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Play on Philly

EIN 45-3754114 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PLAY ON PHILLY PROVIDES UNDERSERVED CHILDREN IN PHILADELPHIA, A TRANSFORMATIVE MUSIC EDUCATION EXPERIENCE THAT DEVELOPS AND INSPIRES THE BEHAVIORS AND PERSONAL SKILLS NEEDED FOR A SUCCESSFUL LIFE.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
9.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
82
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$128,891, executive director

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: 72 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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 (5)
  1. $817,249 spent. POP MUSIC CENTERS: THROUGH OUR POP MUSIC CENTERS, WE POSITIVELY IMPACT STUDENTS' ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND PRO-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR BY DEVELOPING THE EMOTIONAL, COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIORAL SKILLS NECESSARY FOR A SUCCESSFUL LIFE. MUSIC CENTER STUDENTS ENGAGE IN INTENSIVE MUSIC INSTRUCTION BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL FOR A TOTAL OF 8 HOURS A WEEK THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND FOUR WEEKS OF FULL-DAY INSTRUCTION DURING THE SUMMER, TOTALING UP TO 400 HOURS OF MUSICAL TRAINING. STUDENTS ARE LOANED ONE OF FOURTEEN STANDARD ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENTS AT NO COST AND, COLLECTIVELY, PARTICIPATE IN OVER 25 PERFORMANCES A YEAR.
  2. $433,404 spent. POP CHILDREN'S ORCHESTRA - ALL ENROLLED INSTRUMENTAL STUDENTS FROM ALL MUSIC CENTER SITES PARTICIPATE IN A MULTI-LEVEL ENSEMBLE CALLED THE PLAY ON PHILLY CHILDREN'S ORCHESTRA. WHILE ALL STUDENTS WILL REHEARSE THE SAME MUSICAL PIECES, EVERY PART WILL BE LEVELED TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL CHALLENGES TO STUDENTS AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF THEIR MUSICAL AND TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT. THE CHILDREN'S ORCHESTRA IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SEASONED POP MUSICIANS TO SERVE AS SECTION LEADERS AND FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS TO PUSH THEIR MUSICAL LIMITS IN A SUPPORTIVE, COMMUNAL ENVIRONMENT.
  3. $146,050 spent. MARIAN ANDERSON YOUNG ARTIST: IN MEMORY OF WORLD-RENOWNED CONTRALTO AND PHILADELPHIA-DAUGHTER, MARIAN ANDERSON, THE MARIAN ANDERSON YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM WHICH SUPPORTS STUDENTS, ALSO KNOWN AS ANDERSON ARTISTS, IN THEIR MUSICAL STUDIES THROUGH PRIVATE LESSONS, INDIVIDUAL ADVISEMENT, INSTRUMENT LOANS, AND COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELING.
  4. $58,722 spent. CONCERTS AND EVENTS
  5. CONCERTS AND EVENTS: THE POP CHAMBER PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INTERMEDIATE THROUGH ADVANCED MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL MUSICIANS IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA WITH INTENSIVE MUSICAL TRAINING THE FORM OF CHAMBER ENSEMBLES. CHAMBER STUDENTS' EXPERIENCES ARE ENRICHED THROUGH MASTERCLASSES, COACHING SESSIONS, AND COLLABORATIVE PERFORMANCES WITH LOCAL ARTS AND NON-PROFITS AND WORLD-RENOWNED GUEST ARTISTS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2012.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.