Equity Arc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
EQUITY ARC IS A COALITION CHARGED BY ITS DIVERSE MEMBERSHIP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO ALIGN, PROMOTE, AND DEVELOP EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ASPIRING CLASSICAL MUSICIANS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED ETHNICITIES.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- 1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $116,142, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 42% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 73% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 August 31, 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 (4)
- $274,170 spent. EQUITY ARC PRODUCED THE PATHWAYS ORCHESTRA, A MULTI-DAY PRE-COLLEGE ORCHESTRAL TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE PROGRAM. 64 PRE-COLLEGE MUSICIANS PARTICIPATED IN AN IN-PERSON RESIDENCY IN CHICAGO THAT INCLUDED ENSEMBLE REHEARSALS, MENTORING, AND A PUBLIC PERFORMANCE. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HOSTED A CONCURRENT CONVENING FOR PARENTS AND ARTS ADMINISTRATORS, WITH 157 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING PLENARY SESSIONS AND FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS FOCUSED ON EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS AND PROGRAM SUPPORT. EQUITY ARC ALSO SUPPORTED EARLY-CAREER MUSICIANS THROUGH A SEPARATE RESIDENCY PROGRAM SERVING 10 PARTICIPANTS, CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A MAJOR U.S. ORCHESTRA. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDED REHEARSALS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES. THESE PROGRAMS FURTHERED THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING MUSICIANS.
- $94,078 spent. EQUITY ARC OPERATED THE NATIONAL COLLECTIVE FOR MUSICAL PATHWAYS, A NATIONAL NETWORK OF 19 PRE-COLLEGE MUSIC TRAINING PROGRAMS. DURING THE REPORTING YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION FACILITATED COORDINATION AMONG PARTNER PROGRAMS THROUGH MEETINGS AND FORUMS FOCUSED ON PROGRAM DESIGN AND STUDENT SUPPORT AND INITIATED DEVELOPMENT OF A SHARED PEDAGOGICAL RESOURCE. IN FY25, EQUITY ARC LAUNCHED AN INSTRUMENT FUND TO PROVIDE DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MUSICIANS PURSUING COLLEGIATE-LEVEL MUSIC TRAINING. THE ORGANIZATION DISBURSED $63,000 BY YEAR-END TO SUPPORT THE ACQUISITION AND MAINTENANCE OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. THESE ACTIVITIES FURTHERED THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE BY SUPPORTING EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS AND REDUCING FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO ADVANCED MUSICAL TRAINING.
- $157,990 spent. EQUITY ARC PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND ACCESS RESOURCES TO ITS NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP. DURING FY25, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED ITS VIRTUAL MEMBER COMMUNITY THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF A CUSTOM CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT (CRM) SYSTEM DESIGNED TO FACILITATE PROGRAM APPLICATIONS, RESOURCE SHARING, AND NETWORKING. EQUITY ARC ALSO HOSTED 11 VIRTUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS AND ADDITIONAL IN-PERSON GATHERINGS FOCUSED ON TOPICS RELEVANT TO EMERGING MUSICIANS AND MUSIC EDUCATORS. COLLEGIATE ACCESS FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS AS PART OF ITS MEMBER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFERINGS, EQUITY ARC OPERATED THE COLLEGIATE ACCESS FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS SERIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EL SISTEMA USA. THE SIX-PART VIRTUAL SERIES FOCUSED ON THE COLLEGE AND CONSERVATORY APPLICATION PROCESS, INCLUDING AUDITIONS AND ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS. DURING THE REPORTING YEAR, MORE THAN 200 MUSICIANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM. COMMON APPLICATION FOR SUMMER STUDY EQUITY ARC OPERATED THE COMMON APPLICATION FOR SUMMER STUDY, A CENTRALIZED APPLICATION PLATFORM ALLOWING MUSICIANS TO APPLY TO MULTIPLE SUMMER MUSIC PROGRAMS THROUGH A SINGLE APPLICATION AND AUDITION PROCESS. IN FY25, THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERED WITH 24 ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING 26 PROGRAMS AND SERVED 207 APPLICANTS. EQUITY ARC COVERED APPLICATION FEES FOR APPLICANTS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. THESE ACTIVITIES FURTHERED THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE BY EXPANDING ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING MUSICIANS.
- $127,269 spent. EQUITY ARC OPERATED THE INAUGURAL WIND SYMPHONY, A MULTI-DAY PRE-COLLEGE WIND ENSEMBLE TRAINING PROGRAM. 22 PRE-COLLEGE MUSICIANS PARTICIPATED IN AN IN-PERSON RESIDENCY IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA THAT INCLUDED ENSEMBLE REHEARSALS, SECTIONALS, AND MENTORING ACTIVITIES. PARTICIPANTS WORKED WITH 28 PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS FORMERLY AFFILIATED WITH U.S. MILITARY AND MILITARY ACADEMY BANDS AND TOOK PART IN A CULMINATING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE CONDUCTED BY A GUEST MUSIC DIRECTOR.THESE ACTIVITIES FURTHERED THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE BY PROVIDING ADVANCED MUSICAL TRAINING AND ENSEMBLE EXPERIENCE FOR EMERGING MUSICIANS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 January 2021.
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.
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