Manhattan School of Music
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION, PERFORMANCE, AND CREATIVE ACTIVITY; TO THE HUMANITY OF THE SCHOOL'S ENVIRONMENT; AND TO THE CULTURAL ENRICHMENT OF THE LARGER COMMUNITY. A PREMIERE INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATORY, MSM INSPIRES AND EMPOWERS HIGHLY TALENTED INDIVIDUALS TO REALIZE THEIR POTENTIAL. WE TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF NEW YORK'S ABUNDANT LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES, PREPARING OUR STUDENTS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED AND PASSIONATE PERFORMERS, COMPOSERS AND TEACHERS, AND IMAGINATIVE, EFFECTIVE CONTRIBUTORS TO THE ARTS AND SOCIETY.
- Income
- $89.9 million
- Spending
- $82.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- -1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 88%
- Employees
- 1,506
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $855,810, trustee, ex-officio, school president (refer to schedule j)
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 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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 2519 of 23 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $67.2 million spent. UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS - MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC OFFERS THE FOLLOWING DEGREES, DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES: BACHELOR OF MUSIC (VOICE, INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE, JAZZ PERFORMANCE, CLASSICAL COMPOSITION, AND MUSICAL THEATRE); MASTER OF MUSIC (VOICE, INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE, JAZZ PERFORMANCE, JAZZ COMPOSITION, CLASSICAL COMPOSITION, CONDUCTING, COLLABORATIVE PIANO, ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE, AND CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE); DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS (VOICE, PIANO, INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE, JAZZ ARTS ADVANCEMENT, CLASSICAL COMPOSITION, CONDUCTING, AND COLLABORATIVE PIANO); PROFESSIONAL STUDIES CERTIFICATE, PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE DIPLOMA, AND ARTIST DIPLOMA. (Expenses $ 955,492 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 932,552) OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: THE ORTO CENTER FOR DISTANCE LEARNING AND RECORDING ARTS: MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC LAUNCHED ITS GROUNDBREAKING DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM IN 1996, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND AT A MAJOR CONSERVATORY. SINCE THEN, USING STATE-OF-THE-ART INTERACTIVE VIDEO CONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY, THE ORTO CENTER HAS DEVELOPED PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND DISTINGUISHED ARTISTS AROUND THE GLOBE AND ENHANCE THE CURRICULUM AVAILABLE TO MSM STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, HUNDREDS OF LIVESTREAMED CONCERTS AND MASTER CLASSES, FEATURING MSM STUDENT ENSEMBLES AND ACCLAIMED FACULTY, ATTRACT A WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE EACH YEAR. MSM DISTANCE LEARNING'S AWARDWINNING PROGRAMS INCLUDE ITS ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL MASTER CLASS SERIES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE "MUSIC BRIDGES" SERIES FOR K-12 AND LIFELONG LEARNERS. THESE INTERACTIVE SERIES ARE MADE UP OF MASTER CLASSES, PRIVATE INSTRUCTION, SEMINARS, AND STANDARDS-BASED CLASSICAL AND JAZZ THEMATIC PROGRAMS THAT CAN BE DELIVERED TO HIGHER-ED PEERS, K-12 CLASSROOMS, AND COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS. THE ORTO CENTER ALSO SUPPORTS MSM STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF IN THE USE OF DIGITAL LEARNING TOOLS, INCLUDING