Silkroad creates music that engages difference, sparking radical cultural collaboration and passion-driven learning for a more hopeful and inclusive world.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
75¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 19 volunteers and 16 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $185K a year · 5% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
75%
of spending
Fine: 75% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$942K
to officers and key staff · 25% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 25% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 6.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
11
named funders · $946K
Looks good: 11 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$330K
11% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 11% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
19
of 19 voting members
Looks good: 19 of 19 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$4.8M
+52% vs prior year
Spent
$3.7M
To programs
75%
Net assets
$2.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$4.8M
FY2025▲ +52%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.7M
FY2021$5.0M
FY2022$3.9M
FY2023$2.1M
FY2024$3.2M
FY2025$4.8M
Expenses
$3.7M
FY2025▼ -8%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.5M
FY2021$1.7M
FY2022$3.7M
FY2023$3.9M
FY2024$4.0M
FY2025$3.7M
Net assets
$2.8M
FY2025▲ +60%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$924K
FY2021$4.2M
FY2022$4.5M
FY2023$2.6M
FY2024$1.7M
FY2025$2.8M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Apr 1999.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

75 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 75% · $2.8M Management & general 11% · $393K Fundraising 15% · $552K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

24 people listed on the 990; $942K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Chief Executive Officer, President
$282,318Pt VII · Sec A
Deputy Director, Clerk
$178,113Pt VII · Sec A
Development Director
$178,113Pt VII · Sec A
Strategic Partnerships & Impact Director
$174,629Pt VII · Sec A
Artistic Director
$128,418Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair (elected Oct24)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Ben Hartley’s $282K as Chief Executive Officer, President is at the 96th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3924 $1–10M arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Ben Hartley$282,318$172,045————
Kathy Fletcher——$247,100$265,500$202,564$22,121
Eduardo Braniff—————$210,670
Anthony Barbir$178,113$84,134$182,861$152,583$102,387—
Jennifer Klahn$178,113$84,134$167,659$149,960——
Alicia Robinson Reese$174,629$168,675$149,005———
Rhiannon Giddens$128,418$125,379$121,745$58,353——
Lori Lyn Taylor—————$106,493

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Silk Road Project INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Creates music that sparks cultural collaboration and learning for a more inclusive world.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.9M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

American Railroad

Silkroad's key program, the silkroad ensemble, resumed the american railroad project for its second year, illuminating the impact the african american, chinese, indigenous, irish, and other immigrant communities had on the creation of the U.S. Transcontinental railroad and connecting railways in north america.

$1.3Mprogram expense
02

Global Musician Workshop

Silkroad's flagship education program, global musician workshop (GMW), is an annual immersive training program, uniting musicians from across the globe to explore diverse musical traditions and innovative collaborations.

$345Kprogram expense
03

Uplifted Voices

Silkroad's key program, the silkroad ensemble, brought together a stellar lineup of performer-composers for the uplifted voices project, which included a series of musical compositions, often inspired by each artist's homeland, ancestors, community, and family, representing previously under-recognized voices from around the world…

$296Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
See all 11 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$31K
Money outPt IX
$3.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.8M
Managementcol C$393K
Fundraisingcol D$552K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.0M
Total assetsLn 16$3.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$330K
PeoplePt VI, VII
24
listed · VII A
PaidVII A5
Voting boardVI 1a19
IndependentVI 1b19
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$8K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$2K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Other incomeLn 4–11$31K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$3K
Total revenueLn 12$4.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$99K
SavingsLn 2$1.9M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$6K
Total assetsLn 16$3.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$330K
Net assetsLn 32$2.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 516
VolunteersI 619
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.1M$2.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K$0
Total assetsLn 16$2.0M$3.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$299K$330K
Net assetsLn 32$1.7M$2.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$358K$204K$39K$115K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$980K$558K$108K$315K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$64K$37K$7K$21K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$114K$65K$13K$37K
Payroll taxesLn 10$98K$56K$11K$31K
Legal feesLn 11b$14K$2K$12K
Accounting feesLn 11c$87K$87K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.3M$1.3M$887$3K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$450$450
Office expensesLn 13$37K$11K$20K$6K
Information technologyLn 14$139$139
OccupancyLn 16$95K$58K$37K
TravelLn 17$502K$478K$8K$15K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$3K$3K
InsuranceLn 23$13K$13K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$84K$42K$33K$10K
All other expensesLn 24e$20$20
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.7M$2.8M$393K$552K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $4.8M$3.7M$1.0M$2.8M 990 PDF
FY2024 $3.2M$4.0M−$895K$1.7M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.1M$3.9M−$1.8M$2.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $3.9M$3.7M$263K$4.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 $5.0M$1.7M$3.3M$4.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.7M$2.5M−$771K$924K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $4,778,469 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,323,213$3,631,104
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $812,407$1,115,966
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $727−$336
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $13,766$31,735
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,150,113$4,778,469
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,970,516$1,614,431
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,074,482$2,122,849
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $4,044,998$3,737,280
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$894,885$1,041,189
Part VI · Governance 19 of 19 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body19
VI-1b Independent voting members19
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $4,778,469 across 14 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $22,841 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$1,665
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$7,500
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,621,939
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,631,104
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,115,966 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$1,115,966
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $2,438$2,438
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $539$539
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission −$2,774 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0−$2,774
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $8,355$8,355
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,136,033 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $11,332$4,778,469
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,737,280 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $203,862 · Management $39,330 · Fundraising $115,121$358,313
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $557,688 · Management $107,591 · Fundraising $314,927$980,206
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $36,647 · Management $7,070 · Fundraising $20,695$64,412
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $64,801 · Management $12,502 · Fundraising $36,593$113,896
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $55,532 · Management $10,713 · Fundraising $31,359$97,604
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $1,617 · Management $12,500$14,117
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $87,239$87,239
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,283,201 · Management $887 · Fundraising $3,316$1,287,404
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $450$450
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $10,789 · Management $20,500 · Fundraising $5,517$36,806
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $139$139
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $57,573 · Management $36,978$94,551
IX-17 TravelPrograms $478,353 · Management $8,474 · Fundraising $14,926$501,753
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $2,989$2,989
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $13,327$13,327
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $41,745 · Management $32,776 · Fundraising $9,533$84,054
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $20$20
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,792,397 · Management $392,896 · Fundraising $551,987$3,737,280
Part X · Balance sheet $3,099,732 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $136,166$99,061
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $971,954$1,858,445
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $865,500$1,064,770
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $328$283
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $11,983$10,635
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $34,581$60,764
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,008$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $5,775$5,774
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,029,295$3,099,732
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $238,043$249,178
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $61,427$80,613
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $299,470$329,791
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,050,864$1,077,691
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $678,961$1,692,250
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,729,825$2,769,941
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,029,295$3,099,732
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,769,941 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,778,469
XI-2 Total expenses$3,737,280
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,041,189
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,729,825
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses−$1,073
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,769,941

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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