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Old Town School of Folk Music Inc

EIN 36-2373635 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC TEACHES AND CELEBRATES MUSIC AND CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS ROOTED IN THE TRADITIONS OF DIVERSE AMERICAN AND GLOBAL COMMUNITIES.

Income
$14.0 million
Spending
$15.0 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 68%
Employees
391
Volunteers
350
Highest pay
$309,787, ceo (thru 9/2024)

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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 (4)
  1. $6.0 million spent. ART INSTRUCTION: OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC IS THE LARGEST COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL IN THE US, THE LARGEST EMPLOYER OF TEACHING ARTISTS AND AN INTERNATIONAL MODEL FOR COMMUNITY MUSIC AND MOVEMENT. ALL OF OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC'S ACCREDITED INSTRUMENTAL DANCE, MUSIC AND ANCILLARY PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO STIMULATE CREATIVITY AND COMMUNAL ARTS PARTICIPATION AMONG PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. WHILE CLASSES CONTINUE (AND WILL CONTINUE) TO BE OFFERED ONLINE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF STUDENTS ATTENDED IN PERSON CLASSES DURING 2024.REGISTRATION VOLUMES CONTINUE TO BUILD BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS FOR THE ADULT PROGRAMS; THE NUMBER OF REGISTRATIONS FOR 2024 WERE 15,296 OR 94% OF 2019 STUDENT VOLUME. THE CHILDREN'S PROGRAM IS TAKING LONGER TO REACH PRE PANDEMIC STUDENT NUMBERS; THE NUMBER OF REGISTRATIONS IN 2024 WAS 6,796, 61% OF 2019 VOLUMES. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTRATIONS FOR ALL GROUP CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS COMBINED WAS 25,647, 85% OF 2019 VOLUMES. A TOTAL OF 5,019 PRIVATE LESSONS WERE OFFERED, VS 6,543 IN 2019.
  2. $2.5 million spent. CONCERTS: OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC IS A PROLIFIC CONCERT VENUE. EVENTS INCLUDE ON-SITE AND OFF-SITE CONCERTS FEATURING BIG NAME ACTS AND EMERGING ARTISTS IN STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES. THE POPULAR WORLD MUSIC WEDNESDAY SERIES SHOWCASES INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS CO-PRODUCED WITH DOZENS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE SCHOOL PRESENTED A FULL SLATE OF CONCERTS IN 2024, PRESENTING A WIDE VARIETY OF ARTISTS; 43,439 PEOPLE ATTENDED 183 EVENTS.OUR ANNUAL SQUARE ROOTS FESTIVAL DREW AN ESTIMATED CROWD OF 40,465 AND FEATURED 50 DIFFERENT ARTISTS. THE SCHOOL ALSO PRODUCED AN EVENT AT CHICAGO'S MILLENIUM PARK, GLOBAL CARNIVAL. GLOBAL CARNIVAL WAS A DYNAMIC, IMMERSIVE PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE THAT FEATURED A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS, AS WELL AS LOCAL GROUPS.
  3. $1.8 million spent. OUTREACH: OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC SERVES THOUSANDS OF CHICAGO'S CHILDREN EACH YEAR, PROVIDING ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE CITY. OLD TOWN SCHOOL ANNUALLY PROVIDES COMMUNITY-BASED ARTS EDUCATION FOR THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN THROUGH ARTIST RESIDENCIES IN CPS SCHOOLS, CENTER-BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC PROGRAMMING IN NORTH LAWNDALE AND ALBANY PARK, AND ROBUST FIELD TRIP AND FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS. OUR MUSIC MOVES CHICAGO INITIATIVE CONNECTS NON-ARTS COMMUNITY PARTNERS LOCATED IN CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE AND WEST SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH HIGH-QUALITY ARTS PROGRAMMING THAT BUILD ARTS CAPACITY, SKILL ACQUISITION IN MUSIC PERFORMANCE AND EQUITY THOUGH PERFORMANCE AND DISCOURSE RELATED TO LIBERATORY FUTURES, PERSONAL GROWTH, CURIOSITY AND IMAGINATION.
  4. $916,337 spent. OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC'S CAMPUS INCLUDES A RETAIL MUSIC STORE WHICH PROVIDES INSTRUMENTS FOR PURCHASE OR RENTAL TO OUR STUDENTS. THE SCHOOL ALSO SERVES CUSTOMERS THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AND A THIRD PARTY ONLINE WEBSITE, REVERB. AN IN-HOUSE CAFE OPERATES DURING CONCERTS, SERVING DRINKS AND SNACKS.

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 1962.

    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.