Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

San Francisco Early Music Society

EIN 51-0194258 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SAN FRANCISCO EARLY MUSIC SOCIETY IS THE BAY AREAS PORTAL FOR EARLY MUSIC PROMOTING ENGAGEMENT WITH HISTORICALLY INFORMED PERFORMANCE SPANNING CENTURIES AND CULTURES AND CREATING A COMMUNITY REFLECTIVE OF OUR REGIONS DIVERSITY.

Income
$737,733
Spending
$844,818
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
32
Volunteers
80

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

Fair: 65 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Weak: 48 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $241,492 spent. EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS - FIVE WEEKS OF IN-PERSON CLASSES FOR AMATEUR AND PRE-PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS ON VARIOUS TOPICS IN EARLY MUSIC.
  2. $372,702 spent. CONCERT SEASON - PRESENTING LIVE CONCERTS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA FEATURING LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL ENSEMBLES AND ADJUNCT ONLINE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THE BIENNIAL BERKELEY FESTIVAL & EXHIBITION OF EARLY MUSIC.
  3. $103,020 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM - A PER-SERVICE ORCHESTRA AVAILABLE FOR HIRE TO SUPPORT LOCAL CHORAL ORGANIZATIONS AN ONLINE NEWSLETTER CALENDAR CLEARINGHOUSE FOR LOCAL EARLY MUSIC EVENTS AND AN AFFILIATE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FISCAL SPONSORSHIP AND OTHER SUPPORT TO APPR. TWENTY AFFILIATED EARLY MUSIC ENSEMBLES AND TEACHING ORGANIZATIONS,

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

  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 August 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 July 1976.

    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.