Portland Taiko
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THROUGH INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE IN TAIKO, PORTLAND TAIKO AFFIRMS ASIAN AMERICAN PRIDE, INSPIRES AUDIENCES, BUILDS COMMUNITY AND EDUCATES ABOUT OUR HERITAGE AND CULTURE.
- Income
- $305,037
- Spending
- $263,203
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 46.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 47%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 60
- Highest pay
- $27,644, executive director
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 46.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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)
- $89,049 spent. CULTURAL PROGRAMS AND PERFORMANCES: PORTLAND TAIKO PERFORMS THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, BRINGING THE ART OF TAIKO TO AUDIENCES AT THEATERS, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND FESTIVALS. SINCE ITS FOUNDING, THE ORGANIZATION HAS REACHED MORE THAN 1 MILLION AUDIENCE MEMBERS THROUGH OVER 1,500 PERFORMANCES. PORTLAND TAIKO'S PERFORMING CORPS IS ENTIRELY VOLUNTEER BASED, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SUMMER INTERNS.DURING 2025, PORTLAND TAIKO PRESENTED 30 PAID PERFORMANCES AND 10 PRO BONO PERFORMANCES, EXPANDING ACCESS TO CULTURAL PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
- $62,153 spent. SELF-PRESENTED CONCERTS: PORTLAND TAIKO PRODUCES FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS PEOPLE OF THE DRUM, A CONCERT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER DRUMMING ENSEMBLES FROM DIVERSE CULTURAL TRADITIONS. WE BELIEVE THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF MUSIC CAN UNITE COMMUNITIES AND HELP DISMANTLE HARMFUL STEREOTYPES. THE ENSEMBLE ALSO COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL COMPOSERS AS WELL AS TAIKO ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, FOSTERING ARTISTIC EXCHANGE AND CREATIVE INNOVATION.IN 2025, PORTLAND TAIKO'S OUTDOOR CONCERTS DREW NEAR-RECORD ATTENDANCE, EXPANDED OUR FALL PROGRAMMING TO INCLUDE TWO PERFORMANCES, AND OFFERED DISCOUNTED TICKETS FOR STUDENTS AND SNAP RECIPIENTS TO ENSURE BROADER COMMUNITY ACCESS.
- $24,386 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS: PORTLAND TAIKO IS COMMITTED TO SHARING ITS ARTISTRY AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE GREATER PORTLAND COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. PARTICIPANTS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS ENGAGE IN A VARIETY OF PHYSICAL AND MUSICAL ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING RHYTHMS, STANCES, AND DRUMMING TECHNIQUES, WHILE LEARNING ABOUT THE TRADITIONS OF TAIKO IN JAPAN AND NORTH AMERICA. PORTLAND TAIKO ALSO PROVIDES NEED-BASED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR ITS COMMUNITY TAIKO CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS OF ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS, FROM INTRODUCTORY COURSES TO ADVANCED DRUMMING CLASSES. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.DURING 2025, PORTLAND TAIKO CONDUCTED 21 CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS AND PROVIDED $1,372 IN SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT PARTICIPATION IN ITS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
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? 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 2001.
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.