Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Music of the Baroque Concert Series Inc

EIN 36-2837499 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MUSIC OF THE BAROQUE IS A PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS EXCELLING IN THE PERFORMANCE OF WORKS FROM THE 18TH CENTURY AND BEFORE. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO EDUCATES 2,900 CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS EACH YEAR THROUGH ITS 'STRONG VOICES' SINGING PROGRAM.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
14.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
162
Volunteers
125
Highest pay
$221,649, executive director

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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

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

    22 of 22 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 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. $2.5 million spent. UNDER THE DIRECTION OF INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED BRITISH CONDUCTOR DAME JANE GLOVER, MUSIC OF THE BAROQUE'S PROFESSIONAL CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA IS ONE OF THE LEADING ENSEMBLES IN THE COUNTRY DEVOTED TO THE PERFORMANCE OF WORKS FROM THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES.MUSIC OF THE BAROQUE CONTINUED FULL-TIME LIVE PROGRAMMING OF CHORAL AND ORCHESTRAL CONCERTS WITH WORKS BY BACH, HAYDN, HANDEL, MOZART, AND OTHERS. LESSER-KNOWN WORKS ARE ALSO FEATURED AS MUSIC OF THE BAROQUE SEEKS TO EXPAND THE AWARENESS OF AND APPRECIATION FOR WORKS FROM THE RENAISSANCE, BAROQUE, AND EARLY CLASSICAL PERIODS. DEVOTED TO EXPANDING ITS AUDIENCE AND ITS REACH TO A WIDER, MORE DIVERSE POPULATION, MUSIC OF THE BAROQUE PRESENTED 18 PERFORMANCES OF 8 DISTINCT PROGRAMS AS WELL AS VARIOUS COMMUNITY CONCERTS AND EVENTS TO A TOTAL AUDIENCE OF OVER 20,000 PEOPLE. MANY THOUSANDS MORE ENJOYED CONCERTS STREAMING ON DEMAND AND VARIOUS FREE VIDEOS OF MUSIC, INTERVIEWS AND EVENTS ONLINE.COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS EXPANDED OUR WORK TO REACH NEW AUDIENCES, INCLUDING FREE PERFORMANCES AT THE KEHREIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART, AND A NEW CONCERT, "THE CHICAGO WATER MUSIC," PERFORMED ON THE CHICAGO RIVER. IN ADDITION, THE "STUDENTS GO FOR FREE" PROGRAM OPENS THE DOORS OF OUR DOWNTOWN PERFORMANCES TO THE NEXT GENERATION AT NO COST TO THEM. MUSIC OF THE BAROQUE RUNS A HIGHLY REGARDED CHORAL EDUCATION PROGRAM "STRONG VOICES" FOR 2,900 CHICAGO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN UNDER-RESOURCED SCHOOLS WITH FREE REGULAR VOICE LESSONS AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES.MUSIC OF THE BAROQUE BROADCASTS REGULARLY ON 98.7 WFMT RADIO, NOT JUST ACROSS CHICAGO BUT ALSO ACROSS THE NATION THROUGH SYNDICATED STATIONS. AS THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO CELEBRATE ITS 50+ YEARS, AN AMBITIOUS SERIES OF CONCERTS, OUTREACH EVENTS, RECORDINGS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS WILL FURTHER ENHANCE THE ORGANIZATION'S IMPACT ON AUDIENCES ACROSS CHICAGO AND BEYOND.OTHER AUDIENCE-EXPANDING INITIATIVES INCLUDE "BAROQUE NOTES," A FREE PRE-CONCERT VIDEO GUIDE TO UPCOMING CONCERTS WHICH CONTINUES TO DRAW IN NEW AUDIENCES AS WELL AS ENHANCE THE CONCERT EXPERIENCE FOR REGULAR ATTENDEES.

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 November 6, 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 October 1975.

    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 November 4, 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.