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Uniting Voices

EIN 51-0140419 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE AND CHANGE LIVES THROUGH MUSIC.

Income
$6.2 million
Spending
$5.5 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
61
Volunteers
181
Highest pay
$324,651, president

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    42 of 42 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (4)
  1. $1.8 million spent. THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHOIR PROGRAM PROVIDES AFTER-SCHOOL, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE MUSIC EDUCATION TO STUDENTS AGES 6-18 IN 12 COMMUNITIES. THESE SINGERS MEANINGFULLY CONNECT WITH PEERS ACROSS THE CITY AND BEYOND, LEARN MUSIC AND MOVEMENT FROM MANY GENRES AND CULTURES, ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE ABOUT THE HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT OF MUSIC AND PARTICIPATE IN PROFESSIONAL-LEVEL PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES.
  2. $1.1 million spent. THE SCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDES CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE MUSIC EDUCATION TO STUDENTS AGES 8-14 WITHIN THEIR OWN SCHOOL. THESE SINGERS LEARN VOCAL MUSIC AND MOVEMENT FROM MANY GENRES AND CULTURES, BASIC MUSICIANSHIP AND PERFORMANCE SKILLS AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN CITY-WIDE, PROFESSIONAL-LEVEL PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES.
  3. $823,055 spent. VOICE OF CHICAGO IS UNITING VOICES' PREMIER ENSEMBLE, COMPRISED OF SINGERS AGES 14-18 WHO REFLECT THE CITY'S RICH CULTURAL DIVERSITY. VOICE OF CHICAGO SINGERS RECEIVE 5-12 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION WEEKLY, AND HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH PEERS THEY MAY NOT OTHERWISE MEET, COLLABORATE WITH WORLD-CLASS ARTISTS, PARTICIPATE IN HIGH PROFILE PERFORMANCES, TOUR NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AND BUILD LEADERSHIP SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE.
  4. $129,158 spent. THE UNITING VOICES LEXINGTON PROGRAM PROVIDES AFTER-SCHOOL, PERFORMANCE-BASED LEARNING BUILT AROUND INNOVATIVE CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS AND COMPELLING ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS. UNITING VOICES LEXINGTON DEVELOPS PROGRAMS THAT INTENTIONALLY EMBRACE THE DIVERSITY OF THE BLUEGRASS REGION, MAKING A HIGH CALIBER MUSIC EDUCATION AVAILABLE TO ANY SINGER WHO WANTS IT.

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 October 13, 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 September 1975.

    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 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.