Music of the Baroque

What it reported doing in 2024

Under the direction of internationally acclaimed british conductor dame jane glover, music of the baroque's professional chorus and orchestra is one of the leading ensembles in the country devoted to the performance of works from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.music of the baroque continued full-time live programming of choral and orchestral concerts with works by bach, haydn, handel, mozart, and others. Lesser-known works are also featured as music of the baroque seeks to expand the awareness of and appreciation for works from the renaissance, baroque, and early classical periods. Devoted to expanding its audience and its reach to a wider, more diverse population, music of the baroque presented 18 performances of 8 distinct programs as well as various community concerts and events to a total audience of over 20,000 people. Many thousands more enjoyed concerts streaming on demand and various free videos of music, interviews and events online.community collaborations expanded our work to reach new audiences, including free performances at the kehrein center for the arts, national museum of mexican art, and a new concert, "the chicago water music," performed on the chicago river. In addition, the "students go for free" program opens the doors of our downtown performances to the next generation at no cost to them. Music of the baroque runs a highly regarded choral education program "strong voices" for 2,900 chicago high school students in under-resourced schools with free regular voice lessons and performance opportunities.music of the baroque broadcasts regularly on 98.7 wfmt radio, not just across chicago but also across the nation through syndicated stations. As the organization continues to celebrate its 50+ years, an ambitious series of concerts, outreach events, recordings, and special events will further enhance the organization's impact on audiences across chicago and beyond.other audience-expanding initiatives include "baroque notes," a free pre-concert video guide to upcoming concerts which continues to draw in new audiences as well as enhance the concert experience for regular attendees.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 63.4%; rating input score 63
• Program expense ratio: 79.2%; rating input score 79
• Fundraising efficiency: $8.41 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 32; 32nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• 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: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 22.2%; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.89; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.13; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 16.6%; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8.1% per year; rating input score 100; 56th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 11.7% per year; rating input score 100; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 19.2% per year; rating input score 100; 82nd percentile among comparable filings