National Lutheran Choir Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NATIONAL LUTHERAN CHOIR CELEBRATES, INVIGORATES AND EXPANDS SACRED CHORAL MUSIC BRINGING INSPIRATION AND MEANING TO PEOPLE OF DIVERSE FAITHS AND BACKGROUNDS.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $718,482
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 8.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 122
- Highest pay
- $121,200, artistic 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: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 59% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 160% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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.
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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 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)
- $503,990 spent. DURING THE NATIONAL LUTHERAN CHOIR'S 2024-25 SEASON, 4,608 AUDIENCE MEMBERS WERE SERVED IN NINE CONCERTS TAKING PLACE IN THE TWIN CITIES OF MN AND ON TOUR TO THE MAYO CLINIC IN ROCHESTER, MN AND LUTHER COLLEGE IN DECORAH, IA. YOUTUBE SUBSCRIBERS INCREASED 14% TO 6000 AND 10,100 HOURS OF CONTENT WAS VIEWED ONLINE, INCLUDING LIVE STREAM BROADCASTS OF THREE CONCERT PROGRAMS. WORKS COMMISSIONED BY THE CHOIR INCLUDED "THREE SONGS OF HEALING," BY HANS HERUTH AND BRIAN NEWHOUSE (WHICH WERE PROFESSIONALLY RECORDED AND MADE AVAILABLE ON STREAMING PLATFORMS AND FOR DIGITAL DOWNLOAD WORLDWIDE) AND "THERE IS A WAY," BY MELISSA DUNPHY. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRAM LANGUAGE.THE NATIONAL LUTHERAN CHOIR CHILDREN'S ENSEMBLE, COMPRISING 20 CHILDREN IN GRADES 2-6, PERFORMED IN ADVENT CONCERTS AT THE BASILICA OF SAINT MARY. THE ANNUAL CHORAL TUNE-UP WAS EXPANDED TO OFFER PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AS WELL AS A CONDUCTING MASTERCLASS FOR CHOIR LEADERS, AND ATTENDANCE NUMBER GREW FROM 360 TO 500. FINALLY, THE NATIONAL LUTHERAN CHOIR RECEIVED A GRANT OF $1.12 MILLION FROM THE LILLY ENDOWMENT THROUGH ITS "NURTURING CHILDREN THROUGH WORSHIP AND PRAYER INITIATIVE." THIS FIVE-YEAR GRANT WILL ONLY SUPPORT NEW PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO USE SACRED MUSIC AND SINGING AS A WAY TO EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME LEADERS IN THEIR FAITH COMMUNITIES. FUNDS FROM THIS GRANT WILL NOT SUPPORT THE CHOIR'S REGULAR PERFORMANCE PROGRAM AND EFFORTS ARE BEING REDOUBLED TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE CONCERTIZING AND RECORDING AT THE HEART OF THE ENSEMBLE'S MISSION.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1987.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.