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The Fischoff National Chamber Music Association Inc

EIN 35-1650154 · Notre Dame, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong97 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT, AWARENESS, AND APPRECIATION OF THE ART OF CHAMBER MUSIC AND ITS ROLE IN OUR CULTURE THROUGH EDUCATION PROGRAMS, CHAMBER MUSIC PERFORMANCES, AND SPONSORSHOP OF THE FISCHOFF CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION.

Income
$667,520
Spending
$654,812
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
12.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
8
Volunteers
110
Highest pay
$115,566, former exec

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $506,100 spent. THE 52ND ANNUAL FISCHOFF NATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION WAS HELD IN PERSON AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME IN MAY 2025. THE EVENT FEATURED 59 CHAMBER ENSEMBLES COMPRISING 224 INDIVIDUAL COMPETITORS REPRESENTING 22 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES AND 29 STATES. DURING THE THREE DAYS OF LIVE COMPETITION, FISCHOFF ENSEMBLES PRESENTED OVER 100 COMPETITION PERFORMANCES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, 12 SCHOOL PROGRAMS REACHING 957 SECOND GRADERS, 12 COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES, AND REACHED OVER 16,900 LIVESTREAM VIEWERS. ADDITIONALLY, 174 AREA MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND AND ORCHESTRA STUDENTS ATTENDED THE COMPETITION AS AUDIENCE MEMBERS. FISCHOFF ALSO CONTINUED THE LIFT EVERY VOICE PRIZES FOR BEST PERFORMANCES OF A PIECE BY A HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED COMPOSER IN THE CHAMBER MUSIC WORLD. THIS PRIZE FOCUSES ON WORKS BY WOMEN, BLACK, ASIAN, AND LATINO/A (HERITAGE ORIGINATES FROM LATIN AMERICA) COMPOSERS. SENIOR DIVISION MUSICIANS WERE ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT A VIDEO PERFORMANCE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A CASH PRIZE AND ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE COMPETITION WEEKEND. THE FISCHOFF DOUBLE GOLD TOUR FEATURED THE 2024 FISCHOFF COMPETITION SENIOR DIVISION GOLD MEDALISTS, LOTUS QUARTET AND TRIO AZURA. THEY PRESENTED CONCERTS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS ACROSS THE MIDWEST, REACHING OVER 6,300 CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND ADULTS. THE GRAND PRIZE TOUR FEATURED THE 2024 GRAND PRIZE WINNER, POIESIS QUARTET, WHO REACHED AUDIENCES IN ITALY DURING THE EMILIA ROMAGNA FESTIVAL. FISCHOFF'S 2024 ANN DIVINE EDUCATOR AWARD WINNER, LINEAGE PERCUSSION, CONDUCTED A WEEK-LONG ARTS-IN-EDUCATION RESIDENCY IN NORTHERN INDIANA, PRESENTING WORKSHOPS, MASTERCLASSES, AND INTERACTIVE CONCERTS IN SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND LIBRARIES. THE RESIDENCY REACHED APPROXIMATELY 1,473 CHILDREN AND STUDENTS AND 486 ADULTS. AS PART OF FISCHOFF'S SIGNATURE STORIES AND MUSIC (SAM I AM) PROGRAM, LINEAGE PERCUSSION BROUGHT TO LIFE THE CHILDREN'S BOOK, "MISS NELSON IS MISSING," FOR APPROXIMATELY 1,116 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND FISCHOFF GIFTED THESE STUDENTS WITH FREE COPIES OF THE BOOK. FISCHOFF'S CHAMBER MUSIC ACADEMY CELEBRATED ITS 25TH YEAR OF PROVIDING MENTORING AND CHAMBER MUSIC STUDIES THROUGH TUITION-FREE PROFESSIONAL COACHING SESSIONS TO MICHIANA JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC STUDENTS. 