Sounds of Hope Ltd
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Fostering global citizenship through the arts and using music to reinforce our shared humanity.
- Income
- $102,755
- Spending
- $96,077
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 16.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 49%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 20
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (international, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (3)
- $90,669 spent. Songs of Hope is our primary program. It is a 7 week residential performing arts (primarily music) program uniting local and international children and youth to share music, dance and cultures with each other and regional audiences. The first three weeks of the program are spent in intensive rehearsal with professional artists, with evening Getting-To-Know-You sessions which involve and encourage the sharing of cultures. The last three weeks are spent presenting full, 90-minute concerts to general audiences and shorter Arts-in-Service performances for elders, people with disabilities, and summer youth programs. Each summer, Songs of Hope tours throughout Minnesota. Youth Leadership Development Program: The Songs of Hope Junior Team is made up of past participants who are age 16 and over. They have responsibilities related to all aspects of the program. SOH pays U.S. Junior Staff a modest stipend.
- ALL PLANNING AND ORGANIZING FOR GLOBAL REACH REMAINS SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID-19 and the current world chaos. Global Reach: The United States is famous for the richness of its many diverse cultures. Global Reach Arts & Culture Camp is an opportunity to explore an amazing array of U.S. arts and cultural activities. It is a two- or three-week, residential camp that puts participants in a live-in community on a beautiful university campus for 1-2 weeks and then with a U.S. family for the final week. The camp's unique mix of activities and travel excursions around the large, twin metropolis of St. Paul and Minneapolis gives participants a hands-on set of enriching arts and cultural experiences. The final week provides an opportunity for English language study while living with a U.S. family, arranged through the Global Language Institute in Saint Paul.
- ALL OF OUR WORK WITH ELDERS WAS SUSPENED IN MARCH 2020, INCLUDING A GRANT-FUNDED PROJECT TO CREATE A SING-A-LONG VIDEO TO BE USED IN SENIOR FACILITIES. Arts Learning for Elders: Sounds of Hope artists present weekly Sing-a-long sessions at Little Sisters of the Poor.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 September 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 January 1991.
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.