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Street Symphony Project Inc

EIN 45-1990766 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceGood79 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MUSIC IS A CATALYST FOR HUMAN CONNECTION. STREET SYMPHONY ENGAGES COMMUNITIES DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY HOMELESSNESS AND INCARCERATION IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY THROUGH PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS, AND TEACHING ARTISTRY.

Income
$502,791
Spending
$547,654
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
8.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
5
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$113,108, ceo

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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 79 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (4)
  1. $110,209 spent. WORKSHOPS (3 ANNUALLY) MIDNIGHT STRINGS & WOMEN'S VOICES WOMEN'S VOICES ARE 8 TO 12-WEEK SONGWRITING WORKSHOPS AT DOWNTOWN WOMEN'S CENTER WITH A COMMITTED GROUP OF DWC RESIDENTS, STAFF, AND SS TEACHING ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS. DURING THE RESIDENCY, SS TEACHING ARTISTS LEAD PARTICIPANTS IN LYRIC AND MELODY WRITING TO CREATE AN ORIGINAL SONG WRITTEN BY THE RESIDENTS OF DWC. ADDITIONALLY, PARTICIPANTS DISCUSS WHAT INSPIRES THEM AND CURATE A CONCERT OF MUSIC BASED ON THEMES OF THEIR CHOICE. AFTER SIX WEEKS OF SONGWRITING WORKSHOPS AND TWO WEEKS OF COMBINED REHEARSALS, AN ALL-FEMALE MUSICAL ENSEMBLE FROM STREET SYMPHONY PRESENTS A CUMULATIVE CONCERT, FOCUSING ON MUSIC BY WOMEN COMPOSERS. THE PERFORMANCE WILL BE CAPPED BY THE SONGWRITERS AT DWC PERFORMING THEIR ORIGINAL SONG. MIDNIGHT STRINGS IS AN 8 TO 12-WEEK GUITAR AND SONGWRITING WORKSHOP AT THE MIDNIGHT MISSION. THERE ARE SPRING AND FALL WORKSHOPS. THE TEACHING ARTISTS WORK WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM THE 12-STEP PROGRAM (HOMELESS, INCARCERATED, AND ADDICTION RECOVERY PROGRAMS) TO LEARN THE BASICS OF GUITAR, SONGWRITING, AND PERFORMANCE. THROUGHOUT THE WEEKS, INDIVIDUALS BEGIN TO SHARE THEIR STORIES, FEELINGS, AND EXPERIENCES RESULTING IN AN ORIGINAL SONG. THESE WORKSHOPS CULMINATE IN AN EVENT, AND THE FALL WORKSHOP PARTICIPATES IN THE MESSIAH PROJECT.
  2. $105,672 spent. MONTHLY PROGRAMS (MUSIC FOR THE SOUL & MUSIC WITH A MISSION) THESE MONTHLY PROGRAMS ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DOWNTOWN WOMEN'S CENTER AND THE MIDNIGHT MISSION. EVERY 4TH THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WE HAVE RECURRING MONTHLY PROGRAMS TO CREATE ENGAGEMENT, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, AND OFFER UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BE HEARD, SHARE STORIES, AND REFLECT WITH MUSICIANS AND SS STAFF.
  3. $87,761 spent. SINCE 2015, STREET SYMPHONY HAS PARTNERED WITH THE MIDNIGHT MISSION (TMM) AND DOZENS OF SKID ROW SERVICE PROVIDERS TO HOST ITS ANNUAL "MESSIAH PROJECT," A CELEBRATION OF THE RESILIENCE AND STORIES OF THE SKID ROW COMMUNITY. IN SKID ROW, MUSIC AND ART IS NOT AN ENTERTAINMENT COMMODITY, BUT A VITAL LIFELINE TO COMMUNITY, RECOVERY, AND HUMANITY. THE MESSIAH PROJECT PRESENTS EXCERPTS OF HANDEL'S BELOVED MESSIAH WHILE ALSO FEATURING STORIES, MUSIC, AND PERFORMANCES FROM MEMBERS OF THE SKID ROW COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY MEMBERS OFTEN SERVE AS SOLOISTS, CHORISTERS, AND PARTICIPANTS ALONGSIDE STREET SYMPHONY'S ROSTER OF PROFESSIONAL, WORLD-CLASS ARTISTS. PERFORMED AT THE MIDNIGHT MISSION, THE PROJECT ALSO FEATURES A SERIES OF 12-15 FREE WORKSHOP EVENTS FOR THE SKID ROW COMMUNITY AND THE CREATION OF SEVERAL HUNDRED HYGIENE KITS AND AMENITY BAGS FOR THE SKID ROW COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF FREE MEALS SERVED TO THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY OF LOS ANGELES.
  4. $104,439 spent. OTHER 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

  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 December 2024.

    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 September 2011.

    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.