El Sistema USA

Analysis

El Sistema USA is a registered charity in United States, based in Durham, NC. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in July 2014, 12 years ago. Its declared purposes cover human services, which this site groups under poverty relief. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (gross receipts test) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending June 2023, El Sistema USA reported income of $240k and spending of $257k, spending 107% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from June 2019 to June 2023, income grew from $170k to $240k (+42%), an average of +9.1% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to June 2020, when income rose by 37%. Over the whole period it spent 159% of the income it received.

Among 62,758 United States charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, El Sistema USA sits at the 52nd percentile: it is larger than about 52% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 57th percentile, and in the 55th percentile within NC. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Envision Blind Sports ($240k), Camp Laughing Loon ($240k) and Vernon Community Action Council Inc ($240k).

On its Form 990 for the period ending June 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 67% and program service revenue 32% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $82k (32% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $43k. At year end it held assets of $53k against liabilities of $29k, net assets of $23k. It reported 5 employees.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.