Suzuki-Orff School for Young Musicians
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CHIME PROVIDES ACCESS TO EVIDENCE-BASED THERAPY AND ENGAGEMENT-BASED MUSIC PROGRAMS THAT DEVELOP CRITICAL SKILLS AND FOSTER SELF AND SOCIAL GROWTH.
- Income
- $899,847
- Spending
- $888,339
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 62%
- Employees
- 29
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $121,876, executive director
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
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 51% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $734,003 spent. CHIME DELIVERS ITS MISSION THROUGH MUSIC CLASSES, PRIVATE LESSONS, AND MUSIC THERAPY AT OUR WEST TOWN LOCATION AS WELL AS CLASSROOM MUSIC INSTRUCTION DURING AND AFTER SCHOOL AT CHICAGO AREA PARTNER SCHOOLS. EACH OF THE OFFERINGS FALLS UNDER ONE OF TWO MODELS: THE PERFORMANCE MODEL FOR NEUROTYPICAL CHILDREN AND THE THERAPEUTIC MODEL FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS AND CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. BOTH MODELS FOCUS ON MUSICAL ENGAGEMENT THROUGH HANDS-ON INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC-MAKING ACTIVITIES AND AN ANTI-BIAS REPERTOIRE AND IMPACT AROUND 3,300 STUDENTS WEEKLY. WE PRIORITIZE ACCESS TO ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN AND DISABLED INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO MUSIC WITHOUT OUR SERVICES. WE BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE MUSIC PROGRAMS THAT PRIORITIZE BOTH THE JOY OF ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE SKILLS. OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO TAP INTO THEIR CREATIVITY, EXPRESS THEMSELVES MUSICALLY, BE PART OF AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY, AND REACH THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL. WE AIM AT GIVING STUDENTS SUCCESSFUL MUSIC-MAKING EXPERIENCES THAT BRING THEM JOY, BUILD CHARACTER, AND DEVELOP SKILLS HELPFUL IN ALL AREAS OF THEIR LIVES. OUR VALUES OF ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPONSE-ABILITY, AND TEAMWORK ARE VISIBLE NOT ONLY IN HOW OUR STAFF WORKS, BUT ALSO IN THE CURRICULUM OF OUR PROGRAMS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1981.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.