Orchestrating Dreams Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
INNOVATIVE SOCIAL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES MUSIC INSTRUCTION AS A VEHICLE FOR PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR UNDERSERVED CHILDREN.
- Income
- $310,938
- Spending
- $262,283
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 9.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 4
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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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.
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 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 (2)
- $187,543 spent. SEE SCHEDULE O
- ORCHESTRATING DREAMS BRIDGES THE GAP OF EQUITY IN MUSIC EDUCATION. THE ORGANIZATIONS PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO DEVELOP SKILLS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY CITIZEN ARTIST WHILE GIVING YOUNG NEW YORKERS TOOLS TO SUPPORT THEIR OWN RESILIENCE, CURIOSITY AND AGENCY IN THE WORLD.ORCHESTRATING DREAMS MISSION IS TO MAKE MUSIC EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. OUR MUSIC PROGRAMS DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS AND MUSIC ABILITIES IN 200 YOUNG NEW YORKERS WITHOUT ACCESS TO QUALITY MUSIC EDUCATION DUE TO DISABILITIES, LANGUAGE BARRIERS, OR FINANCIALS CIRCUMSTANCES. FOUNDED IN 2012, ORCHESTRATING DREAMS HAS SERVED OVER 3,000 UNDER-RESOURCED CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS IN NEW YORK CITY. WE PROVIDE PRIVATE LESSONS, MUSIC THEORY AND EAR TRAINING CLASSES, EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC EDUCATION, ORCHESTRAL STUDIES, AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS.OUR STUDENTS HAVE PERFORMED WITH ENSEMBLES SUCH AS THE SIMON BOLIVAR ORCHESTRA OF VENEZUELA CONDUCTED BY GUSTAVO DUDAMEL, ORCHESTRA OF ST. LUKES, AND THE MOSTLY MOZART FESTIVAL. THEY HAVE SHOWCASED THEIR TALENTS AT CARNEGIE HALL, MERKIN HALL, DIMENNA CENTER FOR CLASSICAL MUSIC, MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG, ALIAZA DOMINICANA CULTURAL CENTER, AND CLEMENTE SOTO VLEZ THEATRE. 100% OF ODS GRADUATES HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED TO COLLEGE AND ARE ON TRACK FOR GRADUATION FROM INSITUTIONS INCLUDING MANNIS SCHOOL OF MUSIC AT THE NEW SCHOOL, COLUMBIA UNIVERISTY, SUNY FREDONIA, SUNY POTSDAMS CRANE SCHOOL OF MUSIC, AND NORTHWESTERN U. THE MAJORITY OF PARTICIPANTS HAVE A HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF $40,000 OR LESS. IN THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, WE PROVIDED OVER $145,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS WITH FINANCIAL NEED.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.