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Bloomingdale School of Music Inc

EIN 13-2562192 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY MUSIC EDUCATION FOR ANYONE WHO SEEKS IT, REGARDLESS OF ECONOMIC STATUS, ABILITY LEVEL, RACE, ETHNICITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$3.6 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
85
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$159,560, executive 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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

    20 of 20 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. $2.7 million spent. FOR OVER 60 YEARS AT BLOOMINGDALE, OUR CORE COMMUNITY HAS STRETCHED FROM W. 86TH STREET TO W. 125TH STREET, FROM CENTRAL PARK TO THE HUDSON RIVER, WHILE OUR SIGNATURE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS DRAW FROM FOUR OF THE BOROUGHS OF NYC. OUR STUDENTS COME FROM AREAS AS CLOSE AS NEXT DOOR AND AS FAR AS BROOKLYN AND THE BRONX. ADDITIONALLY, WITH ONLINE PROGRAMMING, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO EXTEND OUR REACH AS FAR AS UPSTATE NEW YORK AND JAPAN. OUR FAMILIES FORM A NETWORK, HELPING THEIR LOVED ONES GET TO AND FROM LESSONS, ENCOURAGING REGULAR PRACTICE, ATTENDING OUR COMMUNITY CONCERTS, AND ENJOYING THEIR OWN MUSICAL EXPERIENCE THROUGH BLOOMINGDALE.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)BSM'S AFTER SCHOOL AND WEEKEND PROGRAM PROVIDES PRIVATE AND GROUP INSTRUCTION TO APPROXIMATELY 780 STUDENTS OF ALL AGES WEEKLY ON MORE THAN 20 INSTRUMENTS, INCLUDING CELLO, CLARINET, FLUTE, GUITAR, PERCUSSION, PIANO, SAXOPHONE, TROMBONE, VIOLIN, AND VOICE, AS WELL AS SEVERAL ENSEMBLE OPPORTUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROGRAM OFFERS AN EARLY CHILDHOOD TRACK, WITH VARIOUS CLASSES UTILIZING DALCROZE AND ORFF APPROACHES FOR CHILDREN AGED 3 MONTHS TO 6 YEARS. BSM'S FACULTY IS COMPRISED OF EXEMPLARY INSTRUCTORS, COACHES, AND MENTORS, WITH 80% HOLDING ADVANCED DEGREES IN MUSIC. THE MUSIC ACCESS PROJECT (MAP) IS A FULL SCHOLARSHIP, MULTI-YEAR PRE-COLLEGE CONSERVATORY TRAINING PROGRAM FOR TALENTED LOW-INCOME AND UNDERSERVED STUDENTS. ANNUALLY, MAP SERVES BETWEEN 18 TO 21 STUDENTS SELECTED BY AUDITION. STUDENTS RECEIVE A COMPREHENSIVE MUSIC EDUCATION INCLUDING A 60-MINUTE PRIVATE LESSON, 90-MINUTE CHAMBER MUSIC COACHING, WEEKLY ORCHESTRA OR JAZZ ENSEMBLE REHEARSAL, THEORY CLASSES, AND SPECIAL MONTHLY WORKSHOPS. ROUGHLY 200 MAP ALUMNI HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM, AND 98% HAVE GONE ON TO STUDY AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL, MANY FINDING WORK AS PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS, ARTS ADMINISTRATORS, AND MUSIC TEACHERS IN THE NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. PROJECT BRIDGE IS A PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO SUPPORT NYC PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN EXISTING INSTRUMENTAL PROGRAMS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS. PARTICIPATING STUDENTS RECEIVE A FREE WEEKLY 45-MINUTE PRIVATE INSTRUMENT LESSON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AT BLOOMINGDALE. INSTRUCTION IS DESIGNED TO REINFORCE AND SUPPORT THE WORK BEING DONE BY THE PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER. PB SERVES BETWEEN 10 AND 15 STUDENTS ANNUALLY. THE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM IS A ONE TO THREE-YEAR INTENSIVE PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR YOUNG PIANISTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN EVENTUALLY ATTENDING A PRE-COLLEGE MUSIC PROGRAM SUCH AS BSM'S MUSIC ACCESS PROJECT. STUDENTS RECEIVE WEEKLY PRIVATE INSTRUCTIONS, CHAMBER ENSEMBLE OPPORTUNITIES, MUSIC THEORY CLASSES, AND PERFORMANCE COURSES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. BLOOMINGDALE TRAINING PROGRAM: BLOOMINGDALE TRAINING PROGRAM (BTP) IS A COMPREHENSIVE MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM WITH PIANO, STRINGS, AND GUITAR TRACKS. IT IS AN INTENSIVE PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR STUDENTS AGES 8 TO 17 WHO ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING THE MOST OF THEIR MUSIC EDUCATION BY ENHANCING THEIR PRIVATE LESSON STUDIES WITH CHAMBER MUSIC, THEORY, AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS. BTP OFFERS SLIDING SCALE DISCOUNTS BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED, REMOVING BARRIERS PREVENTING STUDENTS FROM PARTICIPATING. BTP AIMS TO STRENGTHEN STUDENTS' MUSICAL ABILITIES AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE REQUIRED TOOLS TO PUSH THEM TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT. BSM'S FREE FACULTY CONCERT SERIES PRESENTS 20 TO 25 FREE CONCERTS EACH YEAR, SERVING AUDIENCES OF OVER 2,000 PEOPLE PER YEAR. THESE CONCERTS, CURATED AND PERFORMED BY BSM'S FACULTY OF PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS, OFFER A RICH VARIETY OF FREE, HIGH-QUALITY PERFORMANCES THAT ARE ENTERTAINING AND INFORMATIVE, PRESENTING A WIDE RANGE OF MUSICAL STYLES AND TRADITIONS. CONCERTS ARE HOSTED FREE OF CHARGE AT BSM'S HOME ON WEST 108TH STREET, ALLOWING ANYONE IN NYC TO EXPERIENCE LIVE MUSIC IN AN INTIMATE COMMUNITY SETTING. THE BLOOMINGDALE STUDENT NEW MUSIC PROJECT IS A SERIES OF COMMISSIONS, COLLABORATIONS, WEB FEATURES, AND PERFORMANCES THAT PROMOTE THE PROCESS OF CREATING ORIGINAL MUSIC AMONG CHILDREN. THE PROJECT COMMISSIONS A PROFESSIONAL COMPOSER TO CREATE NEW WORKS FOR CHILDREN; IN ADDITION, YOUNG COMPOSERS AT BLOOMINGDALE, SOME AS YOUNG AS SIX YEARS OLD, WRITE MUSIC THAT IS PLAYED BY OTHER CHILDREN OR FACULTY AT THE PROJECT'S ANNUAL CULMINATING CONCERT, ALBUM FOR THE YOUNG. FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND COMPOSERS, THE STUDENT NEW MUSIC PROJECT OPENS UP A WINDOW INTO THE OTHER'S WORKING METHODS AND CREATIVE PROCESS. BSMNY.ORG IS A MISSION-DRIVEN, COMMUNITY-ORIENTED WEBSITE THAT EXTENDS BLOOMINGDALE'S MISSION TO THE INTERNET. LAST YEAR, THE SITE REGISTERED OVER AN AVERAGE OF 6,000 WEEKLY VISITS WHERE PEOPLE REGISTERED FOR LESSONS, BROWSED FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES AND PERFORMANCE CALENDARS, LEARNED ABOUT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS INTERACTIVELY, AND READ FEATURES HIGHLIGHTING SPECIFIC MUSICAL TOPICS OF INTEREST.

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 June 1966.

    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.