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From the Top Inc

EIN 04-3583756 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FROM THE TOP EMPOWERS AND CELEBRATES YOUNG MUSICIANS.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
9.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
14
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$295,574, executive di

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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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 (5)
  1. $596,326 spent. FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS, FROM THE TOP HAS BEEN AMERICA'S LARGEST MEDIA PLATFORM DEDICATED TO FEATURING CLASSICALLY-TRAINED YOUNG MUSICIANS. THROUGH ITS NATIONALLY SYNDICATED SHOW HEARD ON NEARLY 200 RADIO STATIONS, WEEKLY AUDIENCES OF MORE THAN 350,000 PEOPLE ENJOY INSPIRING ORIGINAL CONTENT THAT SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON REMARKABLE YOUNG PEOPLE.
  2. $476,713 spent. THE ADMISSIONS, RECRUITMENT, AND SCHOLARSHIP DEPARTMENT IS THE ENGINE THAT FUELS FROM THE TOP, BRINGING YOUNG MUSICIANS OF DIFFERENT AGES, GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS, SOCIO-ECONOMIC, AND RACIAL BACKGROUNDS INTO THE ORGANIZATION. THE ADMISSIONS TEAM FACILITATES COMMUNICATION AND AWARENESS OF FROM THE TOP TO A VAST NETWORK OF MUSIC EDUCATORS, PROGRAMS, AND CAMPS. FTT HOLDS AUDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR VIA ZOOM AND ANNUALLY AWARDS 200,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS (APPROXIMATELY 20 MUSICIANS RECEIVED 10,000 EACH). SINCE 2005, FROM THE TOP HAS AWARDED OVER 4 MILLION IN JACK KENT COOKE AWARDS TO OVER 400 EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG MUSICIANS WITH FINANCIAL NEED. IN 2023 FROM THE TOP STARTED THE TIM BANKER TALENT DEVELOPMENT AWARD THAT SERVES 2 - 3 YOUNG MUSICIANS ANNUALLY.
  3. $120,523 spent. OVER THE PAST DECADE, FROM THE TOP HAS RECOGNIZED THE POWER IN PROVIDING A SPACE FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS TO SLOW DOWN, REFLECT AND BUILD LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND "CITIZEN ARTIST" MUSCLES. THROUGH A MONTH OF ONLINE WORKSHOPS AND FACILITATED PEER EXCHANGE, THESE YOUNG ARTISTS EXAMINE THEIR PASSIONS, WHAT SKILLS THEY HAVE IN AND OUT OF MUSIC, AND WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS. THEY THEN PUT THEIR LEARNING INTO PRACTICE IN A COMMUNITY SETTING.
  4. $285,869 spent. FROM THE TOP'S PLATFORM TO BRING VISIBILITY TO YOUNG MUSICIANS AND BUILD AUDIENCES INCLUDES FROM THE TOP AND NPR SOCIAL MEDIA EFFORTS. DURING OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY FROM THE TOP REACHED 3 MILLION VIEWS ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. SINGULARLY, OUR 2025 NPR TINY DESK CONCERT REACHED 1.1 MILLION ONLINE. ADDITIONALLY, WE MARKED OUR FIFTH YEAR OF CREATING AND DISTRIBUTING DAILY JOY VIDEOS, A POPULAR DAILY EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION WHICH HAS GARNERED OVER 5 MILLION CUMULATIVE VIEWS.
  5. FROM THE TOP'S PLATFORM TO BRING VISIBILITY TO YOUNG MUSICIANS AND BUILD AUDIENCES INCLUDES FROM THE TOP AND NPR SOCIAL MEDIA EFFORTS. DURING OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY FROM THE TOP REACHED 3 MILLION VIEWS ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. SINGULARLY, OUR 2025 NPR TINY DESK CONCERT REACHED 1.1 MILLION ONLINE. ADDITIONALLY, WE MARKED OUR FIFTH YEAR OF CREATING AND DISTRIBUTING DAILY JOY VIDEOS, A POPULAR DAILY EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION WHICH HAS GARNERED OVER 5 MILLION CUMULATIVE VIEWS.

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

  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 June 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 July 2002.

    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.

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.