Suzuki Institute of Dallas

What it reported doing in 2024

The Suzuki Music Institute of Dallas SMID provides private lessons (violin, viola, cello, harp, piano) and group & musicianship classes to students of all ages and levels (approximately 270 students). SMID also provides an early childhood music education course for 18 month olds to 4 year olds. SMID bases its teaching philosophy on Dr. Suzukis Talent Education Method which emphasizes that any child, musical or not, can achieve a level of excellence on their instrument by following his intricate Mother Tongue method of unveiling and nurturing the talent latent in all children. SMID provides internal scholarships as it is able, to ensure lessons are available to all children without regard to their race, color, national or ethnic origin or financial situation. In addition, we offer Parent Training courses, which enable parents to practice effectively with their children and learn thoroughly about the Suzuki Method. SMID teachers also give lessons via Skype to students throughout the United States and the world. SMID has dozens of annual prize winners in major music competitions held inside and outside the state of Texas. Our students have the opportunity to perform in formal concerts and competitions and community outreach concerts ranging from beginning to professional levels every month. Community outreach concert venues include hospitals, nursing homes, and local festivals. In addition, students have performed on From the Top with many orchestras across the world including Sioux Falls Symphony Orchestra and the Black Hills Orchestra, East Texas Symphony, and the New Conservatory of Dallas. We have also had students perform with the Meadows Symphony and the Plano Symphony in the past. Every year, our teachers prepare SMID high school students for college and university auditions. Teachers assist with audition tapes, letters of recommendation, and important acceptance decisions. SMID students are consistently awarded university and college scholarships for all areas of study.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 80.2%; rating input score 80
• Program expense ratio: 83%; rating input score 83
• Fundraising efficiency: $226.58 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 92; 92nd 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: 77.8%; rating input score 78; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
  • 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: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 0.8%; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.25; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.24; rating input score 29; 29th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 17.5%; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 0.6% per year; rating input score 100; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 1% per year; rating input score 100; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 3.5% per year; rating input score 100; 32nd percentile among comparable filings