Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Chattanooga Boys Choir

EIN 62-0692977 · Chattanooga, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceGood73 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO POSTIVELY INFLUENCE AND DEVELOP THE LIVES OF BOYS BY PROVIDING A MUSIC PROGRAM OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY WHICH INCLUDES EDUCATION, APPRECIATION, AND PERFORMANCE.

Income
$243,379
Spending
$223,115
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
8.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 47%
Employees
13
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$42,292, finance 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 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 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 73 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $109,783 spent. MUSIC EDUCATION - THE CHOIR'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM PREPARES ITS CHORISTERS FOR LIFELONG PARTICIPATION IN MUSIC MAKING AND THE CHORAL ARTS, IN ADDITION TO INSTRUCTION DURING WEEKLY REHEARSALS, STUDENTS UTILIZE THE CHOIR'S COMPUTER MUSIC THEORY LAB AND CUSTOM TAILORED MUSICIANSHIP CURRICULUM TO LEARN BOTH BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS AND ADVANCED MUSICAL CONCEPTS. AS PART OF ITS EDUCATIONAL AIMS, THE CHOIR HOSTS IN SERVICE CLINICS FOR LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MUSIC TEACHERS AND SERVES AS A TRAINING GROUND FOR COLLEGIATE INTERNS IN BOTH MUSIC EDUCATION AND NON PROFIT MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS. THE CHOIR ALSO REGULARLY PRESENTS WORKSHOPS AND CLINICS FOR UNIVERSITY MUSIC METHODS COURSES, CHORAL MUSIC AND MUSIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE, AND CHURCH MUSIC TRAINING EVENTS.
  2. $62,186 spent. TOURING AND SUMMER MUSIC CAMP - THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTS A WEEK-LONG SUMMER CAMP IN JULY ON THE CAMPUS OF THE BAYLOR SCHOOL. PARTICIPANTS IN GRADES 3-12 TAKE PART IN CLASSES IN MUSIC THEORY, MUSICIANSHIP, COMPOSITION, GUITAR, UKULELE, VISUAL ART, RECREATION, TEAM BUILDING AND SWIMMING IN ADDITION TO DAILY CHORAL REHEARSALS. ALSO IN THE SUMMER, CHORISTERS IN GRADES 5-12 PARTICIPATE IN A PERFORMANCE TOUR OF VARYING LOCATIONS AND DURATIONS. MOST RECENTLY, THE CHOIR TOURED JOINTLY WITH THE CHATTANOOGA CHORAL SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN SONG TO FOUR CITIES IN THE SOUTH, WITH PERFORMANCES CENTERED AROUND MUSIC OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. RECENT TOURS INCLUDE COSTA RICA, THE PICCOLO SPOLETO FESTIVAL IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND CARNEGIE HALL IN NEW YORK CITY.
  3. $3,970 spent. PERFORMANCE - IN A TYPICAL YEAR, THE CHATTANOOGA BOYS CHOIR MAKES OVER30 APPEARANCES LOCALLY AND AS PART OF ITS SUMMER TOUR. ANNUAL PERFORMANCES INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY SING FOR INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE, HAMILTON SINGS, THE CHOIR'S OWN TENOR-BASS CHORAL FESTIVAL, A WINTER CONCERT, THE SIMMONS O'NEAL MEMORIAL CONCERT, SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AT THE CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS HOME OPENER, A TRAINING CHOIR'S RECITAL, PERFORMANCES AT HAMILTON COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND THE FINALE! SPRING CONCERT. IN ADDITION TO THESE ANNUAL APPEARANCES, EACH YEAR INCLUDE COLLABORATIVE CONCERTS WITH COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER THEMED CONCERTS (MUSIC OF THE BRITISH INVASION, MUSIC OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, SONGS OF FLIGHT AS EXAMPLES)

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 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 July 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 February 1958.

    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.