International Alliance of Violin and Bow Makers for Endangered Spec
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Alliance's primary exempt purpose is to conserve species used to make stringed instruments of the violin family and their bows which includes environmentally threatened woods such as Pernambuco and Ebony.
- Income
- $104,787
- Spending
- $156,248
- Reserves
- 1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 49% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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 (3)
- $81,016 spent. Working to enable the future use of musical instruments and bows made of threatened species by supporting research on the availability of planted wood for sustainable sourcing of the primary wood used in bow making and advocating for the greater musical community at national and international organizations.
- $49,141 spent. The Alliance is continuing to expand our support of environmental research with science based programs to support pernambuco and ebony. One such program is the creation of a seedbank to preserve the genetic diversity of pernambuco. A separate project is in development that will allow for the study of wild populations vs plantation grown wood using a highly accurate hand held device for use in the field or during inspection to determine the legality of the wood.
- $16,364 spent. The Alliance has expanded educational outreach to inform the greater musical community of the need for conservation and support of sustainable sourcing for all woods used in instrument and bow making. A conservation curriculum has been developed to inform students in lutherie schools around the world, now available to 6 schools per year and providing all teaching and materials at no cost to the schools or the students. Additional outreach to musicians and schools to provide tools for conservation activities.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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 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 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 February 2022.
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.