Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO OFFER ACCESSIBLE, HIGH-QUALITY PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATION THAT SPARKS PERSONAL GROWTH AND BUILDS INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES. ITS VISION IS TO TRANSFORM PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATION IN AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.
- Income
- $4.2 million
- Spending
- $4.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- -1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 65%
- Employees
- 244
- Volunteers
- 45
- Highest pay
- $135,940, 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
Weak: 21 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 87% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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.
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $1.3 million spent. THE PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL IS A LEADING EDUCATIONAL CENTER THAT OFFERS PRIVATE LESSONS AND GROUP CLASSES FOR CHILDREN, TEENS, AND ADULTS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS. STUDENTS PERFORM MULTIPLE TIMES EACH YEAR AND THERE ARE PROGRAMS FOR EXTENDED LEARNING THROUGH CLASSES AND ENSEMBLES. PAS ALSO HOLDS MASTER CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO KEEP STUDENTS ENGAGED AND CHALLENGED. WHAT SETS PAS APART IS ITS BREADTH OF CLASSES AND THE VARIETY OF PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED. FROM ASPIRING YOUNG ACTORS STARTING WITH THE BASICS, TO SEASONED MUSICIANS LOOKING TO HONE PERFORMANCE SKILLS, THERE IS A CLASS FOR EVERYONE. PAS PROGRAMMING INCLUDES INSTRUMENTAL AND VOCAL INSTRUCTION, AND GROUP CLASSES FOR CHILDREN, TEENS, AND ADULTS. GROUP COURSE TOPICS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS INCLUDE FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSICAL THEATER PERFORMANCE, THEATER AND ACTING, VOCAL TECHNIQUE, AND MORE. GROUP COURSE TOPICS FOR ADULTS INCLUDE SONG AND VIDEO PRODUCTION, ACTING, ENSEMBLE PLAYING, AND MORE. IN BOTH PRIVATE AND GROUP LESSONS, PAS INSTRUCTORS PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION. WE KEEP OUR CLASS SIZES SMALL AND OUR FACULTY MAKES SURE THAT TECHNIQUE AND REPERTOIRE ARE AGE AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE.
- $1.1 million spent. THE NEW JERSEY YOUTH SYMPHONY (NJYS) IS A PREMIER PROVIDER OF ORCHESTRAL TRAINING FOR 550+ STUDENT MUSICIANS IN GRADES 3-12 FROM 12 COUNTIES IN NEW JERSEY. NJYS SETS THE STANDARD FOR EXCELLENCE THROUGH 15 ENSEMBLES LED BY RENOWNED CONDUCTORS. IN 2023, NJYS CELEBRATED ITS 45TH SEASON WITH PERFORMANCES AT VENUES INCLUDING NJPAC AND UNION COUNTY PAC. NJYS OFFERS A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ENSURING THAT ALL GIFTED ARTISTS CAN PARTICIPATE REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL NEED. BEYOND PERFORMANCE, NJYS FOSTERS A LIFELONG COMMUNITY OF MUSICIANS, WITH MANY ALUMNI PURSUING PROFESSIONAL CAREERS OR SUPPORTING THE ARTS AS ADULTS. NJYS ALSO PROVIDES FREE EDUCATION CONCERTS FOR OVER 1,000 LOCAL ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ANNUALLY.
- $789,027 spent. PATERSON MUSIC PROJECT (PMP), AN EL SISTEMA PROGRAM, PROVIDES TUITION-FREE, HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUMENTAL INSTRUCTION TO CHILDREN IN PATERSON. THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES MUSICAL EXCELLENCE, THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE SKILLS THROUGH ENSEMBLE-BASED LEARNING, AND A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY. BY INTRODUCING CHILDREN TO MUSIC AT A YOUNG AGE AND SUPPORTING THEM AS THEY PROGRESS, INCLUDING ACCESS TO PRIVATE LESSONS, PMP HELPS STUDENTS BUILD ESSENTIAL SKILLS SUCH AS TEAMWORK, FOCUS, CONFIDENCE, AND LEADERSHIP. PMP STUDENTS STUDY A PRIMARY INSTRUMENT AND PARTICIPATE IN ENSEMBLE PRACTICE AND INSTRUMENTAL SECTIONALS 4 HOURS/WEEK FOR 30 WEEKS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. STUDENTS FROM PMP, AS WELL AS ANY YOUTH MUSICIAN IN PATERSON, CAN ALSO PARTICIPATE IN PMP'S SATURDAY PROGRAM AT PS16. THIS FREE PROGRAM IS OFFERED FOR 3 HOURS/WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. STUDENTS ARE GROUPED INTO CITY-WIDE STRING, BAND, GUITAR, PERCUSSION, JAZZ, AND LATIN ENSEMBLES AND CHAMBER GROUPS. PMP ALSO PROVIDES SUMMER CAMP, TRAVEL TO SPECIAL CONFERENCES, AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.
- $354,281 spent. NEW JERSEY YOUTH CHORUS (NJYC) WAS FOUNDED IN 1992 AS A PREMIERE, AUDITIONED CHORAL PROGRAM, AND SERVES 190 CHILDREN IN GRADES 3-12 IN 5 SEPARATE ENSEMBLES. THE ENSEMBLES ARE PRIMO CORO (GIRLS AND BOYS IN GRADES 3-5), COR AMICI (BOYS IN GRADES 6-8), SOLA VOCE (GIRLS IN GRADES 6-8), CAMERATA (BOYS IN GRADES 9-12), AND CORISTE (GIRLS IN GRADES 9-12). NJYC PROVIDES A UNIQUE MUSICAL EDUCATION THAT ENCOURAGES A LOVE AND APPRECIATION OF CHORAL MUSIC WHILE NURTURING PERSONAL GROWTH AND CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH COMMUNITY. NJYC OFFERS A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ENSURING THAT ALL GIFTED ARTISTS CAN PARTICIPATE REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL NEED. CHORISTERS PERFORM FREQUENTLY WITH MANY PROFESSIONAL ENSEMBLES, INCLUDING THE NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND CANADIAN BRASS. ADDITIONALLY, NJYC WAS A FEATURED CHOIR AT THE 2008, 2012, 2016 AND 2026 AMERICAN CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION'S EASTERN DIVISION CONFERENCE, AND THE ONLY CHILDREN'S CHOIR TO BE INVITED TO SING AT CHORUS AMERICA'S 2009 NATIONAL CONFERENCE.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1986.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.