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Orchestra of the Americas Group Inc

EIN 52-2309214 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

For more than two decades, The Orchestra of the Americas Group has supported thousands of musicians and arts leaders as artists, innovators, and institutional builders. Through its flagship initiatives, OAcademy and The Global Leaders Institute for Arts Innovation, the organization equips creatives with the artistic mastery, strategic insight, and global networks required to lead meaningful transformation across the cultural sector.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
4
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$148,187, ceo

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 52% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    74 of 74 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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 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. $862,997 spent. OAcademy is a globally accessible conservatory designed for today's music profession. Combining online instruction with in-person residencies, it brings together 80 selected musicians from around the world for a six-month experience focused on artistic excellence, adaptability, and career sustainability. In collaboration with partners including The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Canada's National Arts Centre, and Bard College Conservatory, OAcademy expands access to elite mentorship while reducing geographic and economic barriers to entry. OAcademy's advanced tracks include the Carlos Miguel Prieto Conducting Fellowship, the Gabriela Ortiz Composing Studio, and the Gabriela Montero Piano Lab. These provide specialized, career-defining development for conductors, composers, and pianists preparing for international leadership.
  2. $885,273 spent. The Global Leaders Institute for Arts Innovation delivers The Global Arts MBA, an innovation-focused graduate degree for artists and cultural entrepreneurs building scalable, market-responsive enterprises. Co-curated with leading universities and think tanks including Harvard, Georgetown, Stanford, Duke, and the University of Oxford, the MBA connects fellows to a global faculty of distinguished practitioners and field partners across more than 40 nations. The Global Leaders Institute also offers Lideres, a Spanish-language executive fellowship for arts leaders from the Ibero Americas, providing strategic, cross-disciplinary training tailored to cultural innovators operating in Spanish-speaking contexts.
  3. $198,424 spent. The Montero at Prager concert series brings world-class musicians, mentorship, and community engagement to Maryland's Eastern Shore through performances at the Prager Family Center for the Arts on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
  4. $71,601 spent. The OA Group additionally oversees Sinfonica Azteca, a collaborative project with Fundacion Azteca in Mexico that connects music education with international performance pathways.

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 September 2001.

    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.