Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Diller-Quaile School of Music Inc

EIN 13-1843420 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, DILLER-QUAILE HAS OFFERED AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE MUSIC CAN FLOURISH IN ALL ITS ASPECTS, ENRICHING THE LIVES OF STUDENTS OF ALL AGES AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS. THE BELIEF THAT MUSIC IS A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF HUMAN LIFE IS AT THE CENTER OF THE SCHOOL'S PHILOSOPHY AND MISSION. DILLER-QUAILE VALUES ARTISTRY, MUSICIANSHIP, CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION, AND COMMITMENT; OFFERS INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP MUSIC INSTRUCTION, AS WELL AS ENSEMBLE AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES, TO STUDENTS OF ALL LEVELS AND AGES; FOSTERS MUSICIANSHIP AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPRESSIVITY THROUGH RESPONSIVE TEACHING; INSPIRES ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXCELLENCE, AND FURTHERS INNOVATIVE THINKING THROUGH TEACHER TRAINING COURSES, PROGRAMS, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES; PROMOTES CULTURAL VIBRANCY AND LIFELONG ENGAGEMENT IN THE ARTS THROUGH STUDENT CONCERTS, PERFORMANCES BY FACULTY AND GUEST ARTISTS, MASTER CLASSES, AND EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.

Income
$4.5 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
17.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 61%
Employees
107
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$177,212, cfo

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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

