Colour of Music

What it reported doing in 2024

The Colour of Music Festival, Inc. presents a diverse classical repertoire of baroque, classical and 20th-century music at the highest of musical standards to diverse audiences nationally. The festival has presented in Atlanta, Georgia; Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; Houston; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Richmond, Virginia; Washington, D.C.; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Sacramento, California. Few classical music enthusiasts are aware of the tremendous contributions of Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges, an African-French composer whose opera and classical masterpieces equaled or far exceeded those of his 18th- century contemporaries. Although his compositions are highly recognized overseas, they have gathered little notice in the United States. Today there are thousands of celebrated and prodigiously talented classical principals, composers and performers of African descent throughout the world. Yet, their opportunities to grace concert stages of major American orchestras are rare to non-existent. The Colour of Music Festivals mission is reversing this trend. Since 2013, the Colour of Music Festival offers a musical kaleidoscope highlighting the impact and historical significance of Black classical composers and performers on American and world culture. The Colour of Music Festival began with performances at various venues throughout historic Charleston, South Carolina and has grown to debut in cities across the country with artists from across the globe. Assembling acclaimed Black chamber ensemble players and artists to form the Colour of Music Orchestra, the Festival showcases some of the top Black classical musicians in the United States, trained at some of the most prestigious music schools, conservatories and universities in the world. Education The mission of Make Music Count is to increase elementary and secondary students mathematical skill development through piano playing and reducing their math anxiety. By incorporating music into each lesson, students become engaged through music while simultaneously learning mathematical concepts. Each lesson is based on learning musical notes in a song. Each note is derived through a mathematical equation that varies from addition and subtraction to algebraic equations. Therefore, solving math equations leads directly to playing the piano, and a more positive attitude towards math.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 85.9%; rating input score 86
• Program expense ratio: 91.8%; rating input score 92
• Fundraising efficiency: $20.88 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 3 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 38
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 6.4%; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.09; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 2.81; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 11.8%; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 15.3% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 16.1% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -30.2% per year; rating input score 0; 1st percentile among comparable filings