Society for Preservation & Encrgmnt of Barbershop Quartet
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 294 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $4.4 million
- Spending
- $4.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- -9.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 98%
- Employees
- 24
- Volunteers
- 700
- Highest pay
- $209,773, cfo/coo
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: 6 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 82% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 294 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
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
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 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 (3)
- $1.3 million spent. THE BHS ORCHESTRATES A SPECTRUM OF EVENT PROGRAMS, PROVIDING PLATFORMS FOR SINGING COMMUNITIES TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY. OUR FLAGSHIP EVENT, THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION IN CLEVELAND, WAS OUR LARGEST SINCE 2016, DRAWING OVER 5,500 ATTENDEES AND SHOWCASING INNOVATIONS LIKE THE DREAM CHORUS EXPERIENCE, COMEDY QUARTET FESTIVAL, AND EXPANDED YOUTH AND SENIORS PROGRAMMING. THESE NEW FORMATS CREATED STAGES FOR EVERY VOICE - FROM FIRST TIME PERFORMERS TO SEASONED CHAMPIONS - AND OPENED THE DOOR FOR AMATEURS AND EVEN NON SINGERS TO PARTICIPATE IN WAYS THEY NEVER IMAGINED, DISCOVERING THE JOY AND CONNECTION OF MAKING MUSIC TOGETHER. EACH BHS EVENT PROVIDES MORE THAN PERFORMANCE IT OFFERS A "MOUNTAINTOP" MOMENT OF CONNECTION, CELEBRATION, AND RENEWAL. THESE GATHERINGS FOSTER DEEP FRIENDSHIPS, ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE, AND A SHARED SENSE OF BELONGING. BEYOND CONVENTIONS, CONTESTS, AND FESTIVALS, THE SOCIETY FACILITATES NUMEROUS PUBLIC PERFORMANCES AND SHOWS, ENGAGING AUDIENCES BOTH IN PERSON AND ONLINE. OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, AN ESTIMATED 200,000 INDIVIDUALS HAVE ATTENDED IN PERSON BHS EVENTS, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 16 MILLION VIEWERS TUNING IN ANNUALLY TO ONLINE BARBERSHOP PERFORMANCES. THESE PROGRAMS AIM TO STRENGTHEN THE MUSICAL AND SOCIAL FABRIC OF COMMUNITIES BY INSPIRING LIFELONG PARTICIPATION IN SINGING, INCREASING AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ARTS, AND ENCOURAGING INCLUSIVE SPACES WHERE EVERYONE FEELS EMPOWERED TO CONTRIBUTE AND BELONG.
- $344,030 spent. THE BHS UNDERTAKES ROBUST OUTREACH INITIATIVES TARGETING MUSIC EDUCATORS, YOUTH, AND DIVERSE SINGING COMMUNITIES. OUR OUTREACH WORK HELPS TRANSFORM CURIOSITY INTO PASSION, AND A HOBBY INTO A LIFELONG HOME FOR SINGERS. THESE INCLUSIVE, WELCOMING EXPERIENCES ENSURE BARBERSHOP HARMONY CONTINUES TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION. IN 2024, 700 YOUTH SINGERS PARTICIPATED IN NEXT GENERATION BARBERSHOP PROGRAMS. 15 HIGH SCHOOL CHORUSES AND 15 JUNIOR QUARTETS PERFORMED AT THE JUNIOR QUARTET AND CHORUS FESTIVALS HELD AT THE BHS MIDWINTER CONVENTION IN NEW YORK CITY. THESE SUMMIT EXPERIENCES GIVE YOUNG SINGERS THE CHANCE TO MEET AND SING ALONG WITH WORLD CLASS PERFORMERS AND INSTRUCTORS, WHILE THE INTERGENERATIONAL ATTENDANCE OF THE EVENT MODELS THE LIFELONG SATISFACTION AND ACHIEVEMENT POSSIBILITIES OF THE MUSIC AVOCATION. INDEED, POST EVENT SURVEYS SHOW THAT 73% OF STUDENT ATTENDEES EXPECT TO MAKE MUSIC A LIFELONG PURSUIT. WE ALSO HONORED WISCONSIN EDUCATOR PENNY YANKE AS OUR 2024 BHS/NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MUSIC EDUCATION (NAFME) MUSIC EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR, UNDERSCORING OUR COMMITMENT TO CLASSROOM IMPACT. FURTHERMORE, OUR DISTRIBUTION OF SHEET MUSIC, EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS, AND LEARNING TRACKS TO MUSIC EDUCATORS HAS REACHED OVER 25,000 UNITS IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER CHORAL ORGANIZATIONS AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR LOCAL SINGING COMMUNITIES FURTHER AMPLIFY OUR OUTREACH IMPACT, FOSTERING A THRIVING ECOSYSTEM OF HARMONY ENTHUSIASTS. OUR OUTCOMES INCLUDE INCREASED ACCESS TO ARTS EDUCATION FOR YOUTH, STRENGTHENED SCHOOL CHORAL PROGRAMS, ENHANCED COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, AND EXPANDED PARTICIPATION IN CULTURAL LIFE ACROSS DIVERSE AND UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.
