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Cleveland Pops Orchestra

EIN 34-1769835 · Beachwood, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak34 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE CLEVELAND POPS ORCHESTRA, LED BY CONDUCTOR CARL TOPILOW, PERFORMS THE HIGHEST QUALITY SYMPHONIC POPS MUSIC TO ENTERTAIN AND ENRICH A WIDE AND DIVERSE AUDIENCE AND PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP AN ENDURING APPRECIATION OF MUSIC, BOTH ENHANCING THE RICHNESS AND VIBRANCY OF NORTHEAST OHIO LIVING.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 74%
Employees
3
Volunteers
88
Highest pay
$91,800, president &

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 109% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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

    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 August 31, 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 (2)
  1. $1.4 million spent. THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF MANY, THE CLEVELAND POPS ORCHESTRA ACHIEVED NEW HEIGHTS IN 2025, INCLUDING: -OVER 35,000 PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO ATTEND OUR CONCERTS. FROM SEVERANCE HALL, CONNOR PALACE, AND FREE OUTDOOR CONCERTS AROUND OUR REGION, THE POPS CONNECTS PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WITH THE MUSIC OF THEIR LIVES. -OVER 100 PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS FROM NORTHEAST OHIO WERE EMPLOYED THROUGH THE POPS. AS A RESULT OF NEW PARTNERSHIPS FORMED WITH PLAYHOUSE SQUARE, LIVE NATION, THE CLEVELAND BALLET, THE CLEVELAND POPS ADDED SEVERAL MORE PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUSICIANS IN THE 2024- 2025 SEASON. -NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED GUEST ARTISTS HAVE WOWED AUDIENCES, PLAYING MUSIC FROM BROADWAY, THE MOVIES, JAZZ, AND LIGHT CLASSICS. -OUR JEAN L. PETITT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PROVIDED YOUNG ARTISTS PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE CLEVELAND POPS ORCHESTRA AND RESOURCES TOWARDS CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION. -YOUTH ENSEMBLES, INCLUDING THE CLEVELAND POPS YOUTH ORCHESTRA, PERFORMED WITH OUR PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS. -THE CLEVELAND POPS ORCHESTRA PERFORMED SEVEN CONCERTS AS PART OF OUR SUBSCRIPTION SEASON, WITH SEVERAL PERFORMANCES BEING CLOSE TO SOLD-OUT. SEVERAL RUN-OUT CONCERTS WERE PERFORMED, SPONSORED BY LOCAL CORPORATIONS, MUNICIPALITIES,WITH SEVERAL THOUSAND IN ATTENDANCE.FOR THE 24-25 SEASON CONDUCTOR CARL TOPILOW WORKED WITH A GROUP OF 300 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THIS YEAR SAW SEVERAL COLLABORATIVE ENGAGEMENTS WITH OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS. THE POPS WAS THE FEATURED ORCHESTRA PERFORMING FOR A MULTI-SHOW RUN OF "STRICTLY GERSHWIN" AT PLAYHOUSE SQUARE. THE POPS WAS ALSO HIRED TO PERFORM THE MUSIC FOR THE CLEVELAND BALLET'S PERFORMANCE OF "DRACULA". THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF MANY, THE CLEVELAND POPS ORCHESTRA ACHIEVED NEW HEIGHTS IN 2025, INCLUDING: -OVER 35,000 PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO ATTEND OUR CONCERTS. FROM SEVERANCE HALL, CONNOR PALACE, AND FREE OUTDOOR CONCERTS AROUND OUR REGION, THE POPS CONNECTS PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WITH THE MUSIC OF THEIR LIVES. -OVER 100 PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS FROM NORTHEAST OHIO WERE EMPLOYED THROUGH THE POPS. AS A RESULT OF NEW PARTNERSHIPS FORMED WITH PLAYHOUSE SQUARE, LIVE NATION, THE CLEVELAND BALLET, THE CLEVELAND POPS ADDED SEVERAL MORE PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUSICIANS IN THE 2024- 2025 SEASON. -NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED GUEST ARTISTS HAVE WOWED AUDIENCES, PLAYING MUSIC FROM BROADWAY, THE MOVIES, JAZZ, AND LIGHT CLASSICS. -OUR JEAN L. PETITT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PROVIDED YOUNG ARTISTS PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE CLEVELAND POPS ORCHESTRA AND RESOURCES TOWARDS CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION. -YOUTH ENSEMBLES, INCLUDING THE CLEVELAND POPS YOUTH ORCHESTRA, PERFORMED WITH OUR PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS. -THE CLEVELAND POPS ORCHESTRA PERFORMED SEVEN CONCERTS AS PART OF OUR SUBSCRIPTION SEASON, WITH SEVERAL PERFORMANCES BEING CLOSE TO SOLD-OUT. SEVERAL RUN-OUT CONCERTS WERE PERFORMED, SPONSORED BY LOCAL CORPORATIONS, MUNICIPALITIES,WITH SEVERAL THOUSAND IN ATTENDANCE.FOR THE 24-25 SEASON CONDUCTOR CARL TOPILOW WORKED WITH A GROUP OF 300 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THIS YEAR SAW SEVERAL COLLABORATIVE ENGAGEMENTS WITH OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS. THE POPS WAS THE FEATURED ORCHESTRA PERFORMING FOR A MULTI-SHOW RUN OF "STRICTLY GERSHWIN" AT PLAYHOUSE SQUARE. THE POPS WAS ALSO HIRED TO PERFORM THE MUSIC FOR THE CLEVELAND BALLET'S PERFORMANCE OF "DRACULA".
