Phoenix Conservatory of Music
Nonprofit profile at a glance
- EIN
- 860917748
- IRS 990 coverage
- 2013–2024
- Forms available
- Form 990 2024
- Location
- Phoenix, AZ, USA
- Phone
- 6023539900
- Rating
- 86
- Verdict
- STRONG
- Rating confidence
- Moderate
- Sector
- Performing Arts Schools
Reported finances
- Revenue
- $1,352,346
- Expenses
- $1,339,199
- Assets
- $712,612
- Liabilities
- $193,908
Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.
Leadership & pay
22 people listed
Executive titles in this filing
- REGINA NIXON (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)
Highest reported compensation
- REGINA NIXON (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $78,787 total reported compensation
Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.
Overview
Mission
The organization is committed to unleashing the power of music by providing high-quality music education and experiences that are affordable and accessible. Its vision is to be a leader in music education with a focus on creative youth development, serving diverse communities across greater phoenix through innovative, culturally responsive, and student-centered programming that prepares young people for lifelong success.
What it reported doing in 2024
Summer camps and learning labs: phoenix conservatory of music's summer camps and creative learning labs provide immersive, week-long music education experiences designed to support skill development, creativity, and social-emotional growth during out-of-school time. In fiscal year 2025, pcm served 342 students through 42 week-long camp sessions over 7 weeks in the summer (avg. 6 per week), delivering 966 hours of direct instruction. These programs offered hands-on learning in areas such as instrumental performance (guitar, piano, voice, percussion), songwriting, audio production, beat-making, and contemporary ensemble work, culminating in live performances and family sharing events. More than 60% of summer camp participants received financial assistance or scholarships, making this program one of pcm's most significant access points for students from low- to moderate-income households. Additional program areas (group classes, camps, early childhood, learning through music): pcm offers a continuum of programs from early childhood through adulthood: early childhood programs: served 22 families with foundational music learning experiences supporting early development (32 instructional hours). In-house classes: served 171 students through group-based instruction across instruments and skill levels.learning through music (ltm): served students in title i and low-income communities with 50% receiving aid, reinforcing pcm's commitment to equity and access.across all programs, pcm delivered more than 13,052 hours of direct instruction, emphasizing sequential, high-quality music education that supports academic achievement, confidence, and career readiness.pcm's programs go beyond music instruction to foster academic success, social-emotional growth, and workforce readiness. 86% of students report improved academic performance, and participants gain critical skills in communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. Through a trauma-informed and culturally responsive approach, pcm creates a safe, inclusive environment where students build identity, confidence, and a sense of belonging.
Operating model
- Revenue model
- Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
- Distribution model
- Direct operator. The filing allocates 90% 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.
- Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.
The verdict
STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and expenses are high relative to revenue.
Rating breakdown
- Financial Efficiency: 78
- Transparency & Controls: 94
- Accountability: 100
- Sustainability: 35
- Growth: 100
Detailed rating inputs
Financial Efficiency
- Mission deployment rate: 84%; rating input score 84
- Program expense ratio: 84.3%; rating input score 84
- Fundraising efficiency: $7.52 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 29; 29th 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: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th 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; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
- Governance controls: 8 of 8 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: NotApplicable
- Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
- Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
- Audit committee oversight: Pass
- Independent financial-statement audit: Pass
Sustainability
- Operating margin: 1%; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings
- Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.53; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings
- Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.27; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings
- Officer compensation ratio: 5.9%; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings
Growth
- Program expense growth: 13.2% per year; rating input score 100; 71st percentile among comparable filings
- Revenue growth: 13.2% per year; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings
- Asset growth: 21.8% per year; rating input score 100; 84th percentile among comparable filings
Details
- Where the money goes: 84% of revenue deployed · 84.3% of spending went to programs
- Governance: 21 of 21 board members independent · 8 of 8 filing controls reported
- Programs: 4 filed program accomplishments · $1.1M in reported program spending
- Leadership: top reported pay $79K · 22 people listed
- Consistency: 35 of 35 current checks pass
- Schedules: 6 filed schedules · includes major donors and grants
- Filing history: 12 filing years from 2013 to 2024
- Contacts: How to reach this organization
- Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
- 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.
Key Signals
Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.
- High — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 29/100.
- Moderate — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 39/100.
- High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 25/100.
- High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 26/100.
- Review — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 51/100.