Gustavo Dudamel Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CREATIVITY ENCOURAGES FOCUS, DISCIPLINE, RESPECT, AND IMAGINATION -- VALUES THAT MAKE US BETTER GLOBAL CITIZENS AND PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE. WE BELIEVE THAT MUSIC TRANSCENDS DIFFERENCES AND ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUAL EMPOWERMENT AND SOCIAL INCLUSION.
- Income
- $297,193
- Spending
- $225,847
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 14.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 3
- Highest pay
- $47,572, secretary
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (1)
- $183,449 spent. FIDELIO BRIDGES DEAF AND HEARING COMMUNITIES AND ENCOURAGES US ALL TO EXAMINE HOW PEOPLE EXPERIENCE MUSIC. IN 2024, THE DUDAMEL FOUNDATION SUPPORTED THE CORO DE MANOS BLANCAS (WHITE HANDS CHOIR) THROUGHOUT THEIR JOURNEY AS PART OF THE 2024 REVIVAL OF BEETHOVEN'S FIDELIO IN LOS ANGELES, BARCELONA, PARIS, AND LONDON. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTED THE CORO IN ATHENS IN JUNE 2024 WHEN THEY WERE INVITED TO PERFORM AS FEATURED ARTISTS IN COLDPLAY'S MUSIC VIDEO, FEELSLIKEIMFALLINGINLOVE.ENCUENTROS -- A CHAMPION OF THE BELIEF IN MUSIC'S POWER TO UNITE AND INSPIRE, GUSTAVO DUDAMEL CREATED THE IDEA OF ENCUENTROS (ENGLISH: "ENCOUNTERS") THROUGH HIS FOUNDATION IN 2018 AS A WAY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO EXPLORE CULTURAL UNITY AND CELEBRATE HARMONY, EQUALITY, DIGNITY, BEAUTY, AND RESPECT THROUGH MUSIC. THROUGH THIS VISION, ENCUENTROS INSPIRES AND TEACHES A NEW GENERATION OF YOUNG LEADERS TO BUILD A BETTER WORLD. TRENTON ARTS AT PRINCETON -- THROUGH A FIVE-YEAR DUDAMEL FOUNDATION GRANT, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY LAUNCHED THE NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT IN JANUARY 2020, AN EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO CONNECT MUSICIANS ON PUC'S SERIES WITH STUDENTS FROM NEIGHBORING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE FIVE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM IS A COLLABORATION WITH TRENTON ARTS AT PRINCETON AND FOCUSED ON A PARTNERSHIP WITH TRENTON CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL IN ITS INAUGURAL YEAR. THE FIVE-YEAR GRANT ALSO SUPPORTS THE TRENTON YOUTH ORCHESTRA, NOW PART OF TRENTON ARTS @ PRINCETON, AND ITS FACULTY MENTORS THROUGH THE SPRING OF 2025.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
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.
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 October 13, 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 21, 2026.
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