Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Berklee College of Music Inc

EIN 04-2300472 · Boston, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC IS TO FOSTER, ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE THE CULTURE, STUDY, PRACTICE AND TEACHING OF VARIOUS BRANCHES OF MUSIC, THEATER, DANCING AND KINDRED ARTS AND TO CONDUCT A CONSERVATORY FOR INSTRUCTION IN THE VARIOUS BRANCHES OF MUSIC, THEATER, DANCING AND KINDRED ARTS.

Income
$460.3 million
Spending
$464.7 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
5,254
Volunteers
39
Highest pay
$1.3 million, former president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 33 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 (3)
  1. $333.6 million spent. EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTION: THE PROGRAM IS PROVIDED TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE OF STUDENTS SEEKING DEGREES IN MUSIC, THEATER, AND DANCE. THE COLLEGE PROVIDES OUTSTANDING FACULTY AND TEACHING FACILITIES FOR OVER 8,369 STUDENTS FROM THE US AND 134 FOREIGN COUNTRIES. THE COLLEGE ALSO OFFERS A NEW WAY FOR ARTISTS AROUND THE WORLD TO JOIN THE GLOBAL MUSIC COMMUNITY-AS PERFORMERS, AS PRACTITIONERS, AND AS LEADERS WITH THE COLLEGE'S FIRST INTERNATIONAL CAMPUS IN VALENCIA.
  2. $33.9 million spent. BERKLEE ONLINE OFFERED ACCREDITED DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL COURSES, IN MUSIC PRODUCTION, PERFORMANCE, SONGWRITING, MUSIC BUSINESS, COMPOSITION, ELECTRONIC MUSIC, AND CORE MUSIC STUDIES, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 14,000 STUDENTS.
  3. $11.8 million spent. AUXILIARY SERVICES: THE COLLEGE HAS RESIDENCE HALL FACILITIES TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR THOSE STUDENTS THAT CHOOSE TO LIVE AT THE COLLEGE. THE COLLEGE ALSO PROVIDES MEAL PLANS FOR BOTH STUDENTS IN HOUSING AND THOSE COMMUTER STUDENTS THAT CHOOSE THIS PLAN.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1967.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.