Be Loud Studios

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
833652865
IRS 990 coverage
2023–2025
Forms available
Form 990 2025, Form 990-EZ 2022, Form 990-N 2019
Location
New Orleans, LA, USA
Phone
8165507205
Rating
62
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Alliance/Advocacy Organizations

Reported finances

Revenue
$1,056,539
Expenses
$478,439
Assets
$889,906
Liabilities
$36,512

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

9 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • Charles Owen (Executive Dir.): $80,433 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

Be loud studios amplifies kid confidence through radio and digital media production.

What it reported doing in 2025

In 2025, Be Loud engaged over 1,000 youth in New Orleans in our programs. Program surveys show that 96% of DJs feel they can be their authentic selves at Be Loud, 96% feel more connected to their community, and 100% report feeling supported by peers. Every participant reported personal growth since their first day with Be Loud. Our Junior Producer program continued to expand, supporting high schoolers with stipends and mentorship to coach younger DJs. This team produced 20 episodes during the 20252026 season. Be Louds Pass the Mic fellowship supported teachers across New Orleans to complete audio projects in their classrooms. Be Louds Born After the Storm program amplified youth storytelling about Hurricane Katrinas legacy, providing a platform for reflection, creativity, and community dialogue. 100% of reporting families say they would recommend Be Loud, noting that their child feels more connected to their community and safe, supported, and welcomed in our programs. Be Loud hosted our fourth annual Youth Voice Festival in April 2025 at Baldwin Books, welcoming 250+ attendees. The festival featured a live podcast, listening tables, showcases of community partners, and youth performances. Participants also sold handmade creations and built new connections across New Orleans.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 86% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 86% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - The filed numbers largely add up and most voting board members are independent. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and a relatively small share of total spending goes to programs.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 33
  • Transparency & Controls: 90
  • Accountability: 69
  • Sustainability: 69
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 25.3%; rating input score 25
  • Program expense ratio: 55.7%; rating input score 56
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 93.3%; rating input score 93; 24th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 78th percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 25
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
    • Whistleblower policy: Fail
    • Document-retention policy: Fail
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Fail
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 54.7%; rating input score 92; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.86; rating input score 62; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.04; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 16.8%; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 79.5% per year; rating input score 100; 98th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 40.7% per year; rating input score 100; 94th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 54.6% per year; rating input score 100; 96th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 25.3% of revenue deployed · 55.7% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 8 of 8 board members independent · 2 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $266K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $80K · 9 people listed
  • Consistency: 29 of 29 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 5 filed schedules · includes major donors and grants
  • Filing history: 3 filing years from 2023 to 2025
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • Related organizations: Filed and resolved organization relationships.
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.
  • Staff and benefit plans: Retirement and health plans the organization files with the Department of Labor, and the people in them.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Financial Efficiency: Mission deployment rate scored 25/100.
  • Review — Financial Efficiency: Program expense ratio scored 56/100.
  • High — Accountability: Governance controls: 6 of 8 not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 21/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 45/100.