CANVAS, MSM'S LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, KALTURA, A CAMPUS-WIDE VIDEO CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND SIMPLE SYLLABUS, A CAMPUS-WIDE SYLLABUS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. ORTO CENTER STAFF SUPPORT FACULTY IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ONLINE COURSES IN BOTH SYNCHRONOUS AND ASYNCHRONOUS DELIVERY FORMATS. THE CENTER FOR CAREER READINESS & COMMUNITY IMPACT (CCRCI): THE CCRCI GUIDES MSM STUDENTS AND RECENT GRADUATES AS THEY PURSUE PERSONALLY MEANINGFUL CAREER PATHS. NAVIGATING THE EVOLVING LANDSCAPE OF A CAREER IN THE PERFORMING ARTS REQUIRES ARTISTS TO DEVELOP AND REFINE NEW SKILLS THAT WILL EXPAND AND ENHANCE BOTH THEIR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON SOCIETY. THIS PROGRAM BRINGS HEIGHTENED RELEVANCE TO STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND REFLECTS MSM'S GOAL OF GRADUATING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE ARTIST-CITIZENS. THE MISSION OF THE CENTER FOR CAREER READINESS & COMMUNITY IMPACT IS TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AS THEY PURSUE PERSONALLY MEANINGFUL CAREER PATHS, TO PROVIDE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND TO REFLECT OUR GOAL OF GRADUATING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE ARTIST-CITIZENS. IN ADDITION TO CAREER-ADVANCING COURSEWORK, THE PROGRAM'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: A SERIES OF ARTS PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL K-12 SCHOOLS AND MEMORY CARE FACILITIES; MSM PERFORMANCES FOR VISITING SCHOOL GROUPS; TEACHING PLACEMENTS FOR CCRCI PARTICIPANTS; A DYNAMIC CALENDAR OF SETTING THE STAGE WORKSHOPS, RESOURCES FOR CURRENT STUDENTS/ALUMNI (INCLUDING THE HIRE A MUSICIAN REFERRAL SERVICE, PRIVATE TEACHER DIRECTORY, AND ONLINE OPPORTUNITIES BOARD), AND ONE-ON-ONE CAREER ADVISING. IN ADDITION, THE CCRCI CONTINUES TO OVERSEE THE NEWLY EXPANDED INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT OFFERS AN ARRAY OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE STUDENTS' EDUCATION.
- $4.0 million spent. PRECOLLEGE PROGRAM - A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AND PRE-PROFESSIONAL SATURDAY MUSIC PROGRAM DEDICATED TO THE MUSICAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH OF TALENTED YOUNG MUSICIANS AGES 5-18. THE PRECOLLEGE ENROLLS STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE TRI-STATE AREA AND BEYOND. A TYPICAL PROGRAM OF STUDY INCLUDES A 60-MINUTE PRIVATE LESSON, CLASSES IN THEORY AND EAR TRAINING, PERFORMANCE CLASSES INCLUDING LARGE AND SMALL ENSEMBLES, AND VARIOUS ELECTIVE CLASSES. THE PRECOLLEGE PROGRAM HAS SEVERAL LARGE ENSEMBLES, INCLUDING ORCHESTRAS, CHORUSES MUSICAL THEATRE, AND JAZZ ENSEMBLES, IN ADDITION TO SMALLER GROUPS SUCH AS CHAMBER ENSEMBLES AND JAZZ COMBOS.
- $1.2 million spent. SUMMER PROGRAMS - MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC OFFERS STUDENTS SUMMER MUSIC PROGRAMS WHICH ARE UNIQUE IN NEW YORK CITY AND AT THE CONSERVATORY LEVEL NATIONWIDE. SUMMER ENGLISH STUDY (SES) - A SEVEN-WEEK IMMERSION PROGRAM ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR STUDENTS ENTERING MSM IN THE FOLLOWING FALL SEMESTER. THROUGH INTENSIVE STUDY AND INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER STUDENTS WHO ARE FLUENT IN ENGLISH, SES PARTICIPANTS PREPARE FOR MUSIC-SPECIFIC COURSEWORK AS THEY ACCLIMATE MORE GENERALLY TO AMERICAN CULTURE AND TO LIFE IN NEW YORK CITY. MSM SUMMER - SET ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS IN THE HEART OF NEW YORK CITY - IS A MONTH-LONG DAY PROGRAM IN JULY THAT PROVIDES INTENSIVE MUSICAL INSTRUCTION IN MUSICAL THEATER, COMPOSITION, AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC FOR STUDENTS (AGES 8-17). STUDENTS WILL DEVELOP THEIR MUSICAL SKILLS