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Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia

EIN 23-7121950 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO FOSTER ARTISTRY, BEAUTY & BELONGING BY SINGING TOGETHER TO ILLUMINATE SHARED HUMAN EXPERIENCES.

Income
$528,023
Spending
$509,988
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
4
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$88,260, executive director, ex officio

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $342,387 spent. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, MENDELSSOHN CHORUS OF PHILADELPHIA (MCP) PRESENTED ITS 151ST SEASON, "IT'S TIME," WITH FIVE MAJOR PRODUCTIONS SERVING OVER 1,500 ATTENDEES. PROGRAMS INCLUDED ALL-PHILLY BIG SING (SEPTEMBER 2024), WHICH BROUGHT TOGETHER CHORAL LEADERS FROM SEVEN ORGANIZATIONS AND OVER 400 SINGERS FOR AN AFTERNOON OF COMMUNAL SINGING; MASS FOR THE ENDANGERED (OCTOBER 2024), THE PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE OF SARAH KIRKLAND SNIDER'S WORK WITH THE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA OF PHILADELPHIA; A FEAST OF CAROLS (DECEMBER 2024), FEATURING TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY WORKS INCLUDING FOUR NEW COMMISSIONS; THE SOLD-OUT NEVER ONE THING (FEBRUARY 2025); AND ON THE HORIZON (APRIL 2025), THE WORLD PREMIERE OF MELISSA DUNPHY'S CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION DEVELOPED COLLABORATIVELY WITH COMMONWEALTH YOUTH CHOIR SINGERS. MCP ALSO LAUNCHED THE JOYFUL ABUNDANCE: EMERGING ARTIST COMMISSIONING PROGRAM, PAIRING EMERGING COMPOSERS WITH POETS AND PROVIDING CASH AWARDS AND MENTORSHIP. ADDITIONALLY, MCP PERFORMED THE GLORIOUS SOUND OF CHRISTMAS WITH THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA AND EMBARKED ON A THREE-CITY CANADIAN TOUR FEATURING THE WORLD PREMIERE OF VIGIL FOR LOVE, COMMISSIONED AND WRITTEN BY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR DOMINICK DIORIO IN HONOR OF FORMER BOARD CHAIR CHARLOTTE SIBLEY.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 July 1972.

    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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