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The Thirteen

EIN 46-3738034 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Thirteen is a professional choir and orchestra with a mission to inspire the soul to sing, move the heart to empathy, and build community, all through groundbreaking musical performance: through concerts, workshops, education outreach, recordings, and music commissions.

Income
$662,777
Spending
$609,701
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
6.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
3
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$67,425, artistic 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

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Strong: 91 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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. $433,822 spent. Concerts & Workshops: The Thirteen's 2024-25 Season presented five choral programs for nearly 3000 audience members in 14 concerts. We also organized 6 workshops for students reaching 167 participants. Besides performing live in DC, Virginia, and Maryland, we offered online access to our performances to a growing worldwide audience. October featured Bach's Complete Motets, featuring choir, soloists, and Baroque orchestra. The December program, Handel's Messiah, also featured choir, soloists, and Baroque orchestra. In February we performed a program titled To the Field of Stars, featuring David Lang's Little Match Girl Passion paired with Gabriel Jackson's To the Field of Stars, accompanied by immersive projection designs by Camilla Tassi. March's program featured J.S. Bach's Early Masses, accompanied by Baroque orchestra. Our season culminated in May with a program titled The New American Songbook, which included works by contemporary American composers and a world premiere commission by composer Juhi Bansal. The May program included our 2025 class of Vocal Fellows who performed side by side with our rostered artists.
  2. $49,220 spent. Vocal Fellows Program: The Thirteen's Vocal Fellows Program is a semester-long career training and coaching program for early-career singers who have experienced obstacles in their pursuit of education or careers in the choral oratorio field. The Fellowship's mentorship activities focus on strategies for professional development, preparing for auditions and rehearsals, entrepreneurship, finding success as a classically trained singer and developing an authentic artistic voice. The Fellowship culminates in rehearsals, solo recitals, and participation alongside the fully rostered artists of the Thirteen in one of our season programs. Note that our Vocal Fellowship Program activity also benefits from expenses associated above and below with concerts and commissions.
  3. $6,000 spent. Commissioning and New Works: The Thirteen is committed to expanding the canon of choral music. Several performances highlighted The Thirteen's championing of recent works, in particular our May program which featured our world premiere commission from Juhi Bansal, We Came Searching for a Home. Note that our commissioning and new works activity also benefits from expenses associated above with concerts and the Vocal Fellows Program.

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 July 2014.

    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.