Da Camera Society of Texas
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DACAMERA inspires individuals and enriches communities through diverse and inventive musical experiences, including an annual subscription series of jazz and chamber music concerts, Young Artist training, in-school music programs, and free community concerts.
- Income
- $3.4 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 6.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 74%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 27
- Highest pay
- $283,114, 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
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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
25 of 2527 of 27 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $1.8 million spent. Subscription Series: DACAMERA's 2024-25 season explored the idea of Alchemy: The Magic of Musical Transformation. Highlights included celebrated string quartets such as the Telegraph, Takacs and Meta4 Quartets, and dynamic pianists such as Jeremy Denk and Alexandre Kantrow. Explorations of the music of our time included a composer portrait of Thomas Ades, the Houston premiere of a major solo work for piano by Tyshawn Sorey, and the world premiere of a significant new work by Roscoe Mitchell. Our jazz series saw dazzling performances by the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Lakecia Benjamin, Lizz Wright, Jason Moran, and Vijay Iyer, among others.
- $380,864 spent. Education and Community Engagement Programming: DACAMERA presented a variety of programs to increase its audience and enhance the appreciation of chamber music and jazz beyond the concert hall. Programs included the DACAMERA Young Artist Program (a career development program for instrumentalists, vocalists and composers), in-school educational programs tailored for each classroom and facilitated by Young Artists and teaching musicians, professional development workshops with international artists and speakers, and numerous free concerts throughout the Houston community. In the 2024-25 season, DACAMERA presented 500 community and educational events, impacting over 17,000 people.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1988.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.