Suzuki Orff School for Young Musicians

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
363137564
IRS 990 coverage
2014–2025
Forms available
Form 990 2025
Location
Chicago, IL, USA
Phone
3127382646
Rating
80
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Performing Arts Schools

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$1,149,303
Expenses
$940,124
Assets
$651,600
Liabilities
$209,603

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

Leadership & pay

14 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • PAULA ELLIOTT (PRESIDENT)
  • MICHAEL GARRITY (VICE PRESIDENT)
  • GOSIA BAGLEY (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)

Highest reported compensation

  • GOSIA BAGLEY (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $127,606 total reported compensation

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

Overview

Mission

Chime provides access to evidence-based therapy and engagement-based music programs that develop critical skills and foster self and social growth.

What it reported doing in 2025

Chime delivers its mission through music classes, private lessons, and music therapy at our west town location as well as classroom music instruction during and after school at chicago area partner schools. Each of the offerings falls under one of two models: the performance model for neurotypical children and the therapeutic model for diverse learners and children with disabilities. Both models focus on musical engagement through hands-on instrumental music-making activities and an anti-bias repertoire and impact around 3,300 students weekly. We prioritize access to economically disadvantaged children and disabled individuals who would not have access to music without our services. We believe that everyone should have access to culturally responsive music programs that prioritize both the joy of active participation and the development of life skills. Our goal is to provide opportunities for students to tap into their creativity, express themselves musically, be part of an inclusive community, and reach their true potential. We aim at giving students successful music-making experiences that bring them joy, build character, and develop skills helpful in all areas of their lives. Our values of accountability, response-ability, and teamwork are visible not only in how our staff works, but also in the curriculum of our programs.

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 98% 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 - The filed numbers largely add up and a large share of available resources goes toward mission work. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and some filing-based governance responses are negative or unanswered.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 68
  • Transparency & Controls: 94
  • Accountability: 84
  • Sustainability: 48
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 68.3%; rating input score 68
  • Program expense ratio: 83.5%; rating input score 83
  • Fundraising efficiency: $7.63 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 27; 27th 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; 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: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 62
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Fail
    • Document-retention policy: Fail
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 18.2%; rating input score 70; 70th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.69; rating input score 32; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.32; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 13.6%; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 0.5% per year; rating input score 100; 17th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 1.9% per year; rating input score 100; 19th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 3.6% per year; rating input score 100; 29th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 68.3% of revenue deployed · 83.5% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 13 of 13 board members independent · 5 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $785K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $128K · 14 people listed
  • Consistency: 32 of 32 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 7 filed schedules · includes major donors and grants
  • Filing history: 11 filing years from 2014 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.

Key Signals

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

  • High — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 27/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: 3 of 8 not reported.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 32/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 18/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 28/100.