERVICES
Highest-paid employee
40$179,186$24,556
JAY COHEN ESQCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
CYNTHIA S ARATO ESQVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
DONNA ROSS DANIELS ESQTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
MICHAEL E SALZMAN ESQSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
RICHARD ALSOP ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
EDWARD COPELAND ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
CYNTHIA DAIGNAULTBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MARGARET A DALE ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JONATHAN D DAVIS ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JOHN F DELANEY ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
PRISCILLA FASORO ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NICHOLAS GAGLIO ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TIMOTHY GILMAN ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
GARY H GLASER ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JUSTIN G HAMILL ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MARK P HANNAFEY ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MICHAEL T HEYRICH ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DANIEL ILAN ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ELEANOR M LACKMAN ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MICHAEL C LASKY ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DAVID LEICHTMAN ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DEIRDRE M MCDONALD ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DOUGLAS R NEMEC ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
PETER R RIENECKER ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MICHAEL SCHAPER ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ANDRES SERRANOBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
PRITESH P SHAH ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
SABRINA SILVERBERG ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BARRY I SLOTNICK ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ALISON I STEIN ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
PETER R STERN ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JOSEPH C TEDESCHI ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
PAULA VIOLA ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 33 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
KATHRYN E WAGNER ESQEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$257,470$19,815
AMY A LEHMAN ESQDIRECTOR OF LEGAL SERVICES
Highest-paid employee
40$167,283$21,152
JAY COHEN ESQCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
CYNTHIA S ARATO ESQVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
DONNA ROSS DANIELS ESQTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
MICHAEL E SALZMAN ESQSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
RICHARD ALSOP ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
HARRY BALLAN ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
EDWARD COPELAND ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
CYNTHIA DAIGNAULTBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MARGARET A DALE ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JONATHAN D DAVIS ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JOHN F DELANEY ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NICHOLAS GAGLIO ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TIMOTHY GILMAN ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
GARY H GLASER ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JUSTIN G HAMILL ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MARK P HANNAFEY ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MICHAEL T HEYRICH ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DANIEL ILAN ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ELEANOR M LACKMAN ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MICHAEL C LASKY ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DEIRDRE M MCDONALD ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DOUGLAS R NEMEC ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
PETER R RIENECKER ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MICHAEL SCHAPER ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ANDRES SERRANOBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
PRITESH P SHAH ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
SABRINA SILVERBERG ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BARRY I SLOTNICK ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ALISON I STEIN ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JOSEPH C TEDESCHI ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
PAULA VIOLA ESQBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
729 7TH AVE STE 1401, NEW YORK, NY 10019-6891
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
KATHRYN E WAGNER ESQ, 729 7TH AVENUE 1401, NEW YORK, NY 10019
Signed the 990
JAY COHEN ESQ, CHAIR
Phone
(212) 319-2787
Return prepared by
LUTZ AND CARR CPAS LLP

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.

990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • LEGAL SERVICES: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 1,000 VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS.IN FY25, VLA PROVIDED MORE THAN 34,000 HOURS OF PRO BONO LEGAL WORK TO THE NEW YORK ARTS COMMUNITY. APPROXIMATELY 1,000 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.
    Expenses $885,172 · revenue $14,660
  • 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 FY25, VLA SERVED 1,435 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 CHOREOGRAPHY, CONTEMPORARY ART, DANCE, FASHION, FILMMAKING, MUSIC, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND THEATER. VLA'S COURSE CATALOG CONTINUES TO EVOLVE AS NEW LEGAL ISSUES EMERGE, WITH NEW CLASS OFFERINGS ON GENERATIVE AI, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND OTHER IN-DEMAND TOPICS ADDED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
    Expenses $348,573 · revenue $91,970

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025June 30, 2026November 16, 2026Not due yet
2024June 30, 2025November 17, 2025990 on file
2023June 30, 2024November 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
13-2936291
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1978
Accounting year ends
June
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$3,147,628
Income (IRS master file)
$1,813,713

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990June 2025$1,624,073$1,499,413$3,147,628IRS
990June 2024$1,532,548$1,424,654$3,030,359IRS
990June 2023$1,703,407$1,288,577$2,908,508XML
990June 2022$1,425,584$1,274,677$1,654,804IRS
990June 2021–––IRS
990June 2020–––IRS
990June 2019–––IRS
990June 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 13-2936291).

Questions about VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS INC

What is the EIN of VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS INC?
The employer identification number (EIN) of VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS INC is 13-2936291.
Is VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS INC tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1978.
Are donations to VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS INC tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS INC file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS INC due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS INC last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
Who is the principal officer of VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS INC?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names KATHRYN E WAGNER ESQ.
Who are the officers and directors of VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS INC?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 37 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $277,867 (KATHRYN E WAGNER ESQ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
How much revenue does VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS INC have?
On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,624,073, expenses of $1,499,413 and total assets of $3,147,628 at year end.

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