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Interlochen Arts Group

EIN 93-2002543 · Interlochen, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak34 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO ADVANCE ART, MUSIC, DRAMATIC, AND GENERAL EDUCATION OF YOUTH AND ADULTS BY OFFERING PROGRAMMING AND INSTRUCTION IN ARTISTIC FIELDS SUCH AS THEATRE, INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTS, MUSIC, DANCE, CREATIVE WRITING, VISUAL ARTS, BROADCASTING, FILM, AND NEW MEDIA

Income
$61.4 million
Spending
$68.3 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
585
Volunteers
655
Highest pay
$755,659, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 112% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 May 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 (5)
  1. $50.6 million spent. INTERLOCHEN ARTS ACADEMY, THE NATION'S FIRST AND FOREMOST BOARDING FINE ARTS HIGH SCHOOL, UNITES STUDENTS WITH OTHERS WHO VALUE THEIR HIGHEST ASPIRATIONS, CREATING A CLOSE-KNIT ARTISTS' COMMUNITY. OVER 500 OF THE WORLD'S MOST TALENTED AND MOTIVATED YOUNG ARTISTS STUDY MUSIC, DANCE, THEATRE, VISUAL ARTS, CREATIVE WRITING, INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTS, FILM, AND NEW MEDIA IN A COLLEGE-LIKE SETTING. THEY FIND IN THE ACADEMY A FAST-PACED, CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT CHALLENGES, INSPIRES, AND FOCUSES THEIR TALENTS. WHILE PRODUCING MORE THAN 250 ARTISTIC PRESENTATIONS IN THE SCHOOL YEAR, ACADEMY STUDENTS ALSO MASTER A RIGOROUS COLLEGE PREPARATORY ACADEMIC CURRICULUM THAT PREPARES THEM TO TAKE PROMINENT ROLES IN A WHOLE UNIVERSE OF PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 2025, THERE WERE 584 STUDENTS, 505 OF WHOM RECEIVED GRANTS.
  2. $4.8 million spent. "INTERLOCHEN PRESENTS" BRINGS A WORLD OF SUPERB PRESENTATIONS TO THE DOORSTEP OF NORTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN, ENHANCING THE REGION'S POSITION ON THE GLOBAL ARTS MAP. MORE THAN 600 EVENTS EACH YEAR BY STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND DISTINGUISHED GUEST ARTISTS MAKE INTERLOCHEN ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST ARTS PRESENTERS. THERE IS A COMBINED SEATING CAPACITY OF 12,500, AND THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 130,000 ATTENDEES ANNUALLY.
  3. $3.6 million spent. INTERLOCHEN PUBLIC RADIO ("IPR"), THROUGH TWO LISTENER-SUPPORTED BROADCAST SERVICES, CONNECTS NORTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN WITH ARTS, NEWS, AND CULTURE ON A GLOBAL SCALE. IPR ALSO GIVES SIGNIFICANT FOCUS TO LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWS, INFORMATION, AND ARTISTS, PROVIDING A TRUSTED CONTEXT FOR COMMUNITY DISCUSSION AND SHOWCASING THE VITALITY AND DIVERSITY OF THE GRAND TRAVERSE REGION. SERVING LISTENERS ALL OVER NORTHERN MICHIGAN - AND ALL OVER THE WORLD VIA THE INTERNET - IPR VALUES ITS POTENTIAL TO IMPACT INDIVIDUAL LIVES EVERY DAY, 24 HOURS A DAY. THE COVERAGE AREA INCLUDES MOST OF THE NORTHERN TWO-THIRDS OF LOWER MICHIGAN AND THE EASTERN THIRD OF THE UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN.
  4. $540,328 spent. "INTERLOCHEN ONLINE" IS AN INTERACTIVE VIRTUAL PLATFORM THAT BRINGS THE GLOBALLY RENOWNED INTERLOCHEN EXPERIENCE INTO THE HOMES OF YOUNG ARTISTS. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS A DIVERSE SELECTION OF ONLINE ARTS PROGRAMMING IN MULTIPLE SETTINGS, INCLUDING GROUP CLASSES AND PRIVATE LESSONS. DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 2025, THERE WERE 905 STUDENTS, NONE OF WHOM RECEIVED GRANTS.
  5. $480,291 spent. INTERLOCHEN COLLEGE OF CREATIVE ARTS OFFERS AN ENGAGING - AND EVOLVING - SERIES OF CLASSES AND PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS CALLED "INTERLOCHEN FOR LIFE". MEMBERS OF THE INTERLOCHEN COMMUNITY - OF ALL AGES - THRIVE ON OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES CREATIVELY, AS WELL AS ON THE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS THAT RESULT FROM SUCH MEANINGFUL ENDEAVORS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.