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Spreckels Organ Society

EIN 33-0299072 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

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

The mission of the Spreckels Organ Society is to preserve, program and promote the Spreckels Organ as a world treasure for all people. The Spreckels Organ Society presents over 65 concerts each year free of charge and open to the public. We also provide scholarships for young organ students and educational programs for children, focusing on Title I schools.

Income
$795,635
Spending
$655,440
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
23.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
3
Volunteers
61
Highest pay
$164,778, artistic director

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 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports 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 (4)
  1. $343,945 spent. The largest special program expense in 2024 was incurred in order to present the annual San Diego International Summer Organ Festival, featuring top national and international organists. The festival comprised twelve concerts held on Monday evenings from June 17 through September 2. The programs included a special Violin and Organ concert with San Diego Symphony Concertmaster Jeff Thayer and orchestra, a jazz concert, an accompanied silent movie and concerts featuring opera, classic rock and popular music. The Spreckels Organ Society paid for the artists' fees, hotel accommodations and other production costs. There is never an admission charge for our concerts.
  2. $178,457 spent. The primary programmatic function of the Spreckels Organ Society is providing Sunday and special concerts at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion on our world-famous organ. This is done in coordination with the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department. The city pays the civic organist to perform on Sundays, but the Spreckels Organ Society pays the bulk of the organist's compensation. We also pay for extra expenses such as hand programs, additional musicians, vocalists and holiday decorations. The Spreckels Organ Society also provides additional events and concerts throughout the year. In addition to the San Diego International Summer Organ Festival, the Spreckels Organ Society presented several special concerts on Saturdays and holidays during 2024, including Halloween, December Nights and Mother's Day concerts. The Spreckels Organ Society also pays for the organ curator for special concerts.
  3. $1,100 spent. The Spreckels Organ Society third program is scholarships for organ students. Each year, the San Diego chapter of the American Guild of Organists holds a competition for young organ students, and the Spreckels Organ Society awards scholarships to the top three contestants. The 2024 scholarship winners were Isabella, age 6; Yuhan, age 11 and Aska, age 14.
  4. $9,100 spent. For many years, the Spreckels Organ Society has presented a special program for students, focusing on Title I schools. It includes a demonstration of how the organ works and a mini concert. In 2024, we received a grant to purchase an Orgelkids pipe organ kit, which is a small scale, fully functional organ that teaches valuable STEAM skills while children build the organ in a small group. The goal of the education program is to provide high-quality, accessible music exposure programs for San Diego youth, fostering creative expression, confidence and academic success.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 October 1992.

    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.