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San Francisco Conservatory of Music Inc

EIN 94-1156610 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC (SFCM) EDUCATES EXCEPTIONALLY TALENTED MUSICIANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO BECOME ARTISTS OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER, AS WELL AS MUSICAL CITIZENS PREPARED FOR THE CHALLENGES OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY.

Income
$58.7 million
Spending
$62.9 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
820
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$1.6 million, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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

    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

    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 June 30, 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)
  1. $38.8 million spent. COLLEGIATE INSTRUCTION - SFCM IS AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE GRANTING BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S DEGREES IN MUSIC PERFORMANCE. EXPENSES INCLUDE SALARIES, SCHOLARSHIPS, RECRUITMENT, AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT (LIBRARY, STUDENT SERVICES, ETC.). 451 STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED ACROSS THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: 14 ADVANCED CERTIFICATES, 12 ARTIST DIPLOMAS, 230 BACHELORS MUSIC, 2 CERTIFICATES, 165 MASTERS MUSIC, AND 28 PROFESSIONAL STUDIES DIPLOMAS. 450 STUDENTS RECEIVED SFCM SCHOLARSHIPS.
  2. $4.8 million spent. PRE-COLLEGIATE AND ADULT EXTENSION - MUSIC INSTRUCTION FOR 4-18 YEAR OLDS AND CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR ADULTS. INSTRUCTION INCLUDES EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC CLASSES, PRIVATE MUSIC INSTRUCTION, AND CLASSES. EXPENSES INCLUDE SALARIES, SCHOLARSHIPS, ADVERTISING, AND SUPPORT. 327 STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED AND 155 STUDENTS RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS. 193 STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED IN CONTINUING EDUCATION AND ADULT EXTENSION.
  3. $373,505 spent. SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC PARTNERS WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO PRODUCE PRODUCT/PROJECTS THAT ALIGN WITH CARRYING OUT SFCM'S MISSION, SUCH AS VARIOUS CLASSICAL MUSIC RECORDINGS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 October 13, 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 June 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 April 1935.

    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 October 21, 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.