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Childrens Chorus of Washington

EIN 52-1946605 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHILDRENS CHORUS OF WASHINGTON NURTURES ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AND EMPOWERS YOUNG SINGERS BY CELEBRATING OUR SHARED HUMANITY AND THE VALUE OF EVERY VOICE.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
30
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$143,361, artistic director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • 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 July 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 (1)
  1. $820,151 spent. FOUNDED IN 1995, THE CHILDRENS CHORUS OF WASHINGTON CCW IS THE LEADING YOUTH CHORAL ORGANIZATION IN THE DMV AREA, DEDICATED TO NURTURING ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AND EMPOWERING YOUNG SINGERS BY CELEBRATING OUR SHARED HUMANITY AND THE VALUE OF EVERY VOICE. CCW PROVIDES INCLUSIVE, HIGH-QUALITY CHORAL EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN ACROSS THE REGION. WE BELIEVE IN THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF CHORAL MUSIC TO BUILD COMMUNITY, ENCOURAGE SELF-EXPRESSION, AND HIGHLIGHT THE VALUE OF EVERY VOICE. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, CCW HAS ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES THAT REFLECT ITS COMMITMENT TO ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND ACCESSIBILITY CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION CONTINUED AMONG ITS MOST NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE PERFORMANCES AT HIGH-PROFILE VENUES SUCH AS THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AND COLLABORATIONS WITH PRESTIGIOUS ENSEMBLES, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA, AND WOLF TRAP OPERA. THESE COLLABORATIONS HAVE GIVEN CCWS YOUNG SINGERS THE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AT A WORLD-CLASS LEVEL, EXPOSING THEM TO ADVANCED REPERTOIRE AND FOSTERING A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE PERFORMING ARTS. IN RECENT YEARS, CCW HAS EXPANDED ITS REACH TO SERVE MORE SINGERS ACROSS THE DMV, WITH A FOCUS ON DELIVERING ITS PROGRAMMING TO UNDERSERVED, AND ALL TOO OFTEN OVERLOOKED, COMMUNITIES. IN SEASON 2023-2024, CCW ACHIEVED RECORD ENROLLMENT WITH 230 STUDENTS IN THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM - EXCEEDING PRE-PANDEMIC ENROLLMENT BY 15, AND THEN FOLLOWED WITH A FURTHER 25 GROWTH IN SEASON 2024-25, BEGINNING THE YEAR WITH 287 SINGERS. A KEY FACTOR IN ACHIEVING THIS GROWTH HAS BEEN THE LAUNCH OF A NEW SITE IN SOUTHWEST DC, OFFERED TO SINGERS IN TRAINING GRADES 2-3 AND TREBLE GRADES 3-5 ENSEMBLES, WHERE WE RECRUITED OVER 40 NEW CHORISTERS OF DIVERSE RACE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS BETTER REFLECTING THE TRUE NATURE OF THE GREATER WASHINGTON, DC REGION. 25 OF STUDENTS COME FROM HOUSEHOLDS WITH LESS THAN 50,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME, AND 57 OF STUDENTS IDENTIFY AS PEOPLE OF COLOR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 July 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 January 1996.

    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.