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Conspirare Inc

EIN 74-2611315 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

INSPIRED BY THE POWER OF MUSIC TO CHANGE LIVES, CONSPIRARE IS A GRAMMY-WINNING CHOIR AND NONPROFIT PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT BELIEVES IN THE POWER OF MUSIC TO CHANGE LIVES, INSPIRE PEACE, AND FOSTER BELONGING. CONSPIRARE, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF CRAIG HELLA JOHNSON, ENGAGES A NATIONWIDE ROSTER OF SINGERS TO PRESENT AN ANNUAL CONCERT SEASON OF CHORAL MUSIC THAT INCLUDES CONCERTS IN AUSTIN,TEXAS AND FREE LIVESTREAM OFFERINGS. CONSPIRARE TOURS REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY. CONSPIRARE ALSO PRODUCES RECORDINGS THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED INTERNATIONALLY AS CDS AND STREAMING ALBUMS. IN ADDITION, CONSPIRARE PROVIDES FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS INCLUDING THE BIG SING AND COLLABORATES WTIH SCHOOLS AND OTHER OGRANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE MASTER CLASSES AND SESSIONS WITH ARTISTIC DIRECTOR CRAIG HELLA JOHNSON AND THE CONSPIRARE ARTISTS.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
7
Volunteers
142
Highest pay
$132,348, artistic director

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: 48 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 17 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $1.5 million spent. ESTABLISHED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS IN 1991, CONSPIRARE IS A GRAMMY-WINNING CHOIR AND NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATION. CONSPIRARE IS AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CHOIR WITH A REPUTATION FOR "EXPANDING THE BOUNDARIES OF CHORAL PERFORMANCE" (WALL STREET JOURNAL). CONSPIRARE, WHICH TRANSLATES FROM LATIN AS "TO BREATHE TOGETHER," IS LED BY FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR CRAIG HELLA JOHNSON, AND IS COMPRISED OF SOLOISTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. CONSPIRARE PRESENTS AN ANNUAL SEASON AND TOURS REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY, AND INTERNATIONALLY. CONSPIRARE'S EXTENSIVE DISCOGRAPHY INCLUDES 17 INTERNATIONALLY RELEASED ALBUMS ON HARMONIA MUNDI (PIAS), DELOS AND OUTHERE AND 19 SELF-PRODUCED CONSPIRARE CHRISTMAS ALBUMS. THE THE SACRED SPIRIT OF RUSSIA WON THE 2015 GRAMMY FOR BEST CHORAL PERFORMANCE AND CONSPIRARE ALBUMS HAVE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF TWELVE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS. IN ADDITION TO THE GRAMMY-WINNING CHAMBER CHOIR, THE ORGANIZATION ALSO INCLUDES THE CONSPIRARE SYMPHONIC CHOIR. CONSPIRARE PROVIDES OUTREACH THROUGH PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE BIG SING, ON-CAMPUS MASTERCLASSES FOR HIGH SCHOOL CHOIRS AND THEIR DIRECTORS AND CONCERT-RELATED OFFERINGS.

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 October 1991.

    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.