Kitka Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Kitka is an American vocal arts ensemble inspired by women's traditional songs and vocal techniques from Eastern Europe and Eurasia. Kitka is dedicated to developing new audiences for this music, and exploring the boundaries of folk song via concerts, workshops, touring, school programs, recordings, publications, broadcast projects, master artist residencies, and commissioning of new works.
- Income
- $423,445
- Spending
- $463,207
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 6.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 52%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 85
- Highest pay
- $86,240, executive/artistic director
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
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $102,033 spent. Regional and National and International Touring: In FY 24-25 Kitka presented concerts and choral workshops on tour in Northern California, Michigan, and New Hampshire. Kitka also toured for two weeks in Caucasus Georgia, appearing at the International Folk Festival Sakartvelo and the International Symposium on Traditional Polyphony at the Tbilisi Conservatoire.
- $75,636 spent. Vocal Workshops, Community Choirs, and Community Sings, sponsored by The Kitka Institute. In FY 24-25, Kitka sponsored live and virtual vocal workshops, community choirs, and community sings exploring a variety of Eastern European and Eurasian vocal traditions. These workshops were led by Kitka's core ensemble vocalists and guest traditional song masters from Bulgaria, Georgia, Russia and Ukraine, as well as artists representing Eastern European Jewish and Romani song traditions.
- $60,001 spent. Wintersongs/Supra: A Seasonal Feast of Song 2024: Kitka presented eight December holiday concert programs with a focus on seasonal songs of Caucasus Georgia at venues in Belvedere, Sacramento, Menlo Park, Davis, Oakland, and San Francisco, CA. A live radio-concert of the program was also broadcast twice on San Francisco's NPR-affiliate station, KQED-FM, and the final concert of the series was live-streamed for a global audience.
- $49,011 spent. Production of New Album, Kolo: In FY 24-25, Kitka began production of their 13th album on their own independent Diaphonica record label. The album, entitled Kolo, was released in December 2025.
- $46,619 spent. Miscellaneous program expense.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1981.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.