AND JOIN A COMMUNITY OF YOUNG MUSICIANS THROUGH A WIDE VARIETY OF MUSICAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. (Expenses $ 955,492 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 932,552) OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: THE ORTO CENTER FOR DISTANCE LEARNING AND RECORDING ARTS: MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC LAUNCHED ITS GROUNDBREAKING DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM IN 1996, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND AT A MAJOR CONSERVATORY. SINCE THEN, USING STATE-OF-THE-ART INTERACTIVE VIDEO CONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY, THE ORTO CENTER HAS DEVELOPED PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND DISTINGUISHED ARTISTS AROUND THE GLOBE AND ENHANCE THE CURRICULUM AVAILABLE TO MSM STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, HUNDREDS OF LIVESTREAMED CONCERTS AND MASTER CLASSES, FEATURING MSM STUDENT ENSEMBLES AND ACCLAIMED FACULTY, ATTRACT A WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE EACH YEAR. MSM DISTANCE LEARNING'S AWARDWINNING PROGRAMS INCLUDE ITS ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL MASTER CLASS SERIES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE "MUSIC BRIDGES" SERIES FOR K-12 AND LIFELONG LEARNERS. THESE INTERACTIVE SERIES ARE MADE UP OF MASTER CLASSES, PRIVATE INSTRUCTION, SEMINARS, AND STANDARDS-BASED CLASSICAL AND JAZZ THEMATIC PROGRAMS THAT CAN BE DELIVERED TO HIGHER-ED PEERS, K-12 CLASSROOMS, AND COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS. THE ORTO CENTER ALSO SUPPORTS MSM STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF IN THE USE OF DIGITAL LEARNING TOOLS, INCLUDING CANVAS, MSM'S LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, KALTURA, A CAMPUS-WIDE VIDEO CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND SIMPLE SYLLABUS, A CAMPUS-WIDE SYLLABUS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. ORTO CENTER STAFF SUPPORT FACULTY IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ONLINE COURSES IN BOTH SYNCHRONOUS AND ASYNCHRONOUS DELIVERY FORMATS. THE CENTER FOR CAREER READINESS & COMMUNITY IMPACT (CCRCI): THE CCRCI GUIDES MSM STUDENTS AND RECENT GRADUATES AS THEY PURSUE PERSONALLY MEANINGFUL CAREER PATHS. NAVIGATING THE EVOLVING LANDSCAPE OF A CAREER IN THE PERFORMING ARTS REQUIRES ARTISTS TO DEVELOP AND REFINE NEW SKILLS THAT WILL EXPAND AND ENHANCE BOTH THEIR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON SOCIETY. THIS PROGRAM BRINGS HEIGHTENED RELEVANCE TO STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND REFLECTS MSM'S GOAL OF GRADUATING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE ARTIST-CITIZENS. THE MISSION OF THE CENTER FOR CAREER READINESS & COMMUNITY IMPACT IS TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AS THEY PURSUE PERSONALLY MEANINGFUL CAREER PATHS, TO PROVIDE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND TO REFLECT OUR GOAL OF GRADUATING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE ARTIST-CITIZENS. IN ADDITION TO CAREER-ADVANCING COURSEWORK, THE PROGRAM'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: A SERIES OF ARTS PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL K-12 SCHOOLS AND MEMORY CARE FACILITIES; MSM PERFORMANCES FOR VISITING SCHOOL GROUPS; TEACHING PLACEMENTS FOR CCRCI PARTICIPANTS; A DYNAMIC CALENDAR OF SETTING THE STAGE WORKSHOPS, RESOURCES FOR CURRENT STUDENTS/ALUMNI (INCLUDING THE HIRE A MUSICIAN REFERRAL SERVICE, PRIVATE TEACHER DIRECTORY, AND ONLINE OPPORTUNITIES BOARD), AND ONE-ON-ONE CAREER ADVISING. IN ADDITION, THE CCRCI CONTINUES TO OVERSEE THE NEWLY EXPANDED INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT OFFERS AN ARRAY OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE STUDENTS' EDUCATION.
