Accountability & Financials
Every dollar. Every decision. Documented.
BK Steppers is a 501(c)(3) public charity accountable to the young people we serve, the families who trust us, the schools who partner with us, and the donors who fund our pathway. Financial transparency isn’t a compliance requirement for us — it’s a cultural commitment.
Recognized by Candid
Platinum Seal of Transparency
Candid’s highest transparency tier — awarded to nonprofits that share extensive metrics on financials, governance, and outcomes.
View Candid profile →
Financial Documents
Filed and publicly available.
The Brooklyn Steppers, Inc. files annual Form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service as required of all 501(c)(3) public charities. Current and prior-year 990s are available below and can also be accessed through the IRS, Candid, and ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Fiscal Year 2025
Form 990
Annual return of organization exempt from income tax. Includes revenue, expenses, governance disclosures, and program service accomplishments.
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Confirm filed status with Treasurer. Upload PDF to
[FY25_990_URL].Fiscal Year 2024
Form 990
Annual return of organization exempt from income tax. Includes revenue, expenses, governance disclosures, and program service accomplishments.
Download PDF →
Upload FY24 990 PDF to
[FY24_990_URL].Fiscal Year 2023
Form 990
Annual return of organization exempt from income tax. Includes revenue, expenses, governance disclosures, and program service accomplishments.
Download PDF →
Upload FY23 990 PDF to
[FY23_990_URL].Most recent
Audited Financial Statements
Independently audited financial statements including balance sheet, statement of activities, and functional expense allocation.
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ONLY post finalized audited FS (never drafts). Verify with Treasurer before publishing.
Federal
IRS Determination Letter
Official IRS documentation confirming 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Includes EIN 27-1223035.
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Upload IRS determination letter PDF.
New York State
CHAR500 Filing
Annual charitable organization registration and financial disclosure filed with the New York State Attorney General’s Charities Bureau.
Search NYS Registry →
Financial Overview
Where money comes from. Where it goes.
Our operating model combines contracted arts education services, foundation and government grants, individual giving, and earned revenue from professional performance bookings. Every revenue stream is disclosed in our annual 990.
Revenue
Where money comes from
Our revenue mix reflects a diversified funding model: contracted arts education services with schools, grants from foundations and government agencies, individual donor contributions, and earned revenue from professional performance bookings.
Specific revenue breakdown by source is disclosed in the most recent 990 filing.
Expenses
Where money goes
The majority of every dollar goes directly to program delivery — teaching artist compensation, instruments and equipment, rehearsal space, and student-facing programming. Administrative and fundraising costs are minimized to keep student-facing investment high.
Functional expense allocation is disclosed in the audited financial statements and 990.
Governance & Policies
Board-led. Policy-governed.
BK Steppers operates under a governing Board of Directors with fiduciary responsibility for the organization. Board members serve without compensation.
1
Board of Directors
Our board provides strategic oversight, financial governance, and fiduciary accountability. Board members bring expertise in law, education, finance, cultural institutions, and community leadership. Meet the board →
2
Bylaws
The organization’s bylaws govern board composition, meeting cadence, officer roles, and decision-making authority. Bylaws are available on request to funders, prospective board members, and other interested parties. Contact us to request a copy.
3
Conflict of Interest Policy
All board members and staff complete annual conflict of interest disclosures per IRS best practices for 501(c)(3) organizations. Any potential conflicts are managed through recusal and documented board minutes.
4
Youth Protection & Safe Space Policy
All teaching artists complete background checks and fingerprinting before working with students. Our Youth Protection Policy and Safe Space Policy govern conduct expectations across every program.
5
Fiscal Year & Audit Firm
Our fiscal year runs [INSERT: e.g., July 1 through June 30]. Independent audits are conducted annually by [INSERT: audit firm name], an independent CPA firm specializing in nonprofit accounting.
6
Federal Tax-Exempt Status
The Brooklyn Steppers, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity registered with the Internal Revenue Service. EIN: 27-1223035. Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Third-Party Validation
Verified by independent watchdogs.
Nonprofit accountability is validated by independent third parties whose job is to check our numbers, our governance, and our disclosures against national standards.
Confirmed ★
Candid Platinum
Highest transparency tier awarded to nonprofits sharing extensive financial, governance, and outcomes data.
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Public Record
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Free public database of nonprofit tax filings, sourced directly from IRS data.
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Confirmed ★
Charity Navigator · 3⁄4 Stars
Independent nonprofit rating service that evaluates financial health, accountability, and impact using verified IRS filings.
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Impact & Reach
What the numbers actually do.
Financial disclosures answer where the money goes. These numbers answer what it produces.
37
Years serving Brooklyn & Westchester youth
350+
Young people served annually
11
Active school partnership sites
2
Branch operations (NYC + Westchester)
Questions about our financials or governance?
For financial questions, requests for audited statements, or governance inquiries, we’re available directly. We respond to legitimate transparency inquiries within two business days.