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Harmony Program

EIN 05-0606695 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE HARMONY PROGRAM BELIEVES THAT MUSIC SHOULD BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF EVERY CHILD'S EDUCATION AND THAT GREAT EXPECTATIONS LEAD TO EVEN GREATER ACHIEVEMENT. HARMONY WAS FOUNDED TO PROVIDE STUDENTS IN UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES WITH FREE INSTRUMENTS, IN-DEPTH MUSICAL INSTRUCTION, ORCHESTRAL AND CHORAL TRAINING, AND ACCESS TO A VARIETY OF CULTURAL PROGRAMS.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
123
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$281,997, executive director

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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 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 (3)
  1. $1.7 million spent. THE HARMONY PROGRAM HAS DEVELOPED A PROPRIETARY CURRICULUM FOR 6 SEMESTERS OF INSTRUCTION ON EACH OF 8 ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENTS (INCLUDING STRINGS, WINDS, BRASS, AND PERCUSSION), AND A CHORAL CURRICULUM FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN VOCAL TECHNIQUE. OUR CURRICULA ARE BASED ON THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MUSIC STANDARDS, AS WELL AS THE NYC BLUEPRINT FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING IN MUSIC. AFTER-SCHOOL INSTRUCTION TAKES PLACE 3 TO 10 HOURS EACH WEEK FOR 30 WEEKS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR (UP TO 300 HOURS ANNUALLY). AT THE END OF EACH SEMESTER, STUDENTS ARE EVALUATED BY TEACHERS ON THEIR MUSICAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. MUSICAL EVALUATIONS ARE USED TO ASSESS THEIR PROGRESS ON AREAS OF TECHNIQUE, MUSIC THEORY, AND MUSICIANSHIP, INCLUDING BODY POSITION, INSTRUMENT HOLD, NOTATION, TONE QUALITY, TEMPO/RHYTHM, VOCAL RANGE, INTONATION AND ARTICULATION. TEACHERS ALSO EVALUATE THEIR STUDENTS' SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: FOCUS/PREPRATION, COOPERATION, RESPECT, COMMUNICATION, AND SELF-ESTEEM. OUR BREAKDOWN OF INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES IS AS FOLLOWS: GENERAL MUSIC SKILLS, GROUP LESSONS, ORCHESTRAL INSTRUCTION, CHORAL INSTRUCTION, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND RECITALS.
  2. $319,746 spent. THE HARMONY PROGRAM UNDERSTANDS THAT THE SUMMER MONTHS CAN BE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO STUDENTS' ABILITY TO RETAIN, HONE, AND BUILD UPON THE SKILLS THEY LEARNED DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. OUR SUMMER CAMP GIVES STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE AND RECEIVE INSTRUCTION DURING THE SUMMER, AND THE EXTENDED HOURS ENGAGE THEM IN TOPICS NOT INCLUDED IN OUR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM, INCLUDING CHAMBER PLAYING, MUSIC THEORY, IMPROVISING, VOCAL WORK, AND DIFFERENT MUSIC GENRES.
  3. $56,998 spent. THE HARMONY PROGRAM'S UNIQUE MODEL ADDRESSES A SHORTAGE OF WELL-TRAINED MUSIC TEACHERS BY RECRUITING ACCOMPLISHED MUSICIANS, TRAINED AT THE NATION'S TOP CONSERVATORIES AND UNIVERSITIES, TO TEACH WITH US. THE QUALITY OF OUR PROGRAMMING IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PREPARATION OF OUR TEACHERS, WHO COME WITH EXCEPTIONAL MUSICAL TRAINING BUT LIMITED TEACHING EXPERIENCE. OUR TEACHERS RECEIVE UP TO 65 HOURS OF TRAINING PER YEAR IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR WORK WITH OUR 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

  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 June 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 November 2004.

    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.