Saecula Choir Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SAECULA CHOIR FOUNDATION TRANSFORMS LIVES THROUGH CHORAL MUSIC BY PROVIDING MUSIC EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES TO INDIVIDUALS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS.
- Income
- $52,519
- Spending
- $66,644
- Spent on programs
- 60%
- Reserves
- -10.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 61%
- Employees
- 1
- Highest pay
- $16,000, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1559% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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)
- $39,625 spent. ENSEMBLES SAECULA SCHOLA CANTORUM IS A ONE-ON-A-PART LABORATORY-STYLE VOCAL ENSEMBLE PROVIDING ADVANCED SIGHT-SINGING AND SIGHT-CONDUCTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXCEPTIONALLY TALENTED MUSICIANS OF ALL AGES. AS A PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO FOSTER PROFESSIONALISM AND INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY, THE SCHOLA IS OF PARTICULAR VALUE TO EXCEPTIONALLY TALENTED SCHOOL-AGED MUSICIANS WHO WOULD NEVER OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO SUCH RIGOROUS AND FAST- PACED MUSIC-MAKING EXPERIENCES PRIOR TO COLLEGE OR GRADUATE SCHOOL. AT EACH SESSION, MEMBERS READ THROUGH SEVERAL UNFAMILIAR PIECES, REHEARSE THEM BRIEFLY, AND THEN PRESENT THEM TO A SMALL AUDIENCE. PARTICIPANTS COACH ONE ANOTHER AND TAKE TURNS CONDUCTING. REPERTOIRE INCLUDES RENAISSANCE POLYPHONY AND CHORAL CHAMBER MUSIC OF ALL PERIODS. DURING 2022, THE ENSEMBLE PERFORMED COMPLINE SERVICES AT SEVERAL CHURCHES IN CONNECTICUT, INCLUDING SEYMOUR CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN SEYMOUR, ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN WATERBURY, AND ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN WASHINGTON. SAECULA SINGERS IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL TREBLE-VOICE CHAMBER CHOIR PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIFTED SINGERS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS (AGES 7 THROUGH ADULT) TO DEVELOP CONDUCTING SKILLS, LEADERSHIP, CONFIDENCE, AND STAGE PRESENCE IN A CHALLENGING YET SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. THE GROUP PERFORMED IN SEVERAL EVENTS AT ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN WASHINGTON, CONNECTICUT. OUTREACH ACTIVITIES SAECULA CHORAL BRIDGE IS A NEW SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IN WHICH OUTSTANDING MUSIC STUDENTS FROM LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES SERVE AS MENTORS AND TEACHERS-IN-TRAINING AT EDUCATIONAL CAMPS FOR AT-RISK YOUTH. THE INAUGURAL CHORAL BRIDGE PROJECT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2022 IN COLLABORATION WITH HORIZONS AT THE FOOTE SCHOOL, AN AWARD-WINNING, TUITION-FREE, ACADEMIC AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM SERVING LOW-INCOME PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM THE NEW HAVEN COMMUNITY. ENSEMBLES SAECULA SCHOLA CANTORUM IS A ONE-ON-A-PART LABORATORY-STYLE VOCAL ENSEMBLE PROVIDING ADVANCED SIGHT-SINGING AND SIGHT-CONDUCTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXCEPTIONALLY TALENTED MUSICIANS OF ALL AGES. AS A PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO FOSTER PROFESSIONALISM AND INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY, THE SCHOLA IS OF PARTICULAR VALUE TO EXCEPTIONALLY TALENTED SCHOOL-AGED MUSICIANS WHO WOULD NEVER OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO SUCH RIGOROUS AND FAST- PACED MUSIC-MAKING EXPERIENCES PRIOR TO COLLEGE OR GRADUATE SCHOOL. AT EACH SESSION, MEMBERS READ THROUGH SEVERAL UNFAMILIAR PIECES, REHEARSE THEM BRIEFLY, AND THEN PRESENT THEM TO A SMALL AUDIENCE. PARTICIPANTS COACH ONE ANOTHER AND TAKE TURNS CONDUCTING. REPERTOIRE INCLUDES RENAISSANCE POLYPHONY AND CHORAL CHAMBER MUSIC OF ALL PERIODS. DURING 2022, THE ENSEMBLE PERFORMED COMPLINE SERVICES AT SEVERAL CHURCHES IN CONNECTICUT, INCLUDING SEYMOUR CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN SEYMOUR, ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN WATERBURY, AND ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN WASHINGTON. SAECULA SINGERS IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL TREBLE-VOICE CHAMBER CHOIR PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIFTED SINGERS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS (AGES 7 THROUGH ADULT) TO DEVELOP CONDUCTING SKILLS, LEADERSHIP, CONFIDENCE, AND STAGE PRESENCE IN A CHALLENGING YET SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. THE GROUP PERFORMED IN SEVERAL EVENTS AT ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN WASHINGTON, CONNECTICUT. OUTREACH ACTIVITIES SAECULA CHORAL BRIDGE IS A NEW SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IN WHICH OUTSTANDING MUSIC STUDENTS FROM LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES SERVE AS MENTORS AND TEACHERS-IN-TRAINING AT EDUCATIONAL CAMPS FOR AT-RISK YOUTH. THE INAUGURAL CHORAL BRIDGE PROJECT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2022 IN COLLABORATION WITH HORIZONS AT THE FOOTE SCHOOL, AN AWARD-WINNING, TUITION-FREE, ACADEMIC AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM SERVING LOW-INCOME PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM THE NEW HAVEN COMMUNITY.
