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Passes our checks

Other Minds

EIN 94-2728116 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Organization is a globally renowned proponent of new & experimental music. It produces public concerts, radio programs, records & CDs, commissions new work & hosts an Internet site preserving 1000s of hours of recorded interviews & music.

Income
$769,853
Spending
$832,797
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
7
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$106,969, executive direc

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 96% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 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

    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 (5)
  1. $201,815 spent. During the 20242025 fiscal year, Other Minds presented the 28th installment of its annual Festival of New Music from September 2528, 2024, at the Brava Theater in San Francisco, featuring an international roster of experimental music composers and performers.
  2. $195,283 spent. Other Minds presented several standalone events including a performance of pianist Adam Tendlers Inheritances at the Brava Theater in San Francisco on July 17, 2024, a performance of Galina Ustvolskayas piano sonatas by Conor Hanick at Freight and Salvage in Berkeley on October 28, 2024, a public presentation of Charles Amirkhanians work on the occasion of his 80th birthday at the David Brower Center in Berkeley on January 19, 2025; piano recitals with Geoffrey Burleson, Gloria Cheng, and Ralph van Raat at Mills College at Northeastern University in Oakland on March 26 and April 5, 2025, and an installment of Other Mindss Latitudes concert series on September 12, 2024 at the Center for New in San Francisco.
  3. $83,989 spent. Other Minds continued to expand its newly designed Other Minds Archives website, adding new collections of interviews, musical recordings, photographs, and ephemera to the collections of the KPFA Music Department, given to Other Minds in 1999. The new website makes thousands of items illuminating the history of 20th and 21st century experimental music available free to the public like never before.
  4. $73,903 spent. During the 20242025 fiscal year, Other Minds released three commercial recordings on various formats including CD and digitally. These recordings included: Karen Power: ...we return to ground (OM 1034-2)Brian Baumbusch: Polytempo Music (OM 1047-2)Thea Farhadian: Tattoos and Other Markings (OM 1039-2)
  5. $36,668 spent. During the 20242025 fiscal year, Other Minds presented 52 installments of its weekly radio program Music from Other Minds, broadcast on Sunday nights from 810pm on KALW-FM in the San Francisco Bay Area. The program aims to open radio listeners to experimental classical work by living and recent composers. Additionally, Other Minds released 11 episodes of its Other Minds Podcast on various podcast streaming services globally.

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 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 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 November 1980.

    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.