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Del Sol Performing Arts Organization

EIN 20-1748898 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF CONTEMPORARY CHAMBER MUSIC AND MAKE THIS ART FORM MORE ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE DEL SOL STRING QUARTET'S CONCERT PERFORMANCES, COMMISSIONING OF COMPOSERS, RECORDINGS AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH.

Income
$250,013
Spending
$273,156
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
14.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
5
Volunteers
1
Highest pay
$46,179, assistant se

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (5)
  1. $155,300 spent. CONCERT PERFORMANCES: IN 2024 THE DEL SOL STRING QUARTET PERFORMED 57 CONCERTS (WITH 17 PREMIERES), CONTINUING TO BRING ADVENTUROUS NEW CHAMBER MUSIC TO THE PUBLIC. THESE INCLUDED LOCAL CONCERTS IN SAN FRANCISCO AND THE BAY AREA, AS WELL AS NATIONAL TOURING CONCERTS. HIGHLIGHTS OF DEL SOL'S 2024 CONCERTS INCLUDE: 1)THREE SOLD-OUT PERFORMANCES IN JANUARY OF A NEW, MULTI-MEDIA PRODUCTION OF HUANG RUO'S "ANGEL ISLAND" FOR VOICES & STRING QUARTET, WITH THE CHOIR OF TRINITY WALL STREET, AT BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC IN BROOKLYN, NY. THIS POWERFUL PIECE, COMMISSIONED BY DEL SOL AND PREMIERED IN SAN FRANCISCO IN 2021, EXPLORES OUR NATION'S DISCRIMINATORY IMMIGRATION HISTORY THROUGH THE POEMS CARVED BY CHINESE IMMIGRANTS INTO THE BARRACKS WALLS WHILE DETAINED ON ANGEL ISLAND DURING THE YEARS OF THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT. 2)TWO KEYNOTE PERFORMANCES IN APRIL FOR THE ASIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC INITIATIVE CONFERENCE AT ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY IN LOS ANGELES; AND COMMUNITY CONCERTS IN JULY IN SANTA FE AND ALBUQUERQUE, NM, IN CONNECTION WITH SANTA FE OPERA'S PRODUCTION OF "THE RIGHTEOUS," AN OPERA BY GREGORY SPEARS. 3)THE FIRST YEAR OF OUR ANGEL ISLAND CONCERT SERIES, WITH FIVE CONCERTS PERFORMED IN THE DETENTION BARRACKS OF THE HISTORIC IMMIGRATION CENTER ON THE ISLAND. DEL SOL ALSO PERFORMED SEVERAL OTHER LOCAL CONCERTS IN SAN FRANCISCO, INCLUDING FOR THE CITY'S 1ST CAMBODIAN DAY CELEBRATION IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF ATTENDEES, AS WELL AS PERFORMING AT A VARIETY OF VENUES IN OTHER BAY AREA CITIES. CONCERT PERFORMANCES: IN 2024 THE DEL SOL STRING QUARTET PERFORMED 57 CONCERTS (WITH 17 PREMIERES), CONTINUING TO BRING ADVENTUROUS NEW CHAMBER MUSIC TO THE PUBLIC. THESE INCLUDED LOCAL CONCERTS IN SAN FRANCISCO AND THE BAY AREA, AS WELL AS NATIONAL TOURING CONCERTS. HIGHLIGHTS OF DEL SOL'S 2024 CONCERTS INCLUDE: 1)THREE SOLD-OUT PERFORMANCES IN JANUARY OF A NEW, MULTI-MEDIA PRODUCTION OF HUANG RUO'S "ANGEL ISLAND" FOR VOICES & STRING QUARTET, WITH THE CHOIR OF TRINITY WALL STREET, AT BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC IN BROOKLYN, NY. THIS POWERFUL PIECE, COMMISSIONED BY DEL SOL AND PREMIERED IN SAN FRANCISCO IN 2021, EXPLORES OUR NATION'S DISCRIMINATORY IMMIGRATION HISTORY THROUGH THE POEMS CARVED BY CHINESE IMMIGRANTS INTO THE BARRACKS WALLS WHILE DETAINED ON ANGEL ISLAND DURING THE YEARS OF THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT. 2)TWO KEYNOTE PERFORMANCES IN APRIL FOR THE ASIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC INITIATIVE CONFERENCE AT ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY IN LOS ANGELES; AND COMMUNITY CONCERTS IN JULY IN SANTA FE AND ALBUQUERQUE, NM, IN CONNECTION WITH SANTA FE OPERA'S PRODUCTION OF "THE RIGHTEOUS," AN OPERA BY GREGORY SPEARS. 3)THE FIRST YEAR OF OUR ANGEL ISLAND CONCERT SERIES, WITH FIVE CONCERTS PERFORMED IN THE DETENTION BARRACKS OF THE HISTORIC IMMIGRATION CENTER ON THE ISLAND. DEL SOL ALSO PERFORMED SEVERAL OTHER LOCAL CONCERTS IN SAN FRANCISCO, INCLUDING FOR THE CITY'S 1ST CAMBODIAN DAY CELEBRATION IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF ATTENDEES, AS WELL AS PERFORMING AT A VARIETY OF VENUES IN OTHER BAY AREA CITIES.