- $955,492 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: THE ORTO CENTER FOR DISTANCE LEARNING AND RECORDING ARTS: MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC LAUNCHED ITS GROUNDBREAKING DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM IN 1996, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND AT A MAJOR CONSERVATORY. SINCE THEN, USING STATE-OF-THE-ART INTERACTIVE VIDEO CONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY, THE ORTO CENTER HAS DEVELOPED PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND DISTINGUISHED ARTISTS AROUND THE GLOBE AND ENHANCE THE CURRICULUM AVAILABLE TO MSM STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, HUNDREDS OF LIVESTREAMED CONCERTS AND MASTER CLASSES, FEATURING MSM STUDENT ENSEMBLES AND ACCLAIMED FACULTY, ATTRACT A WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE EACH YEAR. MSM DISTANCE LEARNING'S AWARDWINNING PROGRAMS INCLUDE ITS ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL MASTER CLASS SERIES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE "MUSIC BRIDGES" SERIES FOR K-12 AND LIFELONG LEARNERS. THESE INTERACTIVE SERIES ARE MADE UP OF MASTER CLASSES, PRIVATE INSTRUCTION, SEMINARS, AND STANDARDS-BASED CLASSICAL AND JAZZ THEMATIC PROGRAMS THAT CAN BE DELIVERED TO HIGHER-ED PEERS, K-12 CLASSROOMS, AND COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS. THE ORTO CENTER ALSO SUPPORTS MSM STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF IN THE USE OF DIGITAL LEARNING TOOLS, INCLUDING CANVAS, MSM'S LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, KALTURA, A CAMPUS-WIDE VIDEO CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND SIMPLE SYLLABUS, A CAMPUS-WIDE SYLLABUS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. ORTO CENTER STAFF SUPPORT FACULTY IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ONLINE COURSES IN BOTH SYNCHRONOUS AND ASYNCHRONOUS DELIVERY FORMATS. THE CENTER FOR CAREER READINESS & COMMUNITY IMPACT (CCRCI): THE CCRCI GUIDES MSM STUDENTS AND RECENT GRADUATES AS THEY PURSUE PERSONALLY MEANINGFUL CAREER PATHS. NAVIGATING THE EVOLVING LANDSCAPE OF A CAREER IN THE PERFORMING ARTS REQUIRES ARTISTS TO DEVELOP AND REFINE NEW SKILLS THAT WILL EXPAND AND ENHANCE BOTH THEIR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON SOCIETY. THIS PROGRAM BRINGS HEIGHTENED RELEVANCE TO STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND REFLECTS MSM'S GOAL OF GRADUATING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE ARTIST-CITIZENS. THE MISSION OF THE CENTER FOR CAREER READINESS & COMMUNITY IMPACT IS TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AS THEY PURSUE PERSONALLY MEANINGFUL CAREER PATHS, TO PROVIDE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND TO REFLECT OUR GOAL OF GRADUATING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE ARTIST-CITIZENS. IN ADDITION TO CAREER-ADVANCING COURSEWORK, THE PROGRAM'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: A SERIES OF ARTS PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL K-12 SCHOOLS AND MEMORY CARE FACILITIES; MSM PERFORMANCES FOR VISITING SCHOOL GROUPS; TEACHING PLACEMENTS FOR CCRCI PARTICIPANTS; A DYNAMIC CALENDAR OF SETTING THE STAGE WORKSHOPS, RESOURCES FOR CURRENT STUDENTS/ALUMNI (INCLUDING THE HIRE A MUSICIAN REFERRAL SERVICE, PRIVATE TEACHER DIRECTORY, AND ONLINE OPPORTUNITIES BOARD), AND ONE-ON-ONE CAREER ADVISING. IN ADDITION, THE CCRCI CONTINUES TO OVERSEE THE NEWLY EXPANDED INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT OFFERS AN ARRAY OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE STUDENTS' EDUCATION.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1947.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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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