Defiant Requiem Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Mission of the Foundation: (i) To confront contemporary challenges, including increased Holocaust ignorance, Holocaust denial, and antisemitism by performing Foundations hallmark concert performance, Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezn; its sister concert, Hours of Freedom: The Story of the Terezn Composer; its Emmy-nominated documentary film, Defiant Requiem; along with comprehensive curriculum modules that are designed to frame and enhance Holocaust education, all of which use the courage and cultural resistance of Rafael Schchter and his fellow prisoners to show why the Holocaust must never be forgotten. (ii) Raising awareness and understanding of the dangers of antisemitism, Holocaust ignorance and denial through various literary, educational, and artistic activities such as original performance art increasingly on college campuses with student musicians and singers documentary film, and educational materials geared for middle and high school students, the Foundation offers a unique a
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 60%
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 7
- Highest pay
- $126,048, executive dir.
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
Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1560% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 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
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $333,875 spent. The Holocaust Education program centered on Terezin, including the the Defiant Requiem film curriculum guide and the University Residency Project was developed by staff and educational consultants to The Defiant Requiem Foundation and peer-reviewed by a curriculum review panel composed of private, public, and parochial teachers from the DC/MD area. The program is maintained online and is comprised of lesson plans and supplemental materials for teachers. Cash promises to give are restricted to the expenses of the online tools, educators, and professionals required to maintain this program.
- $248,951 spent. The signature concert of The Defiant Requiem Foundation, Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezn, tells the story of the courageous Jewish prisoners in the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp (Terezn) during World War II who performed Verdis Requiem while experiencing the depths of human degradation. Tickets are sold to the general public below cost and not advertised as a fundraising event. However, certain donors are made aware of the timing and location of these performances and often include donations when purchasing their tickets.
- $82,871 spent. Foundation established The University Residency Project, a grant program that provides up to $25,000 to qualifying colleges and universities to present the concert-drama Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezin on campus with student performers.
- $1,123 spent. The Defiant Requiem Foundation collaborated with Partisan Pictures to produce Defiant Requiem,a feature-length documentary film, conceived by Foundation President and Founder, Murry Sidlin. The film was broadcast nationwide on PBS in the spring of 2013, on BBC4 in the United Kingdom in early 2014, and on France Tlvisions in May 2015. In 2014 Defiant Requiem was nominated for two News and Documentary Emmy Awards: Outstanding Historical Documentary Long Form and Outstanding Writing.The Foundation continues to distibute the documentary, and also allows other organizations to host film screenings. Cash promises to give are restricted to payment of the cost of production, exploitation and dissemination of the documentary in major media and educational outlets worldwide.
- The Rafael Schachter Institute Program achieved raising awareness of the history of the concentration camp Terezin in the Czech Republic. The services provided were sponsorship of literary, educational, and artistic activities in connection with the performance of the musical piece Verdi Requiem.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2009.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.