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The Brooklyn Queens Conservatory of Music

EIN 11-1532426 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE BROOKLYN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC IS TO TRANSFORMLIVES AND BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH THE EXPRESSIVE, EDUCATIONAL ANDTHERAPEUTIC POWERS OF MUSIC.

Income
$11.2 million
Spending
$9.2 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 51%
Employees
227
Volunteers
23
Highest pay
$191,715, 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 27% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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 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 (4)
  1. $1.7 million spent. COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL: THE COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL IS BROOKLYN'S HUB FOR PRIVATE INSTRUCTION IN INSTRUMENT, COMPOSITION, AND VOICE, WITH INDIVIDUAL LESSONS, GROUP CLASSES AND ENSEMBLES FOR STUDENTS OF EVERY AGE AND ABILITY LEVEL. WE SERVE MORE THAN 1,000 STUDENTS, AGES 0 THROUGH SENIORS. OUR PASSIONATE AND HIGHLY SKILLED TEACHERS - SOME OF NEW YORK'S MOST SOUGHT-AFTER PERFORMING ARTISTS AND EDUCATORS - TAILOR THEIR INSTRUCTION TO ADDRESS THE LEARNING STYLE AND GOALS OF EACH STUDENT, FROM THE BEGINNER TO THE ADVANCED STUDENT ASPIRING TO A CAREER IN MUSIC. THE COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL INCLUDES EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMMING, GROUP CLASSES FOR YOUTH AGES 4-7, PRIVATE LESSONS FOR STUDENTS 6 AND ABOVE, MORE THAN 30 SMALL ENSEMBLES, CHAMBER GROUPS, AND LARGE CHORALE AND ORCHESTRAL ENSEMBLES.
  2. $975,527 spent. BKCM IS BROOKLYN'S PREMIER DESTINATION FOR THE SUZUKI METHOD, A NURTURING PEDAGOGY BASED ON THE CONCEPT THAT ALL CHILDREN HAVE THE ABILITY TO MASTER THE LANGUAGE OF MUSIC, JUST AS THEY MASTER THEIR HOME LANGUAGE. THE CONSERVATORY TEACHES THE SUZUKI METHOD ON SEVEN INSTRUMENTS: PIANO, VIOLIN, VIOLA, BASS, CELLO, GUITAR AND FLUTE. OUR PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES PRIVATE LESSONS AS WELL AS GROUP CLASSES AND ENSEMBLES, AND MUSIC LITERACY (THEORY). PARENTS LEARN ALONGSIDE THEIR CHILDREN, PROVIDING ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THEIR MUSICAL JOURNEYS. STUDENTS CONTINUALLY REVISIT REPERTOIRE, REFINING THEIR SKILL BY ADDING LAYERS OF ARTISTRY, MASTERY AND MUSICIANSHIP.
  3. $1.4 million spent. MUSIC THERAPY: BKCM'S MUSIC THERAPY PROGRAM IS AN ESTABLISHED PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC PRACTICE IN WHICH CLINICALLY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS ADDRESS CLIENTS' EMOTIONAL, COGNITIVE, SOCIAL OR PHYSICAL NEEDS THROUGH THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT THAT CAN INCLUDE SINGING, PLAYING INSTRUMENTS AND MOVING TO MUSIC. A GROWING BODY OF RESEARCH HAS SHOWN MUSIC THERAPY TO FACILITATE SELF-EXPRESSION, REDUCE ANXIETY AND CHANNEL FRUSTRATION INTO CREATIVITY. FOUNDED IN 2003, BKCM'S MUSIC THERAPY PROGRAM IS NOW THE LARGEST IN NYC SERVING MORE THAN 3,200 CLIENTS OUT OF BKCM'S PARK SLOPE HOME AND AT MORE THAN 50 SCHOOLS, SENIOR CENTERS, HOMELESS SHELTERS AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE FIVE BOROUGHS.
  4. $3.0 million spent. OTHER MUSIC PROGRAMS INCLUDE:MUSIC PARTNERS: RESPONDING TO A CRITICAL NEED TO RESTORE ARTS EDUCATION IN NEW YORK CITY'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE CONSERVATORY CREATED ITS SCHOOL-BASED MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM, MUSIC PARTNERS, IN 1988 TO PROVIDE AND ENHANCE MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. NOW WORKING WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CHILD CARE CENTERS, YOUTH-BASED AGENCIES, AND SENIOR CENTERS, WE PROVIDE MORE THAN 4,500 CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN BROOKLYN, QUEENS, MANHATTAN AND THE BRONX, WITH LONG TERM, SEQUENTIAL AND INSPIRING MUSIC INSTRUCTION. MORE THAN 70% OF OUR STUDENTS LIVE AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. THE CONSERVATORY COLLABORATES WITH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND LEADERSHIP TEAMS TO TAILOR OUR PROGRAMS TO EACH SCHOOL'S UNIQUE NEEDS, PREFERENCES, PRIORITIES AND BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS OFFERING OPTIONS SUCH AS BAND, STRINGS, CHORUS, WORLD DRUMMING AND PERCUSSION, GUITAR, UKULELE, RECORDER, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC AND MOVEMENT. IN ADDITION TO LEARNING HOW TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT OR SINGING IN A CHOIR, OUR STUDENTS ACQUIRE THE CONFIDENCE TO TACKLE DIFFICULT SUBJECTS, BUILD A STRONG WORK ETHIC, AND DEVELOP A SENSE OF CAMARADERIE WITH THEIR PEERS.STUDIO COLLECTIVE: THE CONSERVATORY SUPPORTS THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED ARTISTS THROUGH A ROBUST INFRASTRUCTURE OF CAREER-BUILDING INVESTMENTS AND RESOURCES. CENTRAL TO THIS WORK IS THE STUDIO COLLECTIVE, A DEEPLY AFFORDABLE STUDIO ACCESS PROGRAM WITH MORE THAN 4,000 ENROLLED MEMBERS WHO COLLECTIVELY BOOK THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF STUDIO TIME ANNUALLY. MEMBERSHIP IS FREE, AND MEMBERS MAY RENT STUDIO SPACE AT RATES OF $10 AND $15 PER HOUR, FOR STUDIOS EQUIPPED WITH UPRIGHT AND GRAND PIANOS, RESPECTIVELY. BEYOND STUDIO ACCESS, MEMBERS BENEFIT FROM NETWORKING EVENTS, MUSIC SHARES, AND ONGOING WORK AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FACILITATED THROUGH BKCM'S PROGRAMMING AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.

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 November 6, 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 December 1948.

    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 November 4, 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.