  2. $44,374 spent. EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH: IN 2024, DEL SOL'S SIGNIFICANT EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH ACTIVITIES INCLUDED: 1) COACHING FOR CHAMBERFEST, OUR ANNUAL WEEKEND WORKSHOP FOR ADULT NON- PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS, IN JANUARY IN SAN FRANCISCO; AND A WEEK OF COACHING IN JULY FOR THE SOCAL CHAMBER MUSIC WORKSHOP AT SCRIPPS COLLEGE IN CLAREMONT, CA; 2) A WEEKLONG RESIDENCY IN APRIL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CA, BERKELEY, PERFORMING AND RECORDING NEW WORKS BY GRADUATE COMPOSITION STUDENTS; 3) PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS, AND LECTURES AT SEVERAL OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS; AND 4) CONTINUING OUR COMPOSER INCUBATOR PROGRAM, MENTORING EARLY-CAREER COMPOSERS AND DEVELOPING THEIR NEW WORKS FOR FUTURE PREMIERES BY DEL SOL. EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH: IN 2024, DEL SOL'S SIGNIFICANT EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH ACTIVITIES INCLUDED: 1) COACHING FOR CHAMBERFEST, OUR ANNUAL WEEKEND WORKSHOP FOR ADULT NON- PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS, IN JANUARY IN SAN FRANCISCO; AND A WEEK OF COACHING IN JULY FOR THE SOCAL CHAMBER MUSIC WORKSHOP AT SCRIPPS COLLEGE IN CLAREMONT, CA; 2) A WEEKLONG RESIDENCY IN APRIL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CA, BERKELEY, PERFORMING AND RECORDING NEW WORKS BY GRADUATE COMPOSITION STUDENTS; 3) PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS, AND LECTURES AT SEVERAL OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS; AND 4) CONTINUING OUR COMPOSER INCUBATOR PROGRAM, MENTORING EARLY-CAREER COMPOSERS AND DEVELOPING THEIR NEW WORKS FOR FUTURE PREMIERES BY DEL SOL.
  3. $34,794 spent. COMMISSIONING OF COMPOSERS: IN 2024, DEL SOL COMMISSIONED THREE ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN COMPOSERS, THERESA WONG, VIVIAN FUNG AND MEILINA TSUI, TO COMPOSE NEW PIECES BASED ON NEW POETRY BY SAN FRANCISCO POET LAUREATE GENNY LIM. THIS COLLABORATIVE MUSIC AND POETRY PROJECT, "SONGS OF THE DIASPORA," IS SCHEDULED TO PREMIERE IN SAN FRANCISCO IN OCTOBER 2025.
  4. $26,670 spent. RECORDINGS: IN 2024, DEL SOL DEVELOPED, RECORDED AND RELEASED ITS FIRST PODCAST, "SOUNDS CURRENT," TO CONSIDERABLE ACCLAIM. THIS 4-PART PODCAST EXPLORES THE QUARTET'S CREATIVE COLLABORATION WITH COMPOSER HUANG RUO ON THEIR MULTI-YEAR ANGEL ISLAND PROJECT (SEE SECTION 4A, PARAGRAPH 1 ABOVE). THE PODCAST WAS SELECTED FOR WORLD PREMIERE IN JUNE AT THE 2024 TRIBECA FESTIVAL IN NYC AS ONE OF FOUR FINALISTS IN THEIR INDEPENDENT AUDIO STORYTELLING PROGRAM. DEL SOL'S FOUNDING VIOLIST, CHARLTON LEE, ATTENDED AND PARTICIPATED IN THE PREMIERE AND PANEL DISCUSSION AT THE FESTIVAL. "SOUNDS CURRENT" ALSO WON A GOLD SIGNAL AWARD FOR ARTISTS SHAPING CULTURE THROUGH PODCASTS.
  5. RECORDINGS: IN 2024, DEL SOL DEVELOPED, RECORDED AND RELEASED ITS FIRST PODCAST, "SOUNDS CURRENT," TO CONSIDERABLE ACCLAIM. THIS 4-PART PODCAST EXPLORES THE QUARTET'S CREATIVE COLLABORATION WITH COMPOSER HUANG RUO ON THEIR MULTI-YEAR ANGEL ISLAND PROJECT (SEE SECTION 4A, PARAGRAPH 1 ABOVE). THE PODCAST WAS SELECTED FOR WORLD PREMIERE IN JUNE AT THE 2024 TRIBECA FESTIVAL IN NYC AS ONE OF FOUR FINALISTS IN THEIR INDEPENDENT AUDIO STORYTELLING PROGRAM. DEL SOL'S FOUNDING VIOLIST, CHARLTON LEE, ATTENDED AND PARTICIPATED IN THE PREMIERE AND PANEL DISCUSSION AT THE FESTIVAL. "SOUNDS CURRENT" ALSO WON A GOLD SIGNAL AWARD FOR ARTISTS SHAPING CULTURE THROUGH PODCASTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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