  2. -ACTUAL MUSIC ACTUAL MUSIC IS AN EDUCATION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENGAGE CHILDREN IN THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF MUSIC AND DANCE. ACTUAL MUSIC PROVIDES EDUCATION, PARTICIPATION, LISTENING AND VISUAL EXCITEMENT TO THE YOUNG STUDENT. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES TEACHERS WITH THE TOOLS TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. THE ACTUAL MUSIC PROGRAM IS BASED ON THE ACADEMIC CONTENT STANDARDS SET BY THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. IN THE SUMMER OF 2024 AND 2025,ACTUAL MUSIC WAS BROUGHT TO THE YMCA OF THE ROCKIES IN ESTES PARK, CO.CAMPERS AT THE YMCA EXPERIENCED THE JOY OF MUSIC, MOVEMENT, AND SONG THROUGH THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM INTRODUCED TO THEM THROUGH A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CLEVELAND POPS AND THE YMCA. -A GRANT TO COVER THE HIRING OF A CLEVELAND POPS EDUCATION/COMMUNITY OUTREACH MANAGER IS IN THE WORKS. ONCE FILLED, THIS STAFF MEMBER WILL WORK TO BRING ACTUAL MUSIC TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE COMING YEAR. -THE CLEVELAND POPS YOUTH ORCHESTRA THE CLEVELAND POPS ORCHESTRA, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MUSIC SETTLEMENT, HAS ESTABLISHED THE CLEVELAND POPS YOUTH ORCHESTRA TO NURTURE AND TRAIN YOUNG MUSICIANS TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL WHILE PROMOTING CRITICAL THINKING, SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS THROUGH MUSIC. UNDER THE BATON OF CONDUCTOR CARL TOPILOW, YOUTH ORCHESTRA MEMBERS EXPLORE THE MUSIC OF BROADWAY, HOLLYWOOD, JAZZ, LIGHT CLASSICS, AND POPULAR SONGS. THE CLEVELAND POPS YOUTH ORCHESTRA MUSICIANS RECEIVE COACHING FROM MEMBERS OF THE CLEVELAND POPS ORCHESTRA AND TEACHERS FROM THE MUSIC SETTLEMENT. THE MUSICIANS ALSO PERFORMED FOUR CONCERTS AND ONE PLAYING SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE CLEVELAND POPS ORCHESTRA. -ACTUAL MUSIC ACTUAL MUSIC IS AN EDUCATION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENGAGE CHILDREN IN THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF MUSIC AND DANCE. ACTUAL MUSIC PROVIDES EDUCATION, PARTICIPATION, LISTENING AND VISUAL EXCITEMENT TO THE YOUNG STUDENT. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES TEACHERS WITH THE TOOLS TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. THE ACTUAL MUSIC PROGRAM IS BASED ON THE ACADEMIC CONTENT STANDARDS SET BY THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. IN THE SUMMER OF 2024 AND 2025,ACTUAL MUSIC WAS BROUGHT TO THE YMCA OF THE ROCKIES IN ESTES PARK, CO.CAMPERS AT THE YMCA EXPERIENCED THE JOY OF MUSIC, MOVEMENT, AND SONG THROUGH THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM INTRODUCED TO THEM THROUGH A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CLEVELAND POPS AND THE YMCA. -A GRANT TO COVER THE HIRING OF A CLEVELAND POPS EDUCATION/COMMUNITY OUTREACH MANAGER IS IN THE WORKS. ONCE FILLED, THIS STAFF MEMBER WILL WORK TO BRING ACTUAL MUSIC TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE COMING YEAR. -THE CLEVELAND POPS YOUTH ORCHESTRA THE CLEVELAND POPS ORCHESTRA, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MUSIC SETTLEMENT, HAS ESTABLISHED THE CLEVELAND POPS YOUTH ORCHESTRA TO NURTURE AND TRAIN YOUNG MUSICIANS TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL WHILE PROMOTING CRITICAL THINKING, SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS THROUGH MUSIC. UNDER THE BATON OF CONDUCTOR CARL TOPILOW, YOUTH ORCHESTRA MEMBERS EXPLORE THE MUSIC OF BROADWAY, HOLLYWOOD, JAZZ, LIGHT CLASSICS, AND POPULAR SONGS. THE CLEVELAND POPS YOUTH ORCHESTRA MUSICIANS RECEIVE COACHING FROM MEMBERS OF THE CLEVELAND POPS ORCHESTRA AND TEACHERS FROM THE MUSIC SETTLEMENT. THE MUSICIANS ALSO PERFORMED FOUR CONCERTS AND ONE PLAYING SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE CLEVELAND POPS ORCHESTRA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 December 1994.

    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.