The Stecher and Horowitz Foundation

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
237443019
IRS 990 coverage
2014–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
New York, NY, USA
Phone
2125818380
Rating
69
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Performing Arts Schools

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$136,620
Expenses
$106,803
Assets
$1,373,145
Liabilities
$2,421

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

15 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • NORMAN HOROWITZ (PRESIDENT/EXECUTIVE DIRECT)

People named in this filing

  • MARGARET O CARPENTER (CHAIRMAN)
  • NORMAN HOROWITZ (PRESIDENT/EXECUTIVE DIRECT)
  • CHARLES V SCHAEFER III (VICE CHAIR)

Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The stecher and horowitz foundation is committed to furthering the education, recognition and fostering of this new generation of talented young musicians.

What it reported doing in 2024

The flagship program of the stecher and horowitz foundation from 2002 through 2022 was the New York international piano competition. During the 20 years of its existence, it became one of the most prestigious piano competitions world-wide. Following the reign of twenty years, it was the decision of the board of directors of the stecher and horowitz foundation to move on into the field of philanthropy in the arts. During the year ended june 30, 2025, the foundation continued its research and planning and decided to create a major prize for accomplished professional pianists/teachers to be called the gateway prize. A detailed list of requirements was developed for applying for this prize and it is to be known as the stecher and horowitz foundation-mtna gateway prize. It is in the amount of $25,000. Mtna is the acronym for music teachers national association, a prestigious organization about to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2026. In addition, two career grants, the stecher and horowitz foundation-mtna joyce b. Cowin career grant as well as the stecher and horowitz foundation-mtna melvin stecher and norman horowitz career grant were created to assist and inspire accomplished professional pianists/teachers. Each grant will be in the amount of $10,000.the foundation's website is constantly being augmented to highlight the activities and overall programs of the stecher and horowitz foundation, it features information about the stecher and horowitz foundation; the past contestants who have participated in the nyipc; the young artists series concerts; a comprehensive gallery of photos; and a representation of all the activities presented. Www.thenyipc.orq has added considerably to the popularity and interest in the foundation and its programs, as well as constant updating on social media.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 83% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% 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.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - The filed numbers largely add up and most voting board members are independent. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and a relatively small share of total spending goes to programs.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 51
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 82
  • Sustainability: 77
  • Growth: 20

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 46.7%; rating input score 47
  • Program expense ratio: 52.9%; rating input score 53
  • Fundraising efficiency: $23.04 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th 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: 4 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 57
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 21.8%; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 12.86; rating input score 92; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: -11.4% per year; rating input score 0; 10th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: -4.2% per year; rating input score 0; 12th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 4.3% per year; rating input score 100; 44th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 46.7% of revenue deployed · 52.9% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 15 of 15 board members independent · 4 of 7 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $56K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 15 people listed
  • Consistency: 20 of 20 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 11 filing years from 2014 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: Resolved incoming and outgoing counterparties from filed money flows.
  • 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.

  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Mission deployment rate scored 47/100.
  • Review — Financial Efficiency: Program expense ratio scored 53/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: 2 of 6 not reported.
  • High — Growth: Program expense growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Growth: Revenue growth scored 0/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 55/100.