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American Composers Orchestra Inc

EIN 13-2838450 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PERFORMANCE, PRESENTATION, COMMISSIONING, RECORDING AND DISSEMINATION OF AMERICAN MUSIC FOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA; PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR AMERICAN COMPOSERS; AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES ABOUT AMERICAN MUSIC FOR STUDENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
41
Volunteers
26
Highest pay
$223,438, president & ceo

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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 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 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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

    27 of 28 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 (3)
  1. $1.3 million spent. CONCERT PERFORMANCES FEATURING AMERICAN COMPOSERSACO'S 24-25 SEASON FEATURING ITS ENSEMBLE INCLUDED TWO CONCERTS CARNEGIE HALL'S ZANKEL HALL, TWO PERFORMANCES AT BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC, AND EARSHOT READINGS WITH ACO IN NYC AT MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC. ACO SERVED 5,238 AUDIENCE MEMBERS THROUGH LIVE PERFORMANCES. DIGITAL EVENTS ARE ACCESSIBLE ON ACO'S YOUTUBE PAGE, WHICH GARNERED 12.2K VIEWS IN THE PAST YEAR. ACO ALSO RELEASED THE PREMIERE RECORDING OF AN AMERICAN SOLDIER, THE FIRST OF 10 COMMERCIAL PROJECTS WITH PLATOON, APPLE'S IN-HOUSE RECORDING LABEL.
  2. $227,848 spent. EARSHOT: OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING COMPOSERS AMERICAN COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA'S EARSHOT COMPOSER ADVANCEMENT INITIATIVES FORM THE FIRST ONGOING, SYSTEMATIC PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN COMPOSERS AND ORCHESTRAS ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL. THROUGH ORCHESTRAL READINGS, COLABORATORY RESIDENCIES, CONSORTIUM COMMISSIONS, CONCERTS, RECORDINGS, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, EARSHOT ENSURES A VIBRANT MUSICAL FUTURE BY INVESTING IN CREATIVITY TODAY. ACO PRODUCED EIGHT VIRTUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEBINARS ON TOPICS INCLUDING NETWORKING, SELF-PUBLISHING, COMMISSIONING AGREEMENTS AND CONSORTIA, ORCHESTRATION, FUNDRAISING, PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND MORE, SERVING 800 INDIVIDUALS. ACO'S EARSHOT READINGS SERVED 22 FEATURED ARTISTS VIA ITS OWN JUNE READINGS IN NYC, AND FOUR OTHERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS IN TEXAS, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, AND OHIO. COLABORATORY RESIDENCIES PROVIDED COMMISSIONS AND WORKSHOPS TO 8 ARTISTS CREATING FIVE WORKS. EIGHT COMPOSERS HAD WORKS PUBLISHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BOOSEY & HAWKES. IN 2024-25, EARSHOT SERVED 51 ARTISTS WHO SELF-IDENTIFY AS 76% BIPOC AND 51% FEMALE OR NONBINARY.
  3. $123,391 spent. MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE 2024-25 SEASON, ACO SERVED 1,508 NYCPS MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (309 DIRECT, 1,199 INDIRECT) THROUGH 9 IN-SCHOOL AND AFTER-SCHOOL CLASSES. SEQUENTIAL PROGRAMS INCLUDED SONIC SPARK ENSEMBLES, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL DIRECT INSTRUMENTAL AND VOICE INSTRUCTION; COMPOSE YOURSELF, HIGH SCHOOL COMPOSITION CLASSES; SONIC SPARK LAB, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL COMPOSITION AND CREATIVITY CLASSES. PROGRAMS INCLUDED WEEKLY SCHOOL-BASED CLASSES AND PROJECT-BASED CREATIVE CAPACITY BUILDING LED BY TEACHING ARTISTS, AND DIRECT MUSIC COMPOSITION INSTRUCTION WITH ACO'S EDUCATION DIRECTOR. OF THOSE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SONIC SPARK, 20% ARE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, 19% ARE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, 73% RECEIVE FREE OR SUBSIDIZED SCHOOL MEALS, AND 86% ARE BIPOC/ALAANA.

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 October 13, 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 March 1976.

    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 October 21, 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.