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Brooklyn Youth Chorus Academy Inc

EIN 11-3129249 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak32 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BROOKLYN YOUTH CHORUS'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE, EDUCATE, AND EMPOWER YOUNG SINGERS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS THROUGH ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION IN CHORAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE, TRAINING, AND THE CREATION OF NEW WORKS. BROOKLYN YOUTH CHORUS'S CITY-WIDE, MULTI-LEVEL TRAINING PROGRAM AND GRAMMY-WINNING ENSEMBLES ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR DISTINCTIVE SOUND AND VIRTUOSITY, BRINGING A FRESH PERSPECTIVE TO CHORAL PERFORMANCE THAT CROSSES BOUNDARIES AND DEFIES CONVENTION. WITH OVER 25 YEARS OF SUCCESS AND IMPACT IN THE FIELD, THE CHORUS SEEKS TO RAISE THE ARTISTIC PROFILE AND EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS IN CHORAL PERFORMANCE AND EDUCATION BY FURTHERING ITS UNIQUE CROSS-CHORAL TRAINING METHODOLOGY AND BUILDING A DYNAMIC NEW REPERTOIRE FROM AN INCLUSIVE ROSTER OF COMPOSERS AND ARTISTIC COLLABORATORS.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 50%
Employees
44
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$194,843, artistic 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

Weak: 32 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 48% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 40 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 23 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 (1)
  1. $2.4 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1992, THE GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING BROOKLYN YOUTH CHORUS ACADEMY (BYC) IS DEDICATED TO OFFERING MUSIC TRAINING AND CHORAL PERFORMANCES TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF ITS STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY. THROUGH MUSIC STUDY AND PROFESSIONAL-LEVEL PERFORMANCES, BYC UNITES CHILDREN OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND HELPS THEM DEVELOP INTO CONFIDENT AND EXPRESSIVE MUSICIANS AND INDIVIDUALS. BYC STRIVES TO ADVANCE THE ARTISTIC ROLE OF YOUTH CHORUSES THROUGH INNOVATIVE CONCERTS, COMMISSIONS AND ARTISTIC COLLABORATIONS.IN 2024-25, BYC'S CHORAL MUSIC EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE PROGRAM SERVED 667 NYC STUDENTS AGES 518, INCLUDING 541 IN ENSEMBLE REHEARSALS AND 126 THROUGH SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS AND WORKSHOPS. STUDENTS RECEIVED INSTRUCTION ACROSS SIX TRAINING LEVELS AND THREE PERFORMING ENSEMBLES, SUPPORTED BY PRIVATE LESSONS, MUSICIANSHIP CLASSES, AND MASTERCLASSES. BYC WELCOMED ARTISTIC ADVISORS ARREON A. HARLEY-EMERSON AND DR. DIANA V. SEZ TO STRENGTHEN ARTISTIC AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. BYC'S COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS INITIATIVE SUPPORTED 18 TEENS WITH FOCUSED VOCAL TRAINING, MENTORSHIP, AND COLLEGE PREPARATION FOR ARTISTIC CAREERS.IN THIS, 33RD SEASON, BYC PRESENTED 40 PERFORMANCES REACHING MORE THAN 100,000 AUDIENCE MEMBERS ACROSS NEW YORK CITY. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED APPEARANCES AT THE UNITED NATIONS SUMMIT OF THE FUTURE; CARNEGIE HALL WITH GUSTAVO DUDAMEL, NATALIA LAFOURCADE, AND THE LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC; AND A PERFORMANCE OF BERNSTEIN'S SYMPHONY NO. 3 "KADDISH" WITH THE ORCHESTRA OF ST. LUKE'S.CONTINUING A FOCUS ON MUSICAL INNOVATION, IN MAY 2025, BYC PREMIERED PORT(AL), A SITE-SPECIFIC WORK BY PAOLA PRESTINI, JAD ABUMRAD, AND JESSICA GRINDSTAFF, EXPLORING NYC HISTORY AND FUTURE THROUGH THE LENS OF THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD. BYC ALSO CONTINUED ITS DIAMONSTEIN-SPIELVOGEL YOUTH AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC INITIATIVE, EXPLORING CULTURALLY RELEVANT REPERTOIRE, AND ENGAGING COMPOSERS-IN-RESIDENCE KENYON DUNCAN AND ANGLICA NEGRN TO CREATE NEW WORKS ACROSS ALL DIVISIONS.THE BROOKLYN YOUTH CHORUS HAS AN ACTIVE AND ENGAGED BOARD OF TRUSTEES WHO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND OVERSIGHT AND PARTICIPATE IN A NUMBER OF COMMITTEES TO HELP SUPPORT AND ADVOCATE FOR THE ORGANIZATION. AS PART OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD CONDUCTS ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEWS FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND MAKES COMPENSATION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EACH TO THE BOARD FOR BOARD APPROVAL.

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 February 1993.

    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.