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California Music Center

EIN 51-0138643 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SEEK AND NURTURE EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG STRING MUSICIANS, FOSTER AND FURTHER THEIR PERFORMANCE AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, AND PROVIDE THEM WITH PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES AND MONETARY SUPPORT.

Income
$162,739
Spending
$177,241
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
23.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
1
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$38,854, executive di

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

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes -0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (4)
  1. $151,138 spent. SINCE 1986, THE IRVING M. KLEIN INTERNATIONAL STRING COMPETITION HAS ATTRACTED SOME OF THE WORLD'S FINEST YOUNG STRING PLAYERS TO SAN FRANCISCO EACH JUNE TO COMPETE FOR CASH PRIZES AND PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS WITH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ORCHESTRAS, SYMPHONIES AND CHAMBER SERIES TOTALING OVER 30,000. THE KLEIN COMPETITION HAS ACHIEVED INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AS ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS CLASSICAL MUSIC COMPETITIONS, RECOGNIZED FOR THE HIGH CALIBER OF THE CONTESTANTS, ITS UNIQUE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT, AND ITS COMMITMENT TO THE COMMISSIONING OF NEW WORKS.
  2. $5,609 spent. WE PRODUCE SEVERAL CHAMBER CONCERTS FEATURING KLEIN LAUREATES IN BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON SETTINGS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THESE INTIMATE RECITALS SHOWCASE THE TALENT THAT COMES OUT OF THE KLEIN COMPETITION WHILE CONNECTING WITH WIDER AUDIENCES ON A REGULAR BASIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
  3. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES FEATURE KLEIN LAUREATES AND RENOWNED TEACHERS FROM THE BEST CONSERVATORIES IN PUBLIC MASTER CLASSES, ASSEMBLIES AND CLASSROOM VISITS TO SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS.
  4. FULL MISSION STATEMENT: TO SEEK AND NURTURE EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG STRING MUSICIANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD BY FOSTERING AND FURTHERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR PERFORMANCE AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, PROVIDING THEM WITH PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES AND MONETARY SUPPORT, AND ENCOURAGING THEIR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 September 2025.

    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 July 1975.

    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.