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Cincinnati Musical Festival Assoc

EIN 31-0584309 · Cincinnati, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE EXIST TO ENGAGE, ENERGIZE AND CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY PERFORMANCES OF GREAT CHORAL MUSIC. OUR VISION IS TO BE THE MOST EXCITING FORCE IN THE CHORAL WORLD AND TO BE A LEADER AND CATALYST IN THE PRODUCTION, PRESENTATION AND PROMOTION OF CHORAL ACTIVITIES IN OUR REGION AND AROUND THE GLOBE. WE BELIEVE IN FOSTERING CHORAL MUSIC OF THE HIGHEST ARTISTIC STANDARDS; PRESERVING THE HISTORY, ENHANCING THE PRESENT AND EMBRACING THE FUTURE OF CHORAL MUSIC; CULTIVATING DIVERSE AUDIENCES, CHOIRS AND SINGERS WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT CHORAL MUSIC; AND OPERATING IN A FINANCIALLY SOUND MANNER.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.6 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
20.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 46%
Employees
0
Volunteers
175
Highest pay
$360,917, executive director (until 06/23/24)

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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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

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 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 (3)
  1. $2.8 million spent. THE MAY FESTIVAL PROVIDED FOUR CONCERTS WITH PAID ATTENDANCE OF 5,026 PATRONS. THE MAY FESTIVAL CHORUS ALSO SERVES AS THE OFFICIAL CHORUS OF THE CINCINNATI SYMPHONY AND POPS ORCHESTRA PERFORMING WITH THE ORCHESTRA FOR NUMEROUS CONCERTS THROUGHOUT CSO/POPS SEPTEMBER THROUGH MAY SEASON.
  2. $64,198 spent. THIS MOBILE EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO AWAKEN AND DEVELOP EACH CHILD'S SENSE OF SELF AND CONNECTION TO THE WORLD AROUND THEM THROUGH SONG. MAY FESTIVAL MINIS IS AN INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE PROGRAM THAT SERVES PRESCHOOL CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES THROUGH FREE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE, MUSIC-CENTRIC LESSONS PROVIDED IN THEIR PRESCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS. MINIS SERVED OVER 3,000 PRESCHOOLERS IN THE CINCINNATI REGION THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, CINCINNATI PUBLIC LIBRARIES, AND HEADSTART PRESCHOOL.
  3. $3,182 spent. THE MAY FESTIVAL CHAMBER CHORUS, AN AUDITIONED SUBSET OF THE COMPLETE MAY FESTIVAL CHORUS, APPEARS PERIODICALLY IN FREE, HOUR-LONG CONCERTS OUTSIDE OF THE DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI AREA TO REACH NEW LISTENERS IN NEW NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE OFTEN FEATURES MEMBERS OF THE MAY FESTIVAL YOUTH CHORUS IN PERFORMANCE AND IS PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY CHURCHES. THESE CONCERTS TOOK PLACE IN CINCINNATI NEIGHBORHOODS MONTGOMERY (ST. BARNABAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH) AND WESTWOOD (FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH), AS WELL AS IN DOWNTON DAYTON, OH (FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH). EACH CONCERT SERVED APPROXIMATELY 200 AUDIENCE MEMBERS.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 July 1947.

    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.