Chatfield Brass Band Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Our mission is to preserve band music and continue the legacy of its performance. The library exists to collect, repair, catalog, store and make available on a loan basis all types of band music, especially music no longer being published.
- Income
- $182,614
- Spending
- $75,316
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 79%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 43
- Highest pay
- $14,553, library manager - ex officio director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 59% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 120% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 94 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (2)
- $53,955 spent. CHATFIELD MUSIC LENDING LIBRARY and ARCHIVE--The Chatfield Music Lending Library and Archive is the only one of its kind in the world today. The library has collected and cataloged 51,280 pieces of band music, many of which are no longer in print. The library lends music to bands and musicians from all over the world. The online catalog is accessible from the library website. The cataloging project continues as not all titles are yet available online. During this fiscal year the library: Loaned 680 individual titles to 416 patrons throughout the USA and foreign countries. 2,336 packages of music have gone through the scanning project. 3 volunteers worked a total of 155 hours 7 visitors
- $9,210 spent. CHATFIELD BRASS BAND--The Chatfield Brass Band is a community band based in Chatfield, MN, with a rich history and strong commitment to free community access to the arts, whether it be as a member or as the audience. With a 50 plus year history, the band remains strong and active while maintaining a visible presence in the arts communities of SE Minnesota. The band has 42 members that come from a 40 mile radius to rehearse and perform. Rehearsals are weekly during the school year. The band sponsors and administrates an 8 week "Music in the Park" free summer concert series, with the Chatfield Brass Band and guest groups. The concerts foster greater knowledge and appreciation of the wide variety of wind music and bring enjoyment to both audience and performers. Other performances include regional parades in their circus-style bandwagon, a community Christmas concert, outreach concerts at senior living centers, and performances at area communities by request. The band is part of the fabric of the community and contributes to the quality of life in our rural area. This fiscal year the 42 member band held 32 rehearsals, performed 8 concerts, and appeared in 1 parade. 4 guest groups were featured in the summer concert series. Excluding parade appearance, audience total of 940.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 April 1973.
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.