Join us for The Builders Series on September 2 for “1099 vs. W-2 – Understanding Worker Classification”
Join us for the next meeting of The Builders Series, our quarterly gathering of artists, cultural workers, and nonprofit leaders running independent or small-scale organizations.
Formerly known as the “Growing Small Budget Organizations Call,” we meet quarterly and invite an expert on a specific topic to join us, not to lecture, but to engage in an open dialogue with the community. It’s a space for honest exchange where we bring in what we’ve experienced in the field.
Together with the guest expert, we explore questions, share insights, and search for inspiration and solutions. It’s a collective space for thinking and building, shaped by real work and real voices.
Our next session will take place on Tuesday, September 2, from 4:00–5:30pm ET over Zoom.
Andrea Scala Nellis and Lucy Mallett from Arts FMS will join us.
Arts FMS delivers financial management services focused on long-term fiscal health and sustainability, empowering nonprofit arts organizations to focus on fulfilling their missions.
They will be leading a discussion, “1099 vs. W-2 – Understanding Worker Classification”
Is your worker an independent contractor or an employee? The difference between a 1099 and a W-2 relationship has major implications for taxes, benefits, and compliance – and getting it wrong can be costly.
In this session, we’ll break down the key distinctions between independent contractors (1099) and employees (W-2), including:
Definitions & Classifications: What separates an employee from an independent contractor?
Tests for Independent Contractors: How the IRS and Department of Labor evaluate behavioral, financial, and relationship factors.
Examples in Practice: Real-world scenarios of proper vs. improper classification.
Compliance & Oversight: Who’s watching (IRS, state labor departments, workers’ compensation boards) and what they look for.
Tax Implications: Self-employment tax vs. employee tax responsibilities.
Pros & Cons: The benefits of being classified as an employee versus the independence of being a contractor.
Special Considerations in New York:
The NYC Freelance Isn’t Free Act.
Performing artists’ presumption as employees under NY law.
Whether you’re an employer, artist, freelancer, or business owner, this session will help you confidently navigate the complex rules of worker classification and avoid costly missteps.
There will be time for open discussion and connection with others facing similar challenges, because none of us should have to figure it all out alone.
This is an event that is part of The Connection Lottery! Attendees will be eligible for The Connection Lottery artist grant awarded at The Big Give 2025.
If you’re a creative leader doing a lot with a little, this series is for you!