Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra Society Inc

EIN 61-6027055 · Lexington, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE, IN COOPERATION WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE HIGHEST QUALITY MUSICAL OPPORTUNITIES AND TO FOSTER A LIFE- LONG LOVE OF MUSIC FOR DEDICATED YOUNG MUSICIANS. CKYO ENRICHES THE LIVES OF ITS STUDENT MEMBERS THROUGH A DYNAMIC CURRICULUM FOCUSED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF MUSICAL EXCELLENCE AT ALL LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE, AND SEEKS OUT STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO ENSURE ITS RESPONSIVENESS TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$565,711
Spending
$553,211
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
13.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
10
Volunteers
265
Highest pay
$88,903, music direct

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.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 74 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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. $203,644 spent. AUDITION-BASED ORCHESTRAS - MUSICAL ENSEMBLES THAT REQUIRE STUDENTS TO PASS AN AUDITION, MEET A CERTAIN MUSICAL LEVEL, AND PAY TUITION FOR PARTICIPATION. ENSEMBLES ARE COMPETITIVE AND PERFORM AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF MUSICAL EXCELLENCE, MORE ADVANCED THAN WHAT LOCAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL ENSEMBLES PROVIDE. STUDENTS MEET WEEKLY FOR REHEARSALS AND PERFORM 3 MAINSTAGE CONCERTS EACH SCHOOL YEAR. OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHAMBER ENSEMBLES, MASTERCLASSES, AND TRAVEL ARE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS IN THESE ENSEMBLES TO FURTHER ENHANCE THEIR MUSICAL EDUCATION. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE PROVIDED TO ANY STUDENT WHO NEEDS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BY APPLICATION TO THE BOARD.
  2. $80,986 spent. PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS - THE ENSEMBLES AND PROGRAMS OF CKYO PERFORM TICKETED AND FREE EVENTS AND CONCERTS IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS.
  3. $143,205 spent. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS - COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ARE AFTER-SCHOOL MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL AGED STUDENTS THAT FOCUS ON LEARNING, PEER TEACHING AND MENTORING, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ARE HELD IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND SCHOOLS THAT ARE UNDERSERVED AND HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED. THESE PROGRAMS TEACH CHILDREN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE AND GROUP LEARNING AT NO COST TO THE FAMILY.

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 November 6, 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 June 1974.

    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 November 4, 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.