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Chamber Music America Inc

EIN 13-2934575 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHAMBER MUSIC AMERICA'S MISSION IS TO DEVELOP, SUPPORT, AND STRENGTHEN THE CHAMBER MUSIC COMMUNITY. CMA SERVES AS THE HUB OF THIS FIELD, COMPRISED OF INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, INDEPENDENT MUSICAL ENSEMBLES, VOLUNTEER AND INSTITUTIONAL PRESENTERS, AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE PERFORMANCE AND PRESENTATION OF SMALL ENSEMBLE MUSIC.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.7 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
13
Volunteers
36
Highest pay
$189,683, 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: 60 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 76% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

    33 of 33 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 (4)
  1. $1.8 million spent. GRANT PROGRAMSSIX CMA GRANT PROGRAMS, IN WHICH FUNDING IS GIVEN TO ENSEMBLES AND CONCERT PRESENTERS, AWARDED 68 GRANTS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:1) CLASSICAL COMMISSIONING: 4 GRANTS WERE AWARDED FOR THE CREATION OFNEW CHAMBER WORKS IN THE CLASSICAL TRADITION; 2) NEW JAZZ WORKS: 15 GRANTS WERE AWARDED FOR THE CREATION, PERFORMANCE,AND RECORDING OF NEW WORKS FOR SMALL ENSEMBLES IN THE JAZZ IDIOM;3) PRESENTER CONSORTIUM FOR JAZZ: 18 GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO FIVEPRESENTER CONSORTIUMS TO SUPPORT MULTIPLE PERFORMANCES BY JAZZ ENSEMBLES;4) ARTISTIC PROJECTS: 17 GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL ENSEMBLES AND PRESENTERS BASED IN THE FIVE BOROUGHS OF NEW YORK CITY WITH OPERATING BUDGETS UNDER $250,0005) PERFORMANCE PLUS: 14 GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO FEMALE-LED JAZZ ENSEMBLES TO WORK WITH ARTIST-EDUCATORS AND PRODUCE DEMO RECORDINGS TO EXPAND THEIR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.6) ENSEMBLE FORWARD: 0 GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO YOUNG CLASSICAL ENSEMBLES BASED IN THE FIVE BOROUGHS OF NEW YORK CITY TO WORK WITH ESTABLISHED CHAMBER MUSIC COACHES TO DEVELOP THEIR DISTINCTIVE AND COHESIVE ENSEMBLE SOUND AS THEY BUILD THEIR CAREERS.
  2. $272,940 spent. CHAMBER MUSIC MAGAZINETO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK OF CHAMBER ENSEMBLES AND PRESENTERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, AND TO KEEP THE FILED INFORMED OF NEWS WITHIN AND BEYOND THE CHAMBER MUSIC COMMUNITY, CMA PUBLISHES "CHAMBER MUSIC" MAGAZINE QUARTERLY. RECEIVING THE MAGAZINE IS A BENEFIT OF MEMBERSHIP IN CMA.
  3. $475,614 spent. NATIONAL CONFERENCECMA PRODUCES AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE EACH JANUARY THAT BRINGS THE MEMBERS OF THE FIELD TOGETHER FOR A WEEKEND OF LEARNING, SHARING BEST PRACTICES, SHOWCASE PDERFORMANCES, AND CONCERTS.
  4. $437,241 spent. MEMBER SERVICES, WEBSITE, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, RESEARCH & ADVOCACY, NATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC MONTH, AND NETWORKING EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

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 June 1978.

    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.