Silk Road Project INC FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Somerville, MA501(c)(3)Since 1998Arts & CultureEIN 04-3444069Revenue $5.0M in FY2021

On file with the IRSsilkroad.org240 Elm St, 02144-2935 · Somerville, MATax-exempt since Apr 1999Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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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.
63¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$305K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · 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
63%
of spending
Worth a look: 63% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$305K
to officers and key staff · 18% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 18% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
15 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 14.6 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
$255K
6% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 6% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
17
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 17 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$5.0M
+193% vs prior year
Spent
$1.7M
To programs
63%
Net assets
$4.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$5.0M
FY2021▲ +193%
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
$1.7M
FY2021▼ -31%
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
$4.2M
FY2021▲ +358%
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 FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

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

63 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 63% · $1.1M Management & general 25% · $421K Fundraising 12% · $209K

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

19 people listed on the 990; $305K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$202,564Pt VII · Sec A
Deputy Director
$102,387Pt VII · Sec A
Board Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$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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2 programs · $1.1M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