Society for Preservation & Encrgmnt of Barbershop Quartet Singing Amer
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Founded in 2008, the Hell's Kitchen, NY chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. (SPEBSQSA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich American tradition of barbershop harmony. As a chapter of SPEBSQSA-also known as the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS)-we are part of an international organization of more than 20,000 members committed to advancing barbershop as an art form, enriching lives through singing, and serving our communities. The chapter performs, competes, and operates as Gotham Chorus and Voices of Gotham. With more than 120 members and growing, the chapter is a dues-paying organization that includes high school and college students, professional actors and musicians, and people of all ages and diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds who share a love of singing.
- Income
- $63,327
- Spending
- $61,466
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 120
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 60 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 45% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 62 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 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 (4)
- $58,841 spent. General chorus activities for Hell's Kitchen Chapter to propagate barbershop artform, including weekly rehearsals at least 45 weeks of the year which typically includes performances at 2 competitions annually, local performances at Senior Centers and other community venues, and commissioned barbershop quartet and small group performances throughout the year.
- $260 spent. Voices Revue: A spring concert featuring Voices of Gotham, Smoke Ring, and other musical ensembles. Location: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School, NYC.
- $1,794 spent. INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION SENDOFF SHOW: Sendoff show for Voices of Gotham as they prepared to compete in at the Barbershop Harmony annual international competition. This show also featured Sirens of Gotham. The event included various chapter quartets, promoting the barbershop craft in this local community.
- $571 spent. Tin Pan Alley Novice quartet Contest: Tin Pan Alley (TPA) is the Hell's Kitchen Chapter's annual public novice barbershop quartet contest, with competitors solicited from inside & outside chapter membership.
Source: Form 990 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? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 May 1946.
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.