Handel and Haydn Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 62 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE HANDEL AND HAYDN SOCIETY'S MISSION IS TO PERFORM BAROQUE AND CLASSICAL MUSIC AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF ARTISTIC EXCELLANCE AND TO SHARE THAT MUSIC WITH AS LARGE AND DIVERSE AN AUDIENCE AS POSSIBLE. THE SOCIETY IS EQUALLY DEDICATED TO FOSTERING THE LOVE, KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMANCE OF MUSIC AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN UNDER-SERVED SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES, THROUGH THE KAREN S. AND GEORGE D. LEVY EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM.
- Income
- $6.5 million
- Spending
- $8.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- -3.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 41%
- Employees
- 252
- Volunteers
- 37
- Highest pay
- $422,705, president and ceo (to 5/25)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 20 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 36% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 37% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 62 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2533 of 34 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $5.6 million spent. THE HANDEL AND HAYDN SOCIETY'S 2023-24 SEASON FEATURED RENOWNED CONDUCTORS AND PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS IN INNOVATIVE, INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS THAT SHOWCASED REPERTOIRE OF THE BAROQUE AND CLASSICAL ERAS. H+H'S PERIOD INSTRUMENT ORCHESTRA INCLUDES 24 TENURED MUSICIANS AND A POOL OF 50 ADDITIONAL FIRST-CALL PLAYERS, ALL SPECIALLY TRAINED IN THE HISTORICALLY INFORMED PERFORMANCE OF MUSIC FROM LATE 17TH THROUGH EARLY 19TH CENTURIES. THE 70 MEMBER PROFESSIONAL H+H CHORUS IS EQUALLY ACCOMPLISHED AND FEATURES SOME OF THE MOST TALENTED SINGERS ON THE EAST COAST. THESE ARTISTS PERFORM MORE THAN 20 CONCERTS EACH YEAR INCLUDING THE ANNUAL PERFORMANCE OF HANDEL'S MESSIAH AT SYMPHONY HALL, A 168-YEAR-OLD TRADITION. THE SOCIETY'S CONCERT SERIES REACHES 35,000 AUDIENCE MEMBERS ANNUALLY.
- $735,996 spent. THE HANDEL AND HAYDN SOCIETY'S 33-YEAR-OLD KAREN S. AND GEORGE LEVY EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM PROVIDES HIGH-CALIBER, PARTICIPATORY AND CREATIVE MUSICAL EDUCATION FOR 10,000 STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-12 IN UNDERSERVED AND LOW-INCOME BOSTON AND GREATER BOSTON COMMUNITIES EACH YEAR. THE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM INCLUDES THREE; COMPONENTS: IN-SCHOOL PERFORMANCES, PARTICIPATORY YOUTH CONCERTS, AND THE VOCAL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, WHICH TOGETHER COVER THE FULL SPECTRUM OF VOCAL EDUCATION AND OFFER A GRADUATED APPROACH TO MUSIC EDUCATION. SINCE 1984, PROGRAM HAS SERVED MORE THAN 100,000 STUDENTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1930.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.