Whin Music Community Charter School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE WASHINGTON HEIGHTS AND INWOOD MUSIC COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL ("WHIN MUSIC CHARTER SCHOOL OR "WHIN") WILL PROVIDE OUR DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION WITH A RIGOROUS ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, INTENSIVE MUSIC EDUCATION, AND A POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT SO THAT EVERY STUDENT CAN THRIVE ACADEMICALLY AND PERSONALLY.
- Income
- $12.9 million
- Spending
- $14.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- -0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 74%
- Employees
- 93
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $269,225, executive 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: 36 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 99% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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 (1)
- $11.5 million spent. 'THE WASHINGTON HEIGHTS AND INWOOD MUSIC COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL (WHIN) WAS FOUNDED TO OFFER STUDENTS FROM WASHINGTON HEIGHTS AND INWOOD A RIGOROUS ACADEMIC EDUCATION AND INTENSIVE DAILY MUSICAL INSTRUCTION INSPIRED BY THE INTERNATIONALLY-RENOWNED EL SISTEMA MOVEMENT. SERVING 486 STUDENTS IN GRADES K-8 WHEN FULLY ENROLLED, WHIN'S VISION IS TO CREATE A POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT ENSURES ALL STUDENTS ARE MEETING OR EXCEEDING LEARNING STANDARDS THROUGH A RIGOROUS COMMON CORE-ALIGNED AND MUSIC-INFUSED CURRICULUM ENRICHED BY INTENSIVE DAILY MUSIC INSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. OUR WORK WILL BE CONTINUALLY GUIDED BY THE VALUES AND PRACTICES OF EL SISTEMA, STRIVING TO IMBUE STUDENTS WITH A LOVE OF MUSIC AND LEARNING AND INSPIRING OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY TO BECOME AGENTS OF CHANGE IN THE WORLD THROUGH THE PURSUIT OF ACADEMIC AND MUSICAL EXCELLENCE. OUR PROGRAM UTILIZES A PROJECT- AND INQUIRY-BASED INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL DIFFERENTIATED FOR EACH LEARNER'S UNIQUE NEEDS AND FACILITATES THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY THROUGH MUSIC AND SOCIAL INCLUSION. THESE ARE PROVEN STRATEGIES THAT PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH EXECUTIVE FUNCTION AND SELF-REGULATION SKILLS (BASED ON THREE TYPES OF BRAIN FUNCTION: WORKING MEMORY, MENTAL FLEXIBILITY, AND SELF-CONTROL), WHICH HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ESSENTIAL FOR IMPROVING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, DEVELOPING POSITIVE BEHAVIORS, AND BUILDING COMMUNITY.
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 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 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 2017.
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.
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.