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Bach Festival Society of Winter Park

EIN 59-6015959 · Winter Park, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE BACH FESTIVAL SOCIETY IS TO INSPIRE THE HUMAN SPIRIT THROUGH GREAT CLASSICAL MUSIC, FEATURING POWERFUL CHORAL PERFORMANCES, AS WE CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF J.S. BACH.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 42%
Employees
15
Volunteers
435
Highest pay
$113,615, executive di

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

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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

    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 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. $1.3 million spent. BFS PRESENTS A VARIETY OF CHORAL AND ORCHESTRAL PROGRAMMING ANNUALLY. THE ANNUAL BACH FESTITVAL TAKES PLACE IN FEBRUARY-EARLY MARCH AND CONSISTS OF 10-12 PERFORMANCES BY THE BACH FESTIVAL CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA, GUEST SOLOISTS, LECTURERS, AND ENSEMBLES ALONG WITH RELATED COMMUNITY EVENTS. THE CHORAL MASTERWORKS SERIES FEATURES 8 PERFORMANCES INCLUDING A VARIETY OF CHORAL REPERTIORE, AND THE VISITING ARTISTS SERIES PRESENTS THE HIGHEST- QUALITY GUEST SOLOISTS AND ENSEMBLES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. THE INSIGHTS AND SOUNDS SERIES FEATURES CONDUCTOR DR. JOHN SINCLAIR IN AN INFORMATIVE AND ENTERTAINING CLASSICAL CONCERT SERIES.
  2. $51,192 spent. BFS PRESENTS A VARIETY OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND COLLBORATION DESIGNED TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER STUDENTS AND ADULTS THROUGH DIRECT PARTICIPATION WITH THE ARTS. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL CHORAL WORKSHOPS, A HIGH SCHOOL CHORAL FESTIVAL, AND YOUNG AT HEART CHORALE OF SIGNERS 55 AND OVER, AND A YOUTH CHOIR WITH STUDENTS AGED 9-16. BFS ALSO BRINGS SOME OF ITS MASTER ARTISTS TO STUDENTS AS PART OF THE SHARE THE MUSIC PROGRAM.
  3. $55,458 spent. FRESHSTARTS BRINGS EDUCATIONAL AND ARTISTIC EXPERIENCES TO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH LIVE PERFORMANCES IN ORANGE, SEMINOLE, AND OSCEOLA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. TEACHERS CHOOSE FROM A SELECTION OF TEN PROGRAMS THAT SUPPLEMENT THEIR TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM CURRICULUM.

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 December 1955.

    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.