29 11 International Exchange
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The organization's primary mission is to facilitate programs that give opportunity for entertainment artists from South Africa(primarily),to work with other artists in Africa, and the USA to create and develop their art while spreading a message of hope and reconciliation. Primary programs include music and culture tours and artist development retreats called "Music in a Bubble".
- Income
- $375,488
- Spending
- $389,019
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 0.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 77%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $46,000, executive artistic director/co-founder
Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 February 28, 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)
- $130,000 spent. Program Activity: Music and Cultural Tour to the USA - January through April 2024. Program Objective: Facilitate a music and culture tour with 12 African Performance artists from South Africa (10) and The Democratic Republic of Congo - DRC (2). Accomplishments/Outcomes: Participants engaged in music and culture exchanges on 83 occasions collaborating with churches, schools, universities, nursing homes, hospitals, Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Chorale, MacPhail Center for Music, nonprofit organizations, and several city park amphitheater performances. Standout Accomplishment:29:11 Ensemble participated in "Young People's Orchestra" with members of the Grammy Award winning Minnesota Orchestra. With performances at over 12 schools, along-side string quartet players from the Orchestra, and 3 follow up performances with the full Orchestra at Orchestra Hall, performing for over 9000 students from schools around the Twin Cities. Other Accomplishments: The Ensemble travelled to 3 other states, including Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska. As a result of engaging with us, we hope audiences will become more aware of opportunities to promote kind and peaceful change as a way to address racial inequalities in their communities. Offered new ways for audiences to learn about and appreciate African music, culture and history. Future Plans: The organization will plan to have these international exchange tours bi-annually or annually as the demand and funding allows.
- $180,890 spent. Program Activity: "Music in a Bubble" Virtual Tour/Retreat. July, 2024, & October, 15 - November, 15 2024, Program Objective: Executive Artistic Director Brendon Adams traveled to South Africa to retreat with 13 29:11 members in a secure location. The primary purpose of the retreats was to give the participants an opportunity to get to know one another, learn new music, record new music and prepare for the up-coming US Tour. Accomplishments/Outcomes: Participants during the July Music in a Bubble participated in a song writing retreat, with exercises specific to each of the 6 participants collectively writing 2 songs and bringing one singe each to present on the next project album. The Music in A Bubble in October/November brought the full group together to learn and record the new songs. The opportunity remains for ensemble members to engage with other artists across the globe by gathering in a retreat center to learn, rehearse, teach, and share via social media.
- $34,701 spent. During the 2024 Tour in the USA the Ensemble completed a 12 day residency with Sheboygan Area Public schools in Wisconsin. During this time the ensemble did classroom engagement and share music, games, culture and history stories and conversation with 12 schools, attending 2 40 minute sessions per school with 4th and 5th grade students. A the end of the week the students and families were invited to a community concert. Students who attended the assemblies at their school were able to participate in parts of the performance. The Mayor of Sheboygan, once again, attended the event and gave the group a certificate of appreciation with the seal of the city.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on June 15, 2023 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on June 15, 2023.
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 February 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 2024.
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.