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Baltimore Classical Guitar Society

EIN 52-1541578 · Luthvle Timon, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceWeak46 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO FOSTERING THE AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION OF THE CLASSICAL GUITAR. WE BELIEVE THAT THE GUITAR IS AN ACCESSIBLE AND VERSATILE INSTRUMENT THAT IS UNIQUELY CAPABLE OF BRINGING CLASSICAL MUSIC TO EVERYONE. WE ARE DEDICATED TO KEEPING UP WITH OUR MISSION OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT CLASSICAL GUITAR.

Income
$307,151
Spending
$181,085
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
50.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
0
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$70,000, 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 50.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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.

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $109,489 spent. INTERNATIONAL CONCERT SERIES: THE BCGS BRINGS THE WHOS WHO IN CLASSICAL GUITAR FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO PERFORM IN BALTIMORE EACH YEAR. FROM GRAMMY-WINNING SUPERSTARS TO YOUNG RISING STARS, AS WELL AS SHOWCASES WITH LOCAL ARTISTS AND EENSEMBLES.
  2. $15,457 spent. LULLABY PROJECT: THE LULLABY PROJECT SEEKS TO BRING SOCIAL CHANGE TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE GUITAR. WE PAIR A GRAMMY-WINNING ARTIST WITH PARTCIPANTS, AND TOGETHER THEY WRITE A PERSONAL LULLABY. WE WORK WITH TEEN MOMS AGED 14-18 WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH NEW LIFE AS MOTHERS, IN ADDITION TO WORKSHOPS WITH IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES WHO ARE ADJUSTING TO A NEW LIFE IN OUR COUNTRY, LOW INCOME SENIORS, AND WITH DISABLED VETERANS AND VETERANS IN LONG-TERM CARE AND MILITARY FAMILIES.
  3. $14,270 spent. GUITARS FOR CHANGE: GUITARS FOR CHANGE IS AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM IN WHICH WE IDENTITY IMMIGRANT YOUTH AT RISK AND GIVE THEM FREE GUITARS AND LESSONS IN AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM IS RUN IN AN AREA THAT HAS AGGRESSIVE GANG ACTIVITY, AND IMMIGRANT CHILDREN ARE ESPECIALLY AT RISK FOR INDUCTION INTO A GANG BECAUSE THERE ARE FEWER AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN WHCIH THEY CAN TAKE PART IN.

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 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 June 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 April 1992.

    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.

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