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The Colburn School

EIN 95-2501387 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COLBURN SCHOOL'S FOUNDING PRINCIPLE OF "ACCESS TO EXCELLENCE" PROVIDES A PERFORMANCE-CENTERED EDUCATION WITH UNPARALLELED FACULTY AND FACILITIES FOR ALL LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT, INSTILLS THE JOY AND DISCIPLINE OF THE PERFORMING ARTS, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O).

Income
$69.7 million
Spending
$56.9 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
6.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 35%
Employees
527
Volunteers
93
Highest pay
$876,270, president & ceo

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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 47% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 32 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 (1)
  1. $46.2 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE OTHE COLBURN SCHOOL (THE "SCHOOL") IS A CALIFORNIA NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION LOCATED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. LED BY AN OUTSTANDING FACULTY, THE SCHOOL PROVIDES DEDICATED STUDENTS THE HIGHEST QUALITY PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATION WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PERFORMANCE.THE SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED IN 1950 AS A PREPARATORY PROGRAM FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND FULFILLED THAT FUNCTION UNTIL 1980 WHEN IT BECAME AN INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AND WAS ACCREDITED AS A NON-DEGREE-GRANTING INSTITUTION BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF MUSIC (NASM). CURRENTLY, THIS PROGRAM IS KNOWN AS THE COLBURN SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS (CSPA) AND OFFERS PROGRAMS IN MUSIC, DANCE, DRAMA, AND VOICE TO APPROXIMATELY 2,000 STUDENTS OF ALL AGES (TODDLER TO ADULT) AND ABILITIES (NOVICE THROUGH ADVANCED). THE SCHOOL ALSO OPERATES COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS THAT BRING PERFORMING ARTS TO UNDER-SERVED CHILDREN IN INNER-CITY SCHOOLS.THE COLBURN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC (CSCM), ESTABLISHED IN 2003, OFFERS UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS SPECIALIZING IN CLASSICAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE. CSCM PROGRAMS RANGE FROM TWO TO FOUR YEARS OF STUDY AND RESULT IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: A BACHELOR OF MUSIC DEGREE, A PERFORMANCE DIPLOMA, A MASTER OF MUSIC DEGREE, AN ARTIST'S DIPLOMA, OR A PROFESSIONAL STUDIES CERTIFICATE. ADMISSION TO CSCM IS HIGHLY SELECTIVE, AND CSCM PROVIDES ALL STUDENTS WITH SCHOLARSHIPS THAT COVER FULL TUITION AND ROOM AND BOARD. CSCM ENROLLED 130 AND 133 STUDENTS DURING THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 AND 2024, RESPECTIVELY. CSCM IS ACCREDITED BY THE NASM AS A DEGREE-GRANTING SCHOOL.THE COLBURN MUSIC ACADEMY (CSMA), ESTABLISHED IN 2010, IS A NON-DEGREE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM OF CLASSES TO HIGHLY GIFTED PRE-COLLEGE STUDENTS FOCUSED ON CAREERS IN MUSIC. CSMA ENROLLED 44 AND 50 STUDENTS DURING THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 AND 2024, RESPECTIVELY. THE TRUDL ZIPPER DANCE INSTITUTE (TZDI) WAS CREATED IN 2008, CARVING OUT THE YOUTH AND ADULT DANCE CLASSES FROM CSPA. THE DANCE ACADEMY WAS CREATED IN 2014 UNDER TZDI AS A PRE-PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR A SELECT GROUP OF BALLET STUDENTS AGED 14-18. TZDI ENROLLED 353 AND 296 STUDENTS DURING THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 AND 2024, RESPECTIVELY, IN ITS BALLET, TAP, AND MODERN DANCE PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, THE DANCE ACADEMY ENROLLED 18 STUDENTS DURING THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 AND 2024. PERFORMING ARTS AND OTHER ACADEMIC PROGRAMS INCLUDES EXPENSES FOR THE PROVOST OFFICE, LIBRARY, AND THE PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT, WHICH PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS OF STUDY AND FURTHER OUR MISSION OF PERFORMING ARTS IN ADDITION TO EDUCATION.

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 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 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 March 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.