Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Western International Band Clinic

EIN 93-0763590 · Ashland, OR

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceWeak42 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Our ABC program at Central Washington University is a full-fledged master's degree that is held for its Immersion Program each June in Ashland, Oregon. With 1200+ graduates from 49 states, there are currently over 200 active candidates. Our annual WIBC Convention, in Seattle, WA, started in 1980, serves nearly 1000 high school students from 15 states as well as band directors. Our Bandworld Magazine, started in 1985, is provided free to directors worldwide, now serving as an internet-based publication.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
94.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 63%
Employees
3
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$116,121, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 94.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    1 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 2026, 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)
  1. $672,733 spent. AMERICAN BAND COLLEGE: Started in 1989, this master's degree program features 24 of the world's top conductors, composers, soloists and lecturers. Candidates attend the 3-summer immersion program in Ashland, Oregon and work year-round on special projects that develop skills in 28 teaching areas of band conducting toward the Master of Music in Education degree at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. In Ashland, candidates attend over 70 sessions and play 3 hours per day in one of our two 100-member directors' bands in an 18-day period. Candidates use our web-based Ultimate Pursuit training system for study and WiFi-based testing. In addition, candidates produce 7 major publish-quality projects that delve into weak areas (to produce Practical Applications for their own students) as well as audio- and video-based projects based on analysis of their own and colleague bands.
  2. $200,001 spent. WESTERN INTERNATIONAL BAND CLINIC: Serving school bandsmen and their directors since 1980, WIBC auditions nearly 1000 students to be in of our four 150-member high school honor bands. Held in Seattle each November, WIBC hires 6 world-class conductors, each directing a piece of music with each of the bands. In addition, a professional soloist performs with each of the bands. This convention has been responsible for 9 major commission projects that produced music now a major part of the band repertoire. At the same time, WIBC Publishing has produced dozens of educational products (most free and available online) to serve as teaching tools) as well as our Warm-Ups That Work book now used by bands around the world. Finally, starting in 2013, the corporation formed its first WIBC U Collegiate Honor Band made up of university students from 20 different colleges. The new aspect of WIBC provides a completely separate, internal convention solely for college students utilizing the world-class faculty that always graces this event.
  3. $36,364 spent. BANDWORLD MAGAZINE: Started in 1985, this publication began as an in-print, free magazine mailed and web-linked to 30,000 director four times a year. Since 2004, Bandworld Online has provided thousands of pages of useful teaching aids and over 30 full-band arrangements that can be downloaded to perform with a band. In addition, the Bandworld Forum has provided a central point on the Internet for discussions coupled with it Resource Center of nearly 5000 pages of free teaching materials for band members and their school band director.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending January 2026.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1980.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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 7, 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.