Phoenix Chamber Music Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To promote and develop chamber music in the Phoenix area
- Income
- $466,948
- Spending
- $532,138
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 12.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $62,578, 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
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 87 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (4)
- $277,164 spent. SEASON - IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE HAD PERFORMANCES BY VARIOUS GROUPS - THE HARLEM STRING QUARTET, YING STRING QUARTET, LA GUITAR QUARTET, AND THE IMANI WIND QUINTET ALL OF WHOM BRING IN DIVERSE IN AGE, AND ETHNICITY POPULATIONS AND SELL OUT THEIR PERFORMANCES. EACH OF THESE ENSEMBLES ALSO PERFORMS MASTER CLASSES, DEMONSTRATIONS AND PERFORMANCES WITH STUDENTS IN THE ARIZONA SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS AND ROSIES HOUSE.
- $161,813 spent. FESTIVAL - PHOENIX CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY SERVES PEOPLE WHO HAVE A PASSION FOR CHAMBER MUSIC, STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS STUDYING MUSIC, PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LEARN ABOUT CHAMBER MUSIC, AND PEOPLE WHO COME FROM OTHER STATES AND COUNTRIES FOR OUR WEEK-LONG WINTER FESTIVAL WITH ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, DAVID SHIFRIN, INTERNATIONALLY-RENOWNED CLARINETIST. RECOGNIZING THE UNIQUE STRUCTURE OF CHAMBER MUSIC, IT HAS BEEN OUR GOAL TO ENGAGE CURRENT AND POTENTIAL AUDIENCE MEMBERS OF ALL AGES IN THE INTIMATE SETTING OF CHAMBER MUSIC IN VARIOUS VENUES IN THE VALLEY. WITH A MIX OF CLASSICAL ENSEMBLES WHO HAVE BEEN PERFORMING FOR MANY YEARS, AND A NEW GENRE OF PRACTITIONERS WHO COMPOSE AND PLAY A MUCH MORE MODERN VERSION OF CHAMBER MUSIC.
- $20,798 spent. COMPOSERS CHOICE - This is a new program for 2025.
- $3,114 spent. EDUCATION FUND - The Richard & Linda Whitney Music Scholarship Fund and the Phoenix Chamber Music Society provide free tickets to all of the Society concerts for two students per school to attend each concert with their parents. In addition, the students receive a $25 music scholarship to help pay for music-related expenses. The students orchestra teacher also receives a $50 honorarium for attending the concert. Additional educational program expenses include the cost of musicians to provide Master classes for students.
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 December 1962.
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.