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St Louis Childrens Choirs

EIN 43-1145808 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH MUSICAL EXCELLENCE. THE GOAL OF THE ST. LOUIS CHILDREN'S CHOIRS IS TO EMPOWER THE YOUTH OF ST. LOUIS THROUGH A RICH CHORAL PROGRAM THAT HELPS EACH YOUNG SINGER REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL - AS A MUSICIAN AND AS A PERSON. A SKILLED TEAM OF DIRECTORS AND ACCOMPANISTS PROVIDE OUR ENSEMBLE MEMBERS WITH MUSICAL TRAINING AND CHARACTER GROWTH THROUGH QUALITY CHORAL LITERATURE AND WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES. YOUNG SINGERS, AGES 6-18, REHEARSE WEEKLY, LEARNING CHORAL SINGING, PERFORMING, MUSIC READING, ARTISTRY AND EXPRESSION - ALL WHILE DEVELOPING KEY CHARACTER AND ACHIEVEMENT SKILLS. PARTICIPATION IN THE CHOIRS DEVELOPS LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS TEAMWORK, LEADERSHIP, SELF-DISCIPLINE, COMMITMENT, EMPATHY, AND RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY. STUDENTS CULTIVATE SHARED VALUES SUCH AS CHARACTER, EXCELLENCE, BELONGING, COMMUNITY, AND INTEGRITY.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 43%
Employees
38
Volunteers
110
Highest pay
$122,514, artistic dir

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 August 31, 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. $792,020 spent. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES FOSTER MUSIC EDUCATION BY PROVIDING SINGERS AGES 6-18 WITH MUSICAL TRAINING AND CHARACTER GROWTH THROUGH QUALITY CHORAL LITERATURE AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES IN ST. LOUIS AND AROUND THE WORLD. STUDENTS LEARN CHORAL SINGING, PERFORMING, MUSIC READING, ARTISTRY AND EXPRESSION - ALL WHILE DEVELOPING KEY CHARACTER AND ACHIEVEMENT SKILLS SUCH AS TEAMWORK, SELF-DISCIPLINE, COMITMENT, EMPATHY, AND RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INCLUSION ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PUBLIC CONCERTS, NEEDS-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR MUSIC EDUCATORS IN UNDER-RESOURCED SCHOOLS, AND INTERACTIVE CHORAL PERFORMANCES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE ST. LOUIS CHILDREN'S CHOIRS TYPICALLY SERVES OVER 350 SINGERS (AGES 6 TO 18), FROM MORE THAN 125 SCHOOLS AND 75 ZIP CODES IN MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS. DURING 2024-2025, ENROLLMENT INCREASED TO 380 STUDENTS WHO PERFORMED 28 CONCERTS AND PRESENTATIONS THAT REACHED OVER 25,000 AUDIENCE MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES FOSTER MUSIC EDUCATION BY PROVIDING SINGERS AGES 6-18 WITH MUSICAL TRAINING AND CHARACTER GROWTH THROUGH QUALITY CHORAL LITERATURE AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES IN ST. LOUIS AND AROUND THE WORLD. STUDENTS LEARN CHORAL SINGING, PERFORMING, MUSIC READING, ARTISTRY AND EXPRESSION - ALL WHILE DEVELOPING KEY CHARACTER AND ACHIEVEMENT SKILLS SUCH AS TEAMWORK, SELF-DISCIPLINE, COMITMENT, EMPATHY, AND RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INCLUSION ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PUBLIC CONCERTS, NEEDS-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR MUSIC EDUCATORS IN UNDER-RESOURCED SCHOOLS, AND INTERACTIVE CHORAL PERFORMANCES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE ST. LOUIS CHILDREN'S CHOIRS TYPICALLY SERVES OVER 350 SINGERS (AGES 6 TO 18), FROM MORE THAN 125 SCHOOLS AND 75 ZIP CODES IN MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS. DURING 2024-2025, ENROLLMENT INCREASED TO 380 STUDENTS WHO PERFORMED 28 CONCERTS AND PRESENTATIONS THAT REACHED OVER 25,000 AUDIENCE MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 October 13, 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 August 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 December 1978.

    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 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.