    12 of 12 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 (2)
  1. $3.0 million spent. THE DILLER-QUAILE SCHOOL OF MUSIC IS A VIBRANT COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL LOCATED ON THE UES OF MANHATTAN, PROVIDING EXEMPLARY EARLY CHILDHOOD AND INSTRUMENTAL & VOCAL PROGRAMS, LESSONS AND WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS, TEACHER TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. DURING THE 2024-2025 YEAR, DILLER-QUAILE WELCOMED JENNIFER PATTEN AS ITS NEW EXECTUIVE DIRECTOR, AND BEGAN EXPLORING FRESH OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE PLANNING WHILE ALIGNING TO LONG-STANDING VALUES. THROUGHOUT 2024-2025, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM CONTINUED TO OPERATE ON A TRIMESTER SYSTEM WITH APPROXIMATELY 35-36 CLASSES PER WEEK AND OFFERED AN EXTENSIVE SELECTION OF COURSES FOR INTRODUCING SMALL GROUPS OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO THE JOYS OF MUSIC AND VISUAL ART BY ENGAGING IN DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE GROUP MUSIC EXPERIENCES. STUDENTS WERE GIVEN THE FOUNDATION FOR A COMPREHENSIVE MUSIC EDUCATION AND THE TOOLS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES ARTISTICALLY. KEY TO THE DILLER-QUAILE APPROACH IS THE COLLABORATION AMONG TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, WHICH CREATES A UNIQUE CHILD-CENTERED MUSICAL ENVIRONMENT WITHIN EACH CLASS SESSION. CLASSES FEATURED PIANISTS WHO IMPROVISED ACCOMPANIMENTS IN A VARIETY OF STYLES IN RESPONSE TO THE CHILDREN'S SINGING AND MOVEMENT, THEREBY FOSTERING A MUSICALLY CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT. ENROLLMENT INCREASED FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND CONTINUED TO INCREASE THROUGHOUT 2024-2025. IN-PERSON RUG CONCERTS, DESIGNED FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, WERE HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND ENJOYED BY LARGE AUDIENCES. THE INSTRUMENTAL AND VOCAL DEPARTMENT PROVIDED BEGINNING TO ADVANCED INSTRUMENT AND VOICE STUDY THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMS, WEEKLY CLASSES AND ENSEMBLE INSTRUCTION, AND THE HIGH SCHOOL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM. THE SCHOOL PROVIDED A ROBUST CALENDAR OF STUDENT CONCERTS AND PERFORMANCES. THE TRADITIONS AND ARTISTIC APPROACH TO TEACHING CULTIVATED BY FOUNDERS ANGELA DILLER AND ELIZABETH QUAILE, SHAPED THE SCHOOL'S PROGRAMS. DILLER-QUAILE FACULTY GUIDED STUDENTS THROUGH AN APPROACH UNITED BY THE PEDAGOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF USING REPERTOIRE OF ENDURING QUALITY, TEACHING TECHNIQUE MUSICALLY, AND LEADING STUDENTS TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE STRUCTURE OF MUSIC. THIS INTEGRATED APPROACH TO MUSIC EDUCATION ENABLED THE SCHOOL'S SKILLED FACULTY TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE EMERGING ARTISTRY IN EACH STUDENT. DILLER-QUAILE'S INSTRUMENT AND VOICE CURRICULUM PROVIDED STUDENTS WITH A SEQUENCED LEARNING EXPERIENCE. TAILORED TO THE INDIVIDUAL INSTRUMENT OR VOICE, THE CURRICULUM FOCUSED ON BUILDING TECHNICAL SKILLS AS A FOUNDATION FOR EXPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE. ROOTED IN THE TEACHING PHILOSOPHY OF THE SCHOOL'S FOUNDERS, THE MUSICIANSHIP CURRICULUM INCORPORATED THE APPROACHES OF PEDAGOGUES SUCH AS EMILE JAQUES-DALCROZE, ZOLTAN KODALY, AND CARL ORFF. INSTRUMENTAL AND VOCAL DEPARTMENT ENROLLMENT INCREASED FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AND MUSIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONTINUED TO FLOURISH. CAMERATA-AN ADULT CHAMBER ORCHESTRA-WELCOMED FULL AUDIENCES TO FALL AND SPRING CONCERTS; AND ADULTS WERE ENGAGED IN WEEKEND CHAMBER MUSIC WORKSHOPS. THE DILLER-QUAILE SCHOOL OF MUSIC'S-MUSIC FOR ALL LIBRARY-A COLLABORATIVE, ACCESSIBLE WEB-BASED RESOURCE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS-REMAINED AVAILABLE AND STOCKED WITH REPERTOIRE, RECORDINGS, ACTIVITIES, AND SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES. THE LIBRARY IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT TEACHERS-OF ANY EXPERIENCE LEVEL-WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AESTHETICALLY BEAUTIFUL MUSIC IN GROUP CHILDCARE AND EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS AGES BIRTH TO FIVE. THE DILLER-QUAILE SCHOOL OF MUSIC IS ACCREDITED BY THE ACCREDITING COMMISSION FOR COMMUNITY AND PRECOLLEGIATE ARTS SCHOOLS, IS AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONAL MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF MUSIC AND IS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL GUILD FOR COMMUNITY ARTS EDUCATION.
  2. $11,114 spent. THROUGH ITS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, DILLER-QUAILE ADVANCED ITS MISSION AND FURTHERED ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NEW YORK CITY COMMUNITY. IN SUMMER 2024 DILLER-QUAILE CELEBRATED THE 52ND YEAR OF THE SUMMER MUSIC PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. THE SCHOOL OFFERED AN IN-PERSON PROGRAM AND AN ONLINE PROGRAM. DILLER-QUAILE PARTNERED WITH FOUR NEW YORK CITY EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS FROM UPPER MANHATTAN FOR THE IN-PERSON PROGRAM SERVING 123 CHILDREN, AND 45 NEW YORK CITY EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS REPRESENTING ALL FIVE BOROUGHS FOR THE ONLINE PROGRAM, SERVING 102 TEACHERS, 3,346 CHILDREN, AND 28 DISTRICTS. PARTICIPANTS IN THE ONLINE PROGRAM JOINED FOR EIGHT PRE-RECORDED ONLINE MUSIC CLASSES SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, AND INCLUDED MEET THE INSTRUMENT GUESTS. THE SUMMER CULMINATED WITH THE 52ND FESTIVAL OF INTERNATIONAL FOLK MUSIC HELD ONLINE IN AUGUST. THE FESTIVAL INCLUDED THE SHARING AND SINGING OF MUSIC FROM THE ENTIRE PROGRAM. THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR WAS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE FOR THE PRESCHOOL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM AS IT MARKED A FULL RETURN TO ONSITE INSTRUCTION. TEACHING ARTISTS PROVIDED MUSIC INSTRUCTION TO A LONG-STANDING PROGRAM PARTNER, SERVING 71 CHILDREN AGES 2 TO 4 YEARS AND 17 TEACHERS. TEACHERS AND DIRECTORS FROM PARTICIPATING CENTERS AND SCHOOLS WERE PROVIDED WITH INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS TO DILLER-QUAILE'S MUSIC FOR ALL LIBRARY. ADDITIONALLY, THE SCHOOL CONTINUED TO PROVIDE WEEKLY, ONLINE, TEACHER TRAINING COURSES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC FOR TEACHERS IN NEW YORK CITY EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS, USING THE LIBRARY AS THE CURRICULAR SUPPORT. THROUGH THE CLASSICAL ACCESS PROGRAM, DILLER-QUAILE MUSICIANS PROVIDED INTERACTIVE, ENGAGING CHAMBER MUSIC PRESENTATIONS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE WERE FIVE PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS AND A TOTAL OF FIFTEEN IN-PERSON PRESENTATIONS. DILLER-QUAILE WORKED WITH EACH PARTNERING ORGANIZATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO SHAPE THE CONTENT. EACH PRESENTATION WAS CUSTOMIZED TO ACCOMODATE DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS AND GRADES, MUSICAL NEEDS AND INTERESTS, AND THE PARTNERING SCHOOL'S CURRICULUM. CHAMBER WORKS INCLUDED INFORMATION ON THE COMPOSERS' LIVES AND COMPOSITIONS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, MUSIC EDUCATION WAS PROVIDED TO 903 CHILDREN AGES 2 THROUGH 11, 40 SENIORS/LIFELONG LEARNERS, AND 65 TEACHERS.

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 April 1959.

    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.