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River City Brass Band

EIN 25-1401329 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF RIVER CITY BRASS IS TO ENTERTAIN, EDUCATE, AND ENGAGE AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES BY SHARING AMERICAN MUSICAL CULTURE IN THE PITTSBURGH REGION, NATIONALLY, AND INTERNATIONALLY.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
72
Volunteers
124
Highest pay
$132,153, artistic & general directo

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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

    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.

  • 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. $664,903 spent. THE CENTERPIECE OF RIVER CITY BRASS'S PROGRAMMING IS AN ANNUAL CONCERT SERIES. THIS SERIES HAS SIX CONCERTS, EACH OF WHICH IS PERFORMED IN FIVE DIFFERENT VENUES ACROSS THE REGION. THESE PERFORMANCES ARE ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE AND WELCOMING. THROUGHOUT THE SERIES, THE BAND PLAYS A VARIED REPERTOIRE OF MUSIC INCLUDING BROADWAY HITS, CELTIC, BIG BAND JAZZ, AMERICANA, ROCK 'N' ROLL AS WELL AS STANDARD BRASS BAND TUNES.
  2. $55,953 spent. THE BAND HAS A LONG HISTORY OF TOURING PERFORMANCES EACH YEAR IN PENNSYLVANIA, ACROSS THE NATION AND OVERSEAS.
  3. $52,088 spent. PART OF RIVER CITY BRASS'S MISSION TO EDUCATE INCLUDES A SCHOOL OF BRASS THAT SERVES STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12 IN THREE SEPARATE SEGMENTS: MINIKIDS (K-3), JUNIOR BRASS (4-7), AND YOUTH BRASS BAND (8-12). THESE PROGRAMS ARE HELD IN THE PENN HILLS HIGH SCHOOL AND PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE THROUGH GRANT FUNDING TO STUDENTS FROM THAT DISTRICT. ALL THREE INITIATIVES ENROLLED A TOTAL OF 80 STUDENTS LAST SEASON. WHILE THE MINIKIDS AND JUNIOR BRASS HAVE ONLY BEEN OPERATING UNDER THESE NAMES SINCE 2017, THE RIVER CITY YOUTH BRASS BAND HAS BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE 1987 AND HAS ENROLLED & EDUCATED OVER 4,800 STUDENTS SINCE ITS INCEPTION. ALL OF THE INSTRUCTORS FOR THE SCHOOL OF BRASS ARE PROFESSIONAL PERFORMERS AND EDUCATORS IN THE AREA, MANY OF WHOM PLAY WITH THE RIVER CITY BRASS BAND AS WELL.

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 September 1982.

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