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American Composers Alliance

EIN 13-1550544 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FIRST ESTABLISHED IN THE 1930S, ACA HAS DEVELOPED AS A PUBLISHING ADMINISTRATOR FOR AMERICAN CONCERT MUSIC, REPRESENTING COMPOSERS AND ESTATES THROUGH SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF CREATIVE WORK. WITH A CURATED CATALOG OF OVER 15,000 WORKS, ACA PRESERVES HISTORICAL WORKS, INTRODUCES NEW WORKS, AND DEVELOPS INNOVATIVE WAYS TO INCREASE AWARENESS, PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH A UNIQUE AND GROWING CATALOG PRESERVED IN PRINT AND MODERN DIGITAL FORMATS.

Income
$256,115
Spending
$263,703
Spent on programs
54%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 43%
Employees
3

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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    54% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $142,955 spent. THE PRIMARY PROGRAM ACTIVITY FOR ACA INVOLVES THE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION OF A COLLECTION OF CLASSICAL MUSIC BY SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF AMERICAN COMPOSERS, DATING TO 1905. THE GOAL IS TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATIONS'S FOUNDERS TO SUPPORT AND CURATE NEW CREATIVE WORK AND ALSO PRESERVE HISTORICAL WORKS, MAINTAINING A DIVERSE CATALOG THAT REACHES PERFORMING ARTISTS WORLD-WIDE. THE GRRANTING OF ADMINISTRATION AND CUSTODIAL RIGHTS TO ACA BY THE AUTHORS ALLOWS FOR THEIR MUSIC TO REMAIN IN PRINT FOR STUDY AND PERFORMANCE FOR THE LONG TERM FUTURE. DURING THE 2022-2023 YEAR ACA WAS AWARDED A GOVERNMENT GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS (NEA) IN THE AMOUNT OF 10,000 FOR WORK BEING DONE ON THE CATALOG THROUGH 2023. EXPENSES TOWARDS THIS PROJECT WERE INCURRED DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR - SO WHILE THE GRANT WILL NOT BE AWARDED UNTIL THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, THE CURRENT YEAR DEFICIT WILL BE CORRECTED IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR WHEN THE AWARD IS RECEIVED. THE PRIMARY PROGRAM ACTIVITY FOR ACA INVOLVES THE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION OF A COLLECTION OF CLASSICAL MUSIC BY SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF AMERICAN COMPOSERS, DATING TO 1905. THE GOAL IS TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATIONS'S FOUNDERS TO SUPPORT AND CURATE NEW CREATIVE WORK AND ALSO PRESERVE HISTORICAL WORKS, MAINTAINING A DIVERSE CATALOG THAT REACHES PERFORMING ARTISTS WORLD-WIDE. THE GRRANTING OF ADMINISTRATION AND CUSTODIAL RIGHTS TO ACA BY THE AUTHORS ALLOWS FOR THEIR MUSIC TO REMAIN IN PRINT FOR STUDY AND PERFORMANCE FOR THE LONG TERM FUTURE. DURING THE 2022-2023 YEAR ACA WAS AWARDED A GOVERNMENT GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS (NEA) IN THE AMOUNT OF 10,000 FOR WORK BEING DONE ON THE CATALOG THROUGH 2023. EXPENSES TOWARDS THIS PROJECT WERE INCURRED DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR - SO WHILE THE GRANT WILL NOT BE AWARDED UNTIL THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, THE CURRENT YEAR DEFICIT WILL BE CORRECTED IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR WHEN THE AWARD IS RECEIVED.

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 February 2007.

    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.

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