62 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM, REPRESENTING 22 SCHOOLS IN THE MICHIANA REGION. THE 19 ENSEMBLES PARTICIPATED IN OUTREACH PERFORMANCES, MASTERCLASSES, AND AN ANNUAL PUBLIC CONCERT, REACHING A TOTAL AUDIENCE OF APPROXIMATELY 2,318 CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND ADULTS IN INDIANA AND MICHIGAN. ADDITIONALLY, ACADEMY ENSEMBLE BENEDICTION TRIO WON THE GEOFFROY PRIZE IN THE 52ND ANNUAL FISCHOFF COMPETITION AS THE HIGHEST-RANKING JUNIOR ENSEMBLE ENTERING THE COMPETITION WITHIN A 60-MILE RADIUS OF SOUTH BEND. FISCHOFF'S CHAMBER MUSIC SUMMER INTENSIVE PROGRAM WAS HELD AGAIN ON THE CAMPUS OF SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE IN JUNE, ENROLLING 24 STUDENT MUSICIANS IN A WEEK-LONG SERIES OF PERFORMANCES, COACHING SESSIONS, MASTERCLASSES, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH. THE INTENSIVE ALSO FEATURED FISCHOFF COMPETITION ALUMNI AND 2018 SENIOR STRING DIVISION BRONZE MEDAL WINNER THALEA STRING QUARTET AS FACULTY ENSEMBLE-IN-RESIDENCE. INTENSIVE PUBLIC PERFORMANCES REACHED 215 TOTAL AUDIENCE MEMBERS. THE 52ND ANNUAL FISCHOFF NATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION WAS HELD IN PERSON AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME IN MAY 2025. THE EVENT FEATURED 59 CHAMBER ENSEMBLES COMPRISING 224 INDIVIDUAL COMPETITORS REPRESENTING 22 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES AND 29 STATES. DURING THE THREE DAYS OF LIVE COMPETITION, FISCHOFF ENSEMBLES PRESENTED OVER 100 COMPETITION PERFORMANCES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, 12 SCHOOL PROGRAMS REACHING 957 SECOND GRADERS, 12 COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES, AND REACHED OVER 16,900 LIVESTREAM VIEWERS. ADDITIONALLY, 174 AREA MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND AND ORCHESTRA STUDENTS ATTENDED THE COMPETITION AS AUDIENCE MEMBERS. FISCHOFF ALSO CONTINUED THE LIFT EVERY VOICE PRIZES FOR BEST PERFORMANCES OF A PIECE BY A HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED COMPOSER IN THE CHAMBER MUSIC WORLD. THIS PRIZE FOCUSES ON WORKS BY WOMEN, BLACK, ASIAN, AND LATINO/A (HERITAGE ORIGINATES FROM LATIN AMERICA) COMPOSERS. SENIOR DIVISION MUSICIANS WERE ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT A VIDEO PERFORMANCE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A CASH PRIZE AND ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE COMPETITION WEEKEND. THE FISCHOFF DOUBLE GOLD TOUR FEATURED THE 2024 FISCHOFF COMPETITION SENIOR DIVISION GOLD MEDALISTS, LOTUS QUARTET AND TRIO AZURA. THEY PRESENTED CONCERTS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS ACROSS THE MIDWEST, REACHING OVER 6,300 CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND ADULTS. THE GRAND PRIZE TOUR FEATURED THE 2024 GRAND PRIZE WINNER, POIESIS QUARTET, WHO REACHED AUDIENCES IN ITALY DURING THE EMILIA ROMAGNA FESTIVAL. FISCHOFF'S 2024 ANN DIVINE EDUCATOR AWARD WINNER, LINEAGE PERCUSSION, CONDUCTED A WEEK-LONG ARTS-IN-EDUCATION RESIDENCY IN NORTHERN INDIANA, PRESENTING WORKSHOPS, MASTERCLASSES, AND INTERACTIVE CONCERTS IN SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND LIBRARIES. THE RESIDENCY REACHED APPROXIMATELY 1,473 CHILDREN AND STUDENTS AND 486 ADULTS. AS PART OF FISCHOFF'S SIGNATURE STORIES AND MUSIC (SAM I AM) PROGRAM, LINEAGE PERCUSSION BROUGHT TO LIFE THE CHILDREN'S BOOK, "MISS NELSON IS MISSING," FOR APPROXIMATELY 1,116 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND FISCHOFF GIFTED THESE STUDENTS WITH FREE COPIES OF THE BOOK. FISCHOFF'S CHAMBER MUSIC ACADEMY CELEBRATED ITS 25TH YEAR OF PROVIDING MENTORING AND CHAMBER MUSIC STUDIES THROUGH TUITION-FREE PROFESSIONAL COACHING SESSIONS TO MICHIANA JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC STUDENTS. 62 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM, REPRESENTING 22 SCHOOLS IN THE MICHIANA REGION. THE 19 ENSEMBLES PARTICIPATED IN OUTREACH PERFORMANCES, MASTERCLASSES, AND AN ANNUAL PUBLIC CONCERT, REACHING A TOTAL AUDIENCE OF APPROXIMATELY 2,318 CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND ADULTS IN INDIANA AND MICHIGAN. ADDITIONALLY, ACADEMY ENSEMBLE BENEDICTION TRIO WON THE GEOFFROY PRIZE IN THE 52ND ANNUAL FISCHOFF COMPETITION AS THE HIGHEST-RANKING JUNIOR ENSEMBLE ENTERING THE COMPETITION WITHIN A 60-MILE RADIUS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 November 1986.

    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.