The Fischoff National Chamber Music Association Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

The 52nd annual fischoff national chamber music competition was held in person at the university of notre dame in may 2025. The event featured 59 chamber ensembles comprising 224 individual competitors representing 22 countries and territories and 29 states. During the three days of live competition, fischoff ensembles presented over 100 competition performances open to the public, 12 school programs reaching 957 second graders, 12 community performances, and reached over 16,900 livestream viewers. Additionally, 174 area middle school band and orchestra students attended the competition as audience members. Fischoff also continued the lift every voice prizes for best performances of a piece by a historically underrepresented composer in the chamber music world. This prize focuses on works by women, black, asian, and latino/a (heritage originates from latin america) composers. Senior division musicians were eligible to submit a video performance for a chance to win a cash prize and additional performance opportunities during the competition weekend. The fischoff double gold tour featured the 2024 fischoff competition senior division gold medalists, lotus quartet and trio azura. They presented concerts and outreach programs across the midwest, reaching over 6,300 children, youth, and adults. The grand prize tour featured the 2024 grand prize winner, poiesis quartet, who reached audiences in italy during the emilia romagna festival. Fischoff's 2024 ann divine educator award winner, lineage percussion, conducted a week-long arts-in-education residency in northern Indiana, presenting workshops, masterclasses, and interactive concerts in schools, community centers, and libraries. The residency reached approximately 1,473 children and students and 486 adults. As part of fischoff's signature stories and music (sam i am) program, lineage percussion brought to life the children's book, "miss nelson is missing," for approximately 1,116 elementary school students, and fischoff gifted these students with free copies of the book. Fischoff's chamber music academy celebrated its 25th year of providing mentoring and chamber music studies through tuition-free professional coaching sessions to michiana junior high and high school music students. 62 students participated in the program, representing 22 schools in the michiana region. The 19 ensembles participated in outreach performances, masterclasses, and an annual public concert, reaching a total audience of approximately 2,318 children, youth, and adults in Indiana and Michigan. Additionally, academy ensemble benediction trio won the geoffroy prize in the 52nd annual fischoff competition as the highest-ranking junior ensemble entering the competition within a 60-mile radius of south bend. Fischoff's chamber music summer intensive program was held again on the campus of saint mary's college in june, enrolling 24 student musicians in a week-long series of performances, coaching sessions, masterclasses, and community outreach. The intensive also featured fischoff competition alumni and 2018 senior string division bronze medal winner thalea string quartet as faculty ensemble-in-residence. Intensive public performances reached 215 total audience members.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 77%; rating input score 77
• Program expense ratio: 77.3%; rating input score 77
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.71 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: 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: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 1.9%; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.61; rating input score 58; 58th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.04; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 17.6%; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 7.4% per year; rating input score 100; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.1% per year; rating input score 100; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4.5% per year; rating input score 100; 36th percentile among comparable filings