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Bd Performing Arts

EIN 94-2216542 · Concord, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 40% of its spending went to programs.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 1180 cents.

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

What it says it does

BD PERFORMING ARTS PERMANENTLY ENRICHES THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH A COMMITMENT TO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE, WHILE PROVIDING ENJOYMENT FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND AUDIENCES WORLDWIDE.MUSIC AND THE PERFORMING ARTS CONNECT YOUTH WITH THEIR CULTURE THROUGH A COMMON LANGUAGE CROSSING GENERATIONAL, SOCIAL, AND RACIAL BARRIERS. THE ACTIVITIES THAT A YOUNG PERSON PURSUES INFLUENCES THE TYPE OF PERSON HE OR SHE BECOMES. THE EXPERIENCE THAT COMES WITH PARTICIPATION IN A PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATION BUILDS DISCIPLINE, CHARACTER, PRIDE, AND SELF-CONFIDENCE AT A CRUCIAL AGE AND FORMS THE SPRINGBOARD TO EVEN GREATER ACHIEVEMENTS IN ADULTHOOD.

Income
$11.1 million
Spending
$12.3 million
Spent on programs
40%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 63%
Employees
323
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$234,600, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 80% 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 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    40% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1180 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    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 December 31, 2024, 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)
  1. $3.0 million spent. THE BLUE DEVILS A CORPSTHE MOST DECORATED CORPS IN THE HISTORY OF DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL, THE BLUE DEVILS HAVE FINISHED IN THE TOP FIVE FOR OVER 40 YEARS AND HAVE WON THE DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE MORE THAN ANY OTHER PERFORMING GROUP. THE MUSIC PERFORMANCE GROUP CONSISTS OF APPROXIMATELY 150 STUDENTS AGES 17-21. THEY PRODUCE AN ORIGINAL SHOW AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, WHICH THEY REHEARSE FOR ABOUT FIVE MONTHS. THEY THEN PERFORM THEIR SHOW PRIMARILY IN COMPETITIVE VENUES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. THE STUDENTS PERFORM AS MUSICIANS OR COLOR GUARD PARTICIPANTS.
  2. $624,950 spent. THE BLUE DEVILS B CORPS THE BLUE DEVILS B CORPS IS AN AUGMENTATION TO THE PARTICIPANTS' SCHOOL MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS EXPERIENCE. THE MUSIC PERFORMANCE GROUP CONSISTS OF APPROXIMATELY 150 STUDENTS AGES 14-19. THEY PRODUCE AN ORIGINAL SHOW AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, WHICH THEY REHEARSE FOR ABOUT FIVE MONTHS. THEY THEN PERFORM THEIR SHOW PRIMARILY IN COMPETITIVE VENUES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. THE STUDENTS PERFORM AS MUSICIANS OR COLOR GUARD PARTICIPANTS.
  3. $153,444 spent. THE BLUE DEVILS C CORPSTHE BLUE DEVILS C CORPS IS AN AUGMENTATION TO THE PARTICIPANTS' SCHOOL MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS EXPERIENCE. THE MUSIC PERFORMANCE GROUP CONSISTS OF APPROXIMATELY 150 STUDENTS AGES 14-19. THEY PRODUCE AN ORIGINAL SHOW AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, WHICH THEY REHEARSE FOR ABOUT FIVE MONTHS. THEY THEN PERFORM THEIR SHOW PRIMARILY IN COMPETITIVE VENUES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. THE STUDENTS PERFORM AS MUSICIANS OR COLOR GUARD PARTICIPANTS.
  4. $1.2 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDING WINTERGUARD, DIABLO WIND SYMPHONY, RCC DRUMLINE, ALUMNI, DCI WEST, AND EDUCATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 November 1974.

    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.