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Young Musicians Choral Orchestra

EIN 46-2632518 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 48% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

YOUNG MUSICIANS CHORAL ORCHESTRA USES MUSICAL TRAINING, ACADEMIC SUPPORT, AND PERSONAL GUIDANCE TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF TALENTED, LOW-INCOME YOUNG PEOPLE, AGES 9-18, FROM THROUGHOUT THE BAY AREA. BY ADVANCING THEIR ACADEMIC, MUSICAL, AND PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL YEARS, YMCO ENHANCES STUDENTS' COMPETITIVE APPEAL AND SUCCESS AT FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITIES AND CONSERVATORIES.

Income
$617,200
Spending
$897,882
Spent on programs
48%
Reserves
16.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
4
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$92,000, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 45% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    48% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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 June 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)
  1. $401,010 spent. ARTISTIC - PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE MUSIC TRAINING FOR STUDENTS AGES 9-18 FROM FOUR COUNTIES IN THE BAY AREA. EACH STUDENT BOTH SINGS IN THE CHORUS AND PLAYS IN THE ORCHESTRA. STUDENTS ARE TRAINED IN THE GENRES OF JAZZ, CLASSICAL AND RHYTHM AND BLUES. STUDENTS RECEIVE: WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSONS ON 1-3 INSTRUMENTS, INCLUDING VOICE LESSONS; WEEKLY REHEARSAL FOR THE CHORUS, THE ORCHESTRA AND THE JAZZ BIG BAND. STUDENTS PERFORM REGULARLY AT RECITALS, SPECIAL CONCERTS AND OUTREACH PERFORMANCES, THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. THE 6-WEEK LONG SUMMER INSTITUTE PRVIDES INTENSIVE, CONSERVATORY-LIKE MUSIC TRAINING. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, CULMINATING IN A FINAL CONCERT, WHICH IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
  2. $25,888 spent. ACADEMIC/LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT-YMCO STUDENTS RECEIVE ACADEMIC TUTORING, SAT TRAINING, COLLEGE COUNSELING AND COLLEGE APPLICATION ASSISTANCE. YMCO SECTION LEADERS IN THE ORCHESTRA AND IN THE CHORUS PROVIDE LEADERSHIP TRAINING THROUGH OUR MENTORING PROGRAMS. THE LEADER MUST HOLD THE MEMBERS OF THEIR SECTIONS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE MUSIC AND FOR COOPERATIVE AND SUPPORTIVE BEHAVIOR.
  3. $44 spent. STUDENT SERVICES-ALL YMCO STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM AT NO COST TO THEIR PARENTS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING SERVICES: PRIVATE AND GROUP MUSIC LESSONS; INSTRUMENTS AND MUSIC SUPPLIES; TRANSPORTATION VIA BART & AC TRANSIT TICKETS; COMPLIMENTARY MEALS; PERFORMANCE ATTIRE; TRAVEL FOR LIVE COLLEGE AUDITIONS; AND ACCESS TO COMPUTERS AND RECORDING EQUIPMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 November 6, 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 June 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 June 2013.

    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 November 4, 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.