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Indianapolis Symphonic Choir Inc

EIN 35-6035494 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood89 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE BRING PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, AND CULTURES TOGETHER THROUGH PERFORMANCE, THE CREATION OF NEW CHORAL WORKS, OUTREACH, AND EDUCATION IN INDIANAPOLIS AND BEYOND.

Income
$851,005
Spending
$763,130
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
7
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$105,000, artistic director

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

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 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 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 89 out of 100.

  • 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

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    12 of 15

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

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 (1)
  1. $523,144 spent. THE INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONIC CHOIR (ISC) IS ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST ESTABLISHED SYMPHONIC CHORUSES AND AMONG THE MOST ACTIVE CHORAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE MIDWEST. FOUNDED IN 1937 AT THE REQUEST OF THE INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, THE CHOIR WAS CREATED TO PERFORM THE GREAT CHORAL-ORCHESTRAL REPERTOIRE AND CONTINUES THIS LONG-STANDING ARTISTIC PARTNERSHIP TODAY. THROUGH PERFORMANCES, EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS, ISC REACHES THOUSANDS OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS, STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS EACH SEASON.THE CHOIR PRESENTS A FULL SEASON OF PERFORMANCES INCLUDING LARGE-SCALE CHORAL-ORCHESTRAL MASTERWORKS, HOLIDAY CONCERTS, AND COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS WITH REGIONAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS. THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF CAROLS HAS BECOME A LONG-STANDING INDIANAPOLIS HOLIDAY TRADITION, FEATURING THE CHOIR WITH ORCHESTRA, GUEST ARTISTS, AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION. ISC ALSO PRESENTS ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS THAT HIGHLIGHT MAJOR WORKS OF THE CHORAL REPERTOIRE AND CONTEMPORARY COMPOSITIONS.EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ARE CENTRAL TO ISC'S MISSION. THROUGH THE SPOTLIGHT CHOIR PROGRAM, LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL CHOIRS ARE INVITED TO REHEARSE AND PERFORM ALONGSIDE ISC'S VOLUNTEER SINGERS IN FESTIVAL OF CAROLS PERFORMANCES, PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH MENTORSHIP, REHEARSAL EXPERIENCE, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM IN A PROFESSIONAL CONCERT SETTING. ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS INCLUDE PRE-CONCERT LECTURES, COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS, AND ENGAGEMENT WITH CHORAL DIRECTORS AND STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.ISC ALSO INVESTS IN THE FUTURE OF CHORAL MUSIC THROUGH ITS CONDUCTING FELLOWSHIP, A PARTNERSHIP WITH BUTLER UNIVERSITY THAT PROVIDES ADVANCED TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL MENTORSHIP FOR EMERGING CHORAL CONDUCTORS. THE FELLOWSHIP COMBINES ACADEMIC STUDY WITH HANDS-ON ARTISTIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH A PROFESSIONAL SYMPHONIC CHORUS.THE ORGANIZATION IS COMMITTED TO EXPANDING THE CHORAL REPERTOIRE THROUGH COMMISSIONS AND NEW WORKS, INCLUDING ITS CHRISTMAS CAROL COMMISSION COMPETITION, WHICH ENCOURAGES EMERGING COMPOSERS TO CREATE NEW MUSIC FOR CHORUS AND PROVIDES A PREMIERE PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITY.AT THE HEART OF ISC IS A ROSTER OF APPROXIMATELY 150 VOLUNTEER SINGERS WHO REPRESENT A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF THE INDIANAPOLIS COMMUNITY. THESE SINGERS DEDICATE HUNDREDS OF HOURS EACH YEAR TO REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES, CONTRIBUTING THEIR TIME AND TALENT TO BRING HIGH-QUALITY CHORAL MUSIC TO THE REGION.UNDER THE ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP OF DR. ERIC STARK, THE INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONIC CHOIR CONTINUES ITS MISSION TO ENRICH LIVES THROUGH THE BEAUTY, POWER, AND SHARED EXPERIENCE OF CHORAL MUSIC.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 July 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 February 1952.

    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.