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Passes our checks

Emmanuel Music Inc

EIN 04-2690262 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EMMANUEL MUSIC ENGAGES WITH AUDIENCES AND MUSICIANS TO EXPLORE THE ENDURING QUESTIONS OF OUR SHARED HUMAN EXPERIENCE, BUILDING ON OUR CORE COMMITMENT TO THE MUSIC OF J.S. BACH. EXPANDING ON A 55-YEAR PLUS TRADITION OF WEEKLY BACH CANTATAS IN A LITURGICAL SETTING, WE PERFORM CONCERT REPERTOIRE FROM BAROQUE TO CONTEMPORARY IN LARGE AND SMALL ENSEMBLES, INVITING AUDIENCES TO EXPLORE AND DISCOVER FAMILIAR AND UNFAMILIAR MASTERWORKS. THE COMMITMENT AND DISCIPLINE OF PERFORMING TOGETHER MORE THAN 50 TIMES A YEAR NURTURES A CORE OF ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING MUSICIANS AND FOSTERS UNPARALLELED ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE. IN OUR OUTREACH WE ARE COMMITTED TO TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF MUSICIANS, MENTORING YOUNG STUDENTS, AND INSPIRING BROAD AUDIENCES IN FREE CONCERTS, LECTURES, AND MASTER CLASSES.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
156
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$9,031, director & musician

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

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 August 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 (1)
  1. $748,877 spent. EMMANUEL MUSIC, DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE ENDURING LEGACY OF J.S. BACH CONTINUES TO IMPACT ITS AUDIENCE AND MUSICIANS THROUGH A BLEND OF PERFORMANCE, SCHOLARSHIP, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THE 2024/2025 SEASON EXEMPLIFIED THIS WITH OUR FOUNDATIONAL AND ONGOING CANTATA SERIES, WHICH PRESENTS A DIFFERENT BACH CANTATA EACH SUNDAY AS PART OF THE WORSHIP SERVICE AT EMMANUEL EPSICOPAL CHURCH. THE SERIES OFFERS FREE IN-PERSON AND LIVESTREAMED ACCESS, AND INCLUDES PREMIERES OF NEW WORKS THROUGH OUR MOTET COMMISSIONING PROJECT. THE LINDSEY CHAPEL SERIES PROVIDED SIX FREE NOONTIME PERFORMANCES BY SOLO MUSICIANS, INCLUDING THE COMPLETE ENGLISH SUITES FOR KEYBOARD BY BACH. IN 2024-2025, EMMANUEL MUSIC ALSO CONTINUED CRITICAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, BOSTON ARTS ACADEMY, AND PROJECT STEP. IN ADDITION, WE OFFERED NUMEROUS PUBLIC LECTURES, DISCUSSIONS, AND PERFORMANCES HELD AS PART OF OUR BACH INSTITUTE JANUARY INTENSIVE YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM. THIS MULTIFACETED PROGRAMMING APPROACH SPANNING REGULAR LITURGICAL PERFORMANCES, A DEDICATEDMAINSTAGE CONCERT SERIES, EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, AND ACCESS TO ONLINE INTELLECTUAL RESOURCES THROUGH OUR BACH NOTES AND TRANSLATIONS, PROVIDES OVER FORTY FREE OPPORTUNITIES, BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL, FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT AND EXPERIENCE LIVE MUSIC, REINFORCING EMMANUEL MUSIC'S ROLE AS A VITAL, INTERNATIONAL "LIVING LABORATORY" FOR THE MUSIC OF J.S. BACH

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1980.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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