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Violin Society of America

EIN 23-7354645 · Albany, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE VIOLIN SOCIETY OF AMERICA WAS CREATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING THE ART AND SCIENCE OF MAKING, REPAIRING AND PRESERVING STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND THEIR BOWS.

Income
$673,606
Spending
$576,105
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
11.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
0
Volunteers
16

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: 89 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 172% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% 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

Strong: 91 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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.

  • 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. $362,210 spent. The Violin Society of Americas 50th Annual Convention was held in November 2024 in Indianapolis, IN. Attendees participated in seminars on the history of violin making, developments in the field, and fostered relationships between makers and performers. They were able to observe many exhibits and demonstrations of stringed instruments. More than 700 members and non-members participated, with more than 40 vendors exhibiting virtually during the meeting.
  2. $61,700 spent. The VSA provides scholarships for Lutherie students at recognized schools in the United States. Scholarship recipients are selected by the VSA Scholarship Committee.
  3. $19,695 spent. The VSA publishes the Violin Society of America Papers, a journal that includes peer-reviewed, scholarly papers on violin connoisseurship, history, and making.
  4. The VSA held its annual VSA/Oberlin workshops for professional violin makers and bow makers on the campus of Oberlin College in June and July.
  5. The CAS Forum was created in 2004 by the merger of the former Catgut Acoustical Society (CAS) and the Violin Society of America. The mission of the CAS Forum is to increase and diffuse the knowledge of musical acoustics and instruments, and to promote its practical applications. The CAS is best known for its pioneering work in the development of scientific insights and their application to the construction of new and conventional instruments of the violin family. Its founder, Carleen Hutchins, along with other CAS leaders, developed methods for tuning the free plates of an instrument before its assembly. These methods are now used by violin makers around the world.

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 July 1974.

    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.

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.