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El Sistema Oklahoma Inc

EIN 47-1650812 · Oklahoma City, OK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF EL SISTEMA OKLAHOMA IS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY BY ENGAGING CHILDREN WITHIN AN ENSEMBLE-BASED MUSIC PROGRAM SO THEY CAN SHARE THE JOY OF MUSIC-MAKING AND GROW AS RESPONSIBLE AND PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.

Income
$600,568
Spending
$720,060
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
-1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
5
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$165,529, executive director

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

Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 185% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    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 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)
  1. $491,237 spent. EL SISTEMA OKLAHOMA IS AN AFTER SCHOOL MUSIC ORGANIZATION SERVING STUDENTS IN GRADES 2-12. OUR PROGRAM RUNS 5 DAYS A WEEK AND FOLLOWS THE OKLAHOMA PUBLIC SCHOOL CALENDAR. WE OFFER 2 PROGRAMS: OUR ORIGINAL PROGRAM LOCATED IN OKLAHOMA CITY SERVES APPROXIMATELY 220 STUDENTS WITH THE FOCUS ON ORCHESTRAL MUSIC AND ENSEMBLES. STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED FREE MATERIALS AND INSTRUMENTS, LESSONS, PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES, SNACKS AND OTHER SUPPORT FREE OF CHARGE. STUDENTS DO NOT AUDITION TO BE IN THE PROGRAM BUT ARE REFERRED BY OUR PARTNERING SCHOOLS AS SOMEONE NEEDING HOPE OR COMMUNITY. OUR VOCAL PROGRAM LOCATED IN EDMOND SERVES APPROXIMATELY 25 STUDENTS IN GRADES 2-5. IT IS DESIGNED TO BE AN INCLUSIVE PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS OF ALL ABILITIES. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN SINGING, ACTING, PLAYING SIMPLE INSTRUMENTS AND PERFORMANCES. NO AUDITION IS REQUIRED AND STUDENTS ARE REFERRED BY OUR PARTNERING SCHOOLS. IT IS ALSO FREE OF CHARGE.OVER 85% OF THE STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE ARE CLASSIFIED AS FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH. WE HAVE A DIVERSE RANGE OF CULTURES AND BACKGROUNDS IN OUR PROGRAM AS WELL.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2015.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.