- $2.0 million spent. THE BHS CHAMPIONS THE ADVANCEMENT OF ARTISTIC AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS WITHIN SINGING COMMUNITIES, WHILE ALSO DIVERSIFYING REVENUE STREAMS TO ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY. HARMONY UNIVERSITY (HU) 2024, HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER, SERVED OVER 425 PARTICIPANTS (A 13% INCREASE FROM 2023). THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS, FACULTY COACHING, AND IMMERSIVE COURSEWORK, HU EMPOWERS SINGERS, EDUCATORS, AND LEADERS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND AROUND THE GLOBE (AT LEAST 10 COUNTRIES REPRESENTED). STORIES LIKE HARMONY HANGOUT 2024 BARBERSHOP RADIO SHOW LAUNCHED BY ERIC RYAN CLARK ON WRFL HIGHLIGHT THE ONGOING EVOLUTION OF BARBERSHOP CULTURE AS A LIVING, CREATIVE, AND DEEPLY PERSONAL ART FORM. THESE PROGRAMS SUPPORT WHAT WE BELIEVE AT OUR CORE: THAT SINGING TOGETHER IS MORE THAN MUSIC, IT'S EXERCISE FOR THE SOUL. COMPLEMENTING HU ARE INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT, BIG LEAP SEMINARS, WHICH TRAIN VOLUNTEER LEADERS IN BEST PRACTICES FOR NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, THE CONTEST & JUDGING PROGRAM, AND MUSIC EDUCATION AND CLINICIAN SERVICES. THE SOCIETY ALSO DISTRIBUTES MORE THAN 7,000 NEW ARRANGEMENTS ANNUALLY ACROSS TTBB, SSAA, AND SATB FORMATS, AND MAINTAINS THE WORLD'S LARGEST COLLECTION OF BARBERSHOP SHEET MUSIC AND RECORDINGS. OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL ADDS HUNDREDS OF FRESH VIDEOS EACH YEAR, WIDELY SPREADING THE DYNAMIC STATE OF THE BARBERSHOP ART IN MORE THAN 10 MILLION ANNUAL VIEWS. WE SEE A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN VIEWERS ENCOUNTERING BARBERSHOP FOR THE FIRST TIME VIA YOUTUBE TO TAKING A STEP TOWARD SINGING FOR THEMSELVES, A VITAL PART OF OUR MISSION TO FOSTER NEW SINGERS. WE AIM TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINED COMMUNITY IMPACT BY EQUIPPING VOLUNTEER AND MUSICAL LEADERS WITH TOOLS TO BUILD THRIVING LOCAL GROUPS, INCREASING ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AND LEADERSHIP CAPACITY ACROSS THOUSANDS OF ENSEMBLES, AND INSPIRING INDIVIDUALS TO GROW BOTH MUSICALLY AND PERSONALLY THROUGH LIFELONG LEARNING.
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 2025.
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 May 1946.
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.