Amazing Grace Conservatory Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
AMAZING GRACE CONSERVATORY ADDRESSES TWO SIGNIFICANT SOUTH LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY NEEDS: (1) THE NEED FOR QUALITY ARTS PROGRAMMING IN SCHOOLS; AND (2) THE NEED FOR EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS THAT PROMOTE STUDENT SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE. FIRST, DISADVANTAGED AND UNDERREPRESENTED YOUTH ARE OFTEN BARRED FROM SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAMS IN FAVOR OF REMEDIAL INSTRUCTION IN READING AND MATH. THIS PRACTICE CONTRADICTS RESEARCH EVIDENCE THAT QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION PROVIDES EVEN GREATER LEARNING BENEFITS TO DISADVANTAGED YOUTH THAN THEIR ADVANTAGED CLASSMATES. SECOND, SOUTH LOS ANGELES HOUSES 34.17% OF THE CITY'S 16 TO 24-YEAR-OLDS LIVING IN POVERTY (NEARLY DOUBLE THE PERCENTAGE OF THE SECOND CLOSEST OF SEVEN LOS ANGELES COMMUNITIES). YET, MORE THAN 40% OF AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REPORT THEY SEE LITTLE IF ANY VALUE IN "DOING WELL IN SCHOOL"
- Income
- $710,846
- Spending
- $691,803
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 16.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $35,854, board member/executive vice president
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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% 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
Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 253 of 6 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
- $626,640 spent. TRAINING IN THE PERFORMING ARTS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC BENEFIT FOR TRAINING IN THE PERFORMING ARTS AND PROVIDING CREATIVITY IN ONESELF, ONES SOUL AND ONES CRAFT.
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 September 2006.
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.