Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To provide world-class choral orchestral music for the people of the Greater Sacramento region and beyond.
- Income
- $497,231
- Spending
- $604,929
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 55%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 140
- Highest pay
- $60,000, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 22% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 August 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 (5)
- $135,000 spent. KITCHEN MART HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Dec. 14, 2024 Memorial Auditorium, 1515 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814Donald Kendrick, ConductorHeidi Moss Soprano HeadlinerThis annual Christmas program has become an amazing downtown family holiday tradition in Sacramento in the Grande Dame of performing arts venues Memorial Auditorium in the heart of Sacramento.Approximate 1800 enthusiastic attendees joined us to celebrate the season. The 2.5 hour concert featured a candlelit procession, and audience singalong and new and familiar choral orchestral holiday songs. Attendees also purchased about 100 of our Christmas CDs and enjoyed the Christmas crafts featured in the lobby. A female barbershop quartet regaled the attendees as they arrived and at intermission too.We offered 20 comp tickets for Veterans as Memorial Auditorium was dedicated to Veterans of all wars back in 1926.Kitchen Mart (Dave Hollars, CEO) had naming rights for this amazing performance and supported us to make this downtown December adventure happen.
- $121,540 spent. A Lerner & Loewe Celebration May 3, 2025 SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center 1301 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95814While the SCSOs mission is to provide world-class choral orchestral music to families in the Sacramento region and beyond, we are, now and then, delighted to feature broadway music in our concerts.The delightful matinee brough back a tone of memories for the approximate 1700 people who attended the concert. The concert saluted the immortal shows of Camelot, Paint Your Wagon, Gigi, Brigadoon and My Fair Lady.The audience even got to sing along on My Fair Ladys I Could Have Danced All NightDonald Kendrick once again conducted our chorus and orchestra. This lively performance featured soloists: Leslie Katter, Soprano Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo, Noel Anthony Escobar, Tenor and Eugene Brancoveanu (a last-minute replacement) We had a well-attended (approximately 250) post-concert reception in the lobby to meet the artists. Lots of fun photos and a chance to continue connecting with our constituents.
- $89,080 spent. Other programs
- $87,131 spent. European Masterworks Creation Mass (Haydn) March 1, 2025 Donald Kendrick conducted this performance for our large SCSO Chorus & Orchestra, featuring classical music by Franz Josef Haydn, Samuel Barber and Morten Lauridsen.The concert was held at the recently renovated SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center, 1301 L Street, in Sacramento, 95814.The performance drew some 1400 people who were stirred by the matinees powerful repertoire. Projected supertitle translations and great program notes enhanced the audiences enjoyment of this event. A free post-concert reception in the lobby gave our attendees the opportunity to meet our performers, breaking down barriers to classical music. The performance featured 4 professional soloists with our chorus & orchestra:Jana McIntyre Soprano Sarah Couden, Mezzo, Salvatore Atti, Tenor, David Soar, BassThe SCSO was delighted to offer 100 free tickets for Veterans and their families via Vettix. Its an amazing program.
- $48,434 spent. "Stained Glass" concert - "The French School".Saturday, October 19, 2024. This opening concert of the SCSO's 24th Season featured the following music:Te Deum - Jean-Baptiste LullyRequiem - Gabriel FaurRomance - Camille Saint-Sans Some 500 concert attendees enjoyed a complete evening of French Music with soloists:Sarah Sy - SopranoJulie MIller - MezzoSalvatore Atti - TenorJoshua Simka - TenorChris Mackey - Bass Organist Ryan Enright, Harpist Beverly Wesner-Hoehn and the SCSO Chamber Ensemble accompanied the large SCSO Chorus on the SCSO's inaugural concert of Season 24.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 March 1998.
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.
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