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National Independent Venue Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker New York, NY EIN: 85-2436574 Website

The mission of the National Independent Venue Foundation (NIVF) is to preserve and nurture the ecosystem of independent live performance venues and promoters throughout the united states by supporting a transparent, competitive marketplace serving a diverse and inclusive community of artists, fans, and industry workers.

Key facts about National Independent Venue Foundation

In short: National Independent Venue Foundation gave $162K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), top state New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
85-2436574
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$161,788
Grants made (2025)
9
Average grant
$17,976
Median grant
$15,000
Total assets
$1,008,012
Primary geography
New York (26% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$1.0M

+9.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$162K

+24.5% YoY

Grant Count

9

+50.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$18K

-17.0% YoY

How National Independent Venue Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 102% from 2022 to 2025. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

About National Independent Venue Foundation

Based on IRS filings

National Independent Venue Foundation is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $162K. Net investment income was $25K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

14states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.

Cities

New YorkAshevilleClevelandColorado SpringsDenverAnaheimAustinBentonvilleBeverly HillsCape CoralChicoEncinoFrenchtownKiheiLahainaMinneapolisPittsburghRenoSan FranciscoSeattle

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M3 grants2021 4 grants2022 4 grants2023 6 grants2024 9 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $80K (2022) to $2.5M (2021). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $162K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 9 recipients in 2025

National Independent Venue Association: $43KNational Independent VenueAssociation$43KHappy Dog: $25KHappy Dog$25KClocktower Entertainment LLC: $20KClocktower Entertainment LLC$20KEWRB LLC dba No Class: $15KEWRB LLC dba No Class$15KThe House of Songs: $15KThe House of Songs$15KLulu's Downstairs LLC: $15KLulu's Downstairs LLC$15KThe Orange Peel Social Aid and Pleasure Club LLC: $13KThe Orange Peel Social Aid andPleasure Club LLC$13KFor The Funk Of It Productions: $10KFor The Funk Of It Productions$10KMontford Park Players Inc: $7KMontford Park Players Inc$7K

The largest 2025 recipient was National Independent Venue Association ($43K). Together the top 9 received $162K.

Grant Size Distribution

26 grants across all recorded years

24<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K1$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 26 (92%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
National Independent Venue Association New York, NYEconomic Research and Conference$42,788
Happy Dog Cleveland, OHEmergency Relief Grant$25,000
Clocktower Entertainment LLC Denver, COEmergency Relief Grant$20,000
EWRB LLC dba No Class Cleveland, OHEmergency Relief Grant$15,000
The House of Songs Bentonville, AREmergency Relief Grant$15,000
Lulu's Downstairs LLC Colorado Springs, COEmergency Relief Grant$15,000
The Orange Peel Social Aid and Pleasure Club LLC Asheville, NCEmergency Relief Grant$12,500
For The Funk Of It Productions Chico, CAEmergency Relief Grant$10,000
Montford Park Players Inc Asheville, NCEmergency Relief Grant$6,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M$4M2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$1,008,012$918,369$1,308,975
Revenue$604,753$282,415$431,560
Expenses$574,717$651,786$644,773
Net Investment Income$24,642$35,067$15,750

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 15, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 12, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 15, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 12, 2025)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 12, 2026)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

National Independent Venue Foundation is led by Laura Wilson, President since 2025 (on filings since 2021); none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Laura Wilson

    President

    Secretary & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2022

    Treasurer → President, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Annie Brinn

    Treasurer

    Board Member → Secretary, 2022

    Secretary → Treasurer, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • David M Mayeri

    Board Member

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Hal Real

    Board Member

    President → Board Member, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tobi Parks

    Vice President

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jillian Sacher

    Secretary

    Board Member - Start March → Secretary, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Taneshai Nash Laird

    Board Member

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Linda Bloss-Baum

    Board Member-

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (7)
  • Former: Torrie Allen (2021–2024) — Board Member -
  • Former: Cody Cowan - see Schedule O (2023–2024) — COO
  • Former: Carl Swanson - see Schedule O (2024) — Executive Director -
  • Former: Taneshia Nash Laird (2021–2023) — Board Member
  • Former: Carl Swanson (2023) — Executive Director
  • Former: Moose See Schedule L. (2023) — Executive Director
  • Former: Rev Moose (2021–2022) — Executive Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about National Independent Venue Foundation

How much does National Independent Venue Foundation give each year?

National Independent Venue Foundation gave $162K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $130K across 6 grants.

What is National Independent Venue Foundation's typical grant size?

National Independent Venue Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $17,976, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does National Independent Venue Foundation give grants?

National Independent Venue Foundation's top state is New York, with 26% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Ohio (25%) and Colorado (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (2 grants) and Asheville, NC (2 grants).

Does National Independent Venue Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on National Independent Venue Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Emergency Relief Grant" (8 grants).

Who are National Independent Venue Foundation's largest grantees?

National Independent Venue Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include National Independent Venue Association ($42,788), Happy Dog ($25,000) and Clocktower Entertainment LLC ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is National Independent Venue Foundation?

National Independent Venue Foundation reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $605K.

What is National Independent Venue Foundation?

National Independent Venue Foundation is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in New York, NY. It holds $1.0M in total assets as of 2025.

What is National Independent Venue Foundation's EIN?

National Independent Venue Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-2436574. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

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