Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra

EIN 94-2734159 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BERKELEY COMMUNITY CHORUS & ORCHESTRA NOW IN ITS 60th YEAR HAS PRESERVED THREE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES OVER THE YEARS: WE ACCEEPT SINGERS REGARDLESS OF QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE WE GIVE CONCERTS OF SIGNIFICANT SYMPHONIC CHORAL WORKS WITH A LIVE PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA AND OUR CONCERTS ARE OFFERED FREE TO THE PUBLIC.

Income
$405,932
Spending
$393,392
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
11.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
84
Volunteers
60

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

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 July 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 (4)
  1. $309,841 spent. BCCO HAD 240 COMMUNITY CHORISTERS HIRED A PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA OF APPR 50 MUSICIANS AND GUEST SOLOISTS AND ENGAGED FIVE CONDUCTORS AND ACCOMPANISTS. THE CHORUS WEEKLY REHEARSALS SEPTEMBER-JUNE WERE AVAILABLE IN PERSON AND VIA LIVESTREAM. TO CONCLUDE EACH SEMESTER IN JANUARY AND JUNE 2025 BCCO PRESENTED A CYCLE OF THREE FREE CONCERTS ACROSS A WEEKEND AT HERTZ HALL ON THE UC BERKELEY CAMPUS TO APPRECIATIVE AUDIENCES.
  2. $37,580 spent. THE BERKELEY WOMENS COMMUNITY CHORUS BWCC IS AN AFFILIATE OF BCCO. IT IS A WOMENS CHORUS OF APPR 50 SINGERS WITH WEEKLY REHEARSALS AND FREE CONCERTS IN SPRING AND FALL. BWCC OFFERS AN OPEN MEMBERSHIP AND WORKSHOPS TO THE COMMUNITY.
  3. $11,488 spent. BERKELEY COMMUNITY CHAMBER SINGERS BCCS IS A CHAMBER CHORUS OF APPR 25 SINGERS WHO SERVE AS THE OUTREACH ARM OF THE BCCO SINGING AT HOSPITALS AND SENIOR CARE CENTERS TO AUDIENCES WHO CANNOT VENTURE TO THE BCCO CONCERTS. BCCS REHEARSES WEEKLY AUGUST-MAY AND PRESENTED TWO CONCERT-LENGTH PERFORMANCES IN ADDITION TO ITS MANY CARE CENTER VISITS.
  4. $21,747 spent. PART III LINE 4d: JOINT ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR THE COMBINED CHORUSES FOR MARKETING PAYROLL CREDIT CARD PROCESSING AND VARIOUS TAXES AND DUES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 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 July 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 May 1981.

    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.