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Berkeley Society for the Preservation of Traditional Music

EIN 94-2887073 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FREIGHT & SALVAGE IS A NONPROFIT COMMUNITY ARTS ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROMOTING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF TRADITIONAL MUSIC - MUSIC THAT IS ROOTED IN AND EXPRESSIVE OF THE GREAT VARIETY OF REGIONAL, ETHNIC, AND SOCIAL CULTURES OF PEOPLES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

Income
$5.3 million
Spending
$5.5 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
34.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 56%
Employees
76
Volunteers
170
Highest pay
$136,045, artistic director

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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 34.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $3.5 million spent. IN 2024, THE FREIGHT BEGAN A MAJOR REINVENTION PROCESS WHICH INVOLVED CRAFTING A NEW MISSION AND VISION AND LEANING INTO AN EXPANDED MUSICAL FOCUS. WE CONCEIVED OF, PLANNED, AND EXECUTED THE FIRST-EVER DEFORD BAILEY LEGACY FESTIVAL, A THREE-DAY CELEBRATION OF ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PIONEERING BLACK AMERICAN ARTISTS. WE CONTINUED TO HOST HUNDREDS OF PERFORMERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AS WELL AS BAY AREA LUMINARIES, AND WE WELCOMED OVER 50,000 MUSIC LOVERS INTO OUR VENUE.
  2. THE FREIGHT'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS CONTINUED TO THRIVE IN 2024, INCLUDING TWO SOLD OUT SESSIONS OF OUR POPULAR FREIGHT SINGERS COMMUNITY CHORUS, FIVE SESSIONS OF OUR INSTRUMENTAL AND VOCAL CLASSES, AS WELL AS MULTI-GENRE WORKSHOPS, AND JAMS WHICH REACHED 2,000 STUDENTS OF ALL AGES. IN ADDITION, OUR FLAGSHIP 4TH GRADE ARTS INTEGRATION (SOCIAL STUDIES/MUSIC) PROGRAM GOLDEN STATE OF SONG LAUNCHED IN BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IN 2024 WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY, FEATURING TEACHING ARTIST/EDUCATOR SHIRLEY MURAMOTO. WE ALSO LAUNCHED OUR FIRST TEACHING ARTIST RESIDENCY SERIES AT A LOCAL PRIVATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHERE WE PROVIDED BEATMAKING, RAPPING, AND PERCUSSION INSTRUCTION TO STUDENTS FROM 1ST-7TH GRADES.
  3. THE FREIGHT CONTINUED TO FOSTER NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS WITH OUR BERKELEY NEIGHBORS IN 2024: WE PARTICIPATED IN A YOUTH SUMMER CAMP HOSTED BY OUR FELLOW ARTS ORGANIZATION ASHKENAZ, AND WE CONTINUED OUR NEW COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH BERKELEY CITY COLLEGE BY DEVELOPING AND PRESENTING A UNIQUE LIVE ART AND MUSIC EVENT FOR LATINX HERITAGE MONTH. OUR RENTAL DIVISION, NOW LED BY A NEW, DEDICATED STAFF MEMBER, CONTINUED TO WORK WITH DOZENS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND WE LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH BLACK BANJO RECLAMATION PROJECT, A LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATION WITH SPACE NEEDS WHICH THE FREIGHT CAN HELP FULFILL.

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 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 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 January 1984.

    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.