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Bach Choir of Bethlehem

EIN 24-0795385 · Bethlehem, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE BACH CHOIR OF BETHLEHEM INSPIRES AND ENRICHES PEOPLE THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE MUSIC OF J.S. BACH AND COMPOSERS WHO INFLUENCED OR WERE INFLUENCED BY BACH, BY PURSUING EXCELLENCE IN PERFORMANCE AND EDUCATION TO BUILD, STRENGTHEN, AND SUSTAIN COMMUNITIES, AND TO FOSTER A LIFE-LONG PASSION FOR THE CHORAL ARTS.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
43.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
12
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$147,497, artistic director & conductor

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 43.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 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. $755,722 spent. CONCERT SEASON - TICKETED CONCERTS: FOUNDED IN 1898 AND UNDER THE DIRECTION OF CHRISTOPHER JACKSON 2024-2025, THE BACH CHOIR, BACH FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA AND DISTINGUISHED SOLOISTS, PRESENT A CONCERT SEASON OF 24 TICKETED CONCERTS FOR MORE THAN 7,000 PEOPLE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. CONCERTS INCLUDE THE BETHLEHEM BACH FESTIVAL OVER FOUR DAYS IN MAY AS WELL AS CHRISTMAS, FAMILY, SPRING, BEL CANTO YOUTH CHORUS, AND GALA CONCERTS. THE 2024-2025 CONCERT SEASON INCLUDED IN PERSON CONCERTS AND LIVESTREAMING PERFORMANCES.
  2. $259,651 spent. EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: THE BACH CHOIR PRESENTS 18 FREE EDUCATIONAL CONCERTS WITH INFORMAL TALKS ABOUT THE MUSIC BY CONDUCTOR CHRISTOPHER JACKSON. EIGHT OF THESE CONCERTS ENTITLED "BACH TO SCHOOL" ARE PRESENTED FOR MORE THAN 5,000 STUDENTS (GRADES 3-12) EACH YEAR IN DIVERSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE LEHIGH VALLEY REGION ALONG WITH ACTIVITY BOOKS AND ADDITONAL ONLINE CONTENT. WE PRESENTED OUR TEN BACH AT NOON CONCERTS TO LIVE AUDIENCES AT CENTRAL MORAVIAN CHURCH IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BETHLEHEM AND AT ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH IN ALLENTOWN. MORE THAN 6,000 AUDIENCE MEMBERS ATTENDED THESE CONCERTS. IN 2022-2023, THE BACH CHOIR ESTABLISHED "A MUSICAL HEART" MUSIC IN HOSPICE PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH 2 HOSPITAL HOSPICE CENTERS.
  3. $79,216 spent. RECORDINGS, RESEARCH, AND PRESERVATION: TO ENHANCE ACHIEVEMENT OF ITS MISSION, THE BACH CHOIR IS HEARD IN RECORDINGS AND LIVE BROADCASTS AROUND THE WORLD, MOST RECENTLY IN A CD RECORDING OF MENDELSSOHN/BACH MATTHUS-PASSION (2024), DVD CO-PRODUCED WITH CLASSICAL KIDS - "MR BACH COMES TO CALL" (2007) AND FIVE NEW RECORDINGS ON THE ANALEKTA LABEL " MAGNIFICAT AND GLORIA" (2009), "SONGS OF HOPE" (2011), "SAINT JOHN PASSION"(2012), " A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN BETHLEHEM" (2013) AND "BACH AND HANDEL" (2018). THE WORK OF THE BACH CHOIR IS ALSO ENHANCED BY RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP, AND ARCHIVAL PRESERVATION.

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 June 1944.

    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.