- COOPERATIVE LIVING PROGRAM THIS SAECULA COOPERATIVE LIVING PROGRAM PROVIDES SAFE, HEALTHY, AFFORDABLE COMMUNAL HOUSING FOR A SMALL GROUP OF YOUNG ADULTS (AGES 18 AND OLDER) WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION OF "TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH CHORAL MUSIC- AND WHO ARE CURRENTLY AND/OR HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CHORAL MUSIC COMMUNITY.
- INSTITUTE SAECULA CHORAL INSTITUTE IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CONDUCTORS AND MUSIC EDUCATORS, WHICH OFFERS WORKSHOPS, MASTERCLASSES, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS COVERING A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS RELATED TO LEADERSHIP, CONDUCTING, AND CHORAL PEDAGOGY. PARTICIPANTS ARE INVITED TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS IN A COLLABORATIVE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF EXPERIENCED CLINICIANS AND FACILITATORS. THE INSTITUTE'S CHORAL EXPLORATION ONLINE COACHING PROGRAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL AND SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION IN MUSICIANSHIP AND CONDUCTING VIA TELECONFERENCE. DURING 2022, MORE THAN 50 SESSIONS WERE HELD, EACH LASTING BETWEEN ONE AND TWO HOURS. A WIDE ARRAY OF SUBJECTS WERE EXPLORED, INCLUDING MUSIC HISTORY, FORM AND ANALYSIS, SCORE STUDY, EAR TRAINING, HARMONY AND COUNTERPOINT, VOCAL TECHNIQUE, PHRASING, DICTION, COMPOSITION, CONDUCTING GESTURE, AND PHILOSOPHY OF LEADERSHIP. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT, IN THE YEARS AHEAD, MANY OF THESE TOPICS WILL BECOME PILLARS OF THE CURRICULUM OF SAECULA CHORAL ACADEMY (SCA) A YET-TO-BE-ESTABLISHED PRE- COLLEGE CONSERVATORY DEDICATED TO PROVIDING WORLD-CLASS TRAINING IN CONDUCTING, ACCOMPANYING, COMPOSITION, AND ENSEMBLE SINGING TO PRODIGIOUSLY TALENTED MUSICIANS, AGES 7-18. INSTITUTE SAECULA CHORAL INSTITUTE IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CONDUCTORS AND MUSIC EDUCATORS, WHICH OFFERS WORKSHOPS, MASTERCLASSES, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS COVERING A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS RELATED TO LEADERSHIP, CONDUCTING, AND CHORAL PEDAGOGY. PARTICIPANTS ARE INVITED TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS IN A COLLABORATIVE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF EXPERIENCED CLINICIANS AND FACILITATORS. THE INSTITUTE'S CHORAL EXPLORATION ONLINE COACHING PROGRAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL AND SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION IN MUSICIANSHIP AND CONDUCTING VIA TELECONFERENCE. DURING 2022, MORE THAN 50 SESSIONS WERE HELD, EACH LASTING BETWEEN ONE AND TWO HOURS. A WIDE ARRAY OF SUBJECTS WERE EXPLORED, INCLUDING MUSIC HISTORY, FORM AND ANALYSIS, SCORE STUDY, EAR TRAINING, HARMONY AND COUNTERPOINT, VOCAL TECHNIQUE, PHRASING, DICTION, COMPOSITION, CONDUCTING GESTURE, AND PHILOSOPHY OF LEADERSHIP. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT, IN THE YEARS AHEAD, MANY OF THESE TOPICS WILL BECOME PILLARS OF THE CURRICULUM OF SAECULA CHORAL ACADEMY (SCA) A YET-TO-BE-ESTABLISHED PRE- COLLEGE CONSERVATORY DEDICATED TO PROVIDING WORLD-CLASS TRAINING IN CONDUCTING, ACCOMPANYING, COMPOSITION, AND ENSEMBLE SINGING TO PRODIGIOUSLY TALENTED MUSICIANS, AGES 7-18.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.
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 August 2016.
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 November 4, 2026.
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