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American Composers Forum

EIN 23-7452688 · Saint Paul, MN

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADVOCATE FOR AND SUPPORT LIVING COMPOSERS

Income
$850,749
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 42%
Employees
16
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$150,060, 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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 85% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 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. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 21 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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 (3)
  1. $987,551 spent. ARTIST SERVICES:THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS AND ADVOCATES FOR MUSIC CREATORS AT MULTIPLE POINTS IN THEIR CREATIVE LIVES. THROUGH COMMISSIONS, FUNDING, RESOURCES, AND ADVANCEMENT, THE ORGANIZATION CULTIVATES A COMPOSER-CENTERED ECOSYSTEM FOR LIVING MUSIC. GRANTS PROVIDE SEED MONEY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW WORK, UNRESTRICTED MONEY FOR MID-CAREER ARTISTS, AND COMMISSION SUPPORT.
  2. MEDIATHE ORGANIZATION IS THE HOME OF INNOVA RECORDINGS, A MUSIC LABEL THAT REPRESENTS A DIVERSE MIX OF WORK BY LIVING ARTISTS. DISTRIBUTED THROUGH NAXOS USA, THE CATALOG NUMBERS OVER 800 TITLES AND IS FREQUENTLY FEATURED ON LEADING DIGITAL PLATFORMS SUCH AS ITUNES, APPLE MUSIC AND SPOTIFY. ACF IS ALSO HOME TO MULTIMEDIA HUB I CARE IF YOU LISTEN, WHICH PRESENTS A BLEND OF MUSIC CRITICISM, ARTIST PROFILES, ESSAYS, AND PLAYLISTS, AND ATTRACTS 18,000 MONTHLY PAGE VIEWS.
  3. ARTIST EQUITYGUIDED BY THE PUBLISHED "COMMITMENT TO RACIAL EQUITY," ACF HAS BEEN PURSUING FIVE-YEAR GOALS TO ACHIEVE GREATER RACIAL EQUITY ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION. WITHIN THE RACIAL EQUITY FRAMEWORK, ADDITIONAL INEQUITIES ARE ADDRESSED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS, AND ABILITIES. PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS THAT BRING GREATER AWARENESS TO THESE INEQUITIES - AND MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH DIVERSE LIVING ARTISTS - CONTRIBUTE TO ADVANCING THE WORK IN THE FIELD.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1976.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.

    California's Attorney General lists its registration as revoked as of December 31, 1990. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 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.