Salem Band
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To provide perform free concert band concerts to the communities we serve. The organization has been in existence since 1771 and has performed summer concerts outdoors in Salem Square Old Salem NC since the late 1800s. Salem Band has added 4 free indoor concerts Winter Fall and two Holiday concerts over the years. The top three program service accomplishments comprise the Salem Bands three concert series and the concerts are funded by individual and corporate donations season sponsorships can be purchased for 500. The Salem Swing Band program service revenue Schedule O is generated when the Salem Swing Band plays for swing dances that follow swing dance lessons and these concerts are typically funded by grants. The salaries of the three Salem Band employees are allocated across the program services given that 100% of what they do is focused on the Salem Band mission.
- Income
- $69,158
- Spending
- $49,766
- Reserves
- 30.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Highest pay
- $22,000, music director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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)
- $14,808 spent. Summer Concert Series: Salem Band provides free outdoor concert band performances on Salem Square in Old Salem Winston-Salem NC. The concerts fraw 300-800 attendees each with the Stars & Stripes concert being the most attended. The series was to be comprised of four varied concerts i 2025 running from late May to early August.
- $8,977 spent. Winter Fall Concert Series: Salem Band provides free indoor concert band music in Hanes Auditorium on the Salem College campus in February and October. These two concerts draw about 300 attendees each. The winter concert features challenging concert band music while the fall program is typically lighter in nature Space Exploration in 2025 featured music from space themed movies and TV shows such as Star Wars and Star Trek.
- $7,907 spent. Holiday Concert Series: These two free indoor concerts are hosted by local churches during the holiday season in mid- to late-December and draw 450-600 attendees each. The donation proceeds from the first of the two concerts are donated each year to ministry partner Sunnyside Ministry.
- $6,970 spent. Lewisviille Swing Band Lessons: The Shallow Ford Foundation provides grants that enable the swing band to play at swing dances at the Mary Alice Warren Town Center in Lewisville NC. The swing dances follow swing dance lessons that are provided by a third party for a fee. The swing band performed at two of these events in 2025.
- $4,480 spent. Salem Swing Band other swing dances: The Salem Swing Band also receives grants from the Piedmont Swing Dance Society to play at dances following lessons. Additionally the swing band plays a holiday concert each December and this concert not typically a dance is funded by passing the hat no admission charge. The dances and concerts were funded in 2025 using a combination of 1,100 in grants 800 - one dance at the Clemmons Gym; 300 - concert at Sherwood Forest United Methodist Church and 756 in concert pass the hat donations Holiday Concert at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Winston-Salem.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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 October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on February 15, 2011 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on August 15, 2014.
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 2025.
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 2014.
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.
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.