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American Guild of Organists Ago

EIN 13-0431730 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS IS TO FOSTER A THRIVING COMMUNITY OF MUSICIANS WHO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND INSPIRE PASSION FOR THE ORGAN.

Income
$3.2 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
63.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 42%
Employees
13
Volunteers
103
Highest pay
$224,973, executive director

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

Good: 83 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 63.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% 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: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $1.2 million spent. THE AGO HEADQUARTERS STAFF PROVIDES INVALUABLE SUPPORT TO ALL PROGRAMS OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION. THE STAFF SUPPORT THE PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN ORGANIST MAGAZINE BOTH IN PRINT AND ONLINE; PUBLICATION OF A MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER SENT TO ALL MEMBERS; PUBLICATION OF A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER SENT TO CHAPTER LEADERS; STRATEGIC PLANNING; A FIVE-TIER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM; SIX SEPARATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS; THREE PERFORMANCE COMPETITIONS; FOUR COMPOSITION COMPETITIONS; A STUDENT COMMISSIONING PROJECT; THE MOST WIDELY USED ONLINE JOB BOARD FOR ORGANISTS; A WEBSITE WITH HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF CONTENT; WEBINARS; A COMPREHENSIVE LISTING OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING THAT CONFER DEGREES IN ORGAN STUDIES AND ORGAN PERFORMANCE; A DIVERSIFIED FUNDRAISING PROGRAM; THE WORK OF 18 COMMITTEES; MANAGEMENT OF A $3.277 MILLION BUDGET; AND A BROAD ARRAY OF OTHER MEMBERSHIP SERVICES FOR APPROXIMATELY 10,500 MEMBERS AND 589 MAGAZINE SUBSCRIBERS.
  2. $379,346 spent. PUBLISHED TWELVE MONTHLY ISSUES OF THE AMERICAN ORGANIST, THE WORLD'S MOST WIDELY READ PROFESSIONAL JOURNAL SERVING THE ORGAN AND CHORAL FIELDS. TAO PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL ARTICLES, NEWS, PRODUCT REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, OPINION COLUMNS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS OF INTEREST TO 10,959 VOTING MEMBERS AND 589 SUBSCRIBERS. THE JOURNAL IS AVAILABLE IN PRINT AND ONLINE, AND IS DISTRIBUTED WORLDWIDE.
  3. $225,854 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE: JANUARY JUBILEES, FEBRUARY JUMP STARTS, FIVE-TIER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM AND RELATED MATERIALS, PIPE ORGAN ENCOUNTERS AND SCHOLARSHIPS, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT.
  4. $680,719 spent. COMPETITIONS AND CONVENTIONS.

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 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 August 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 September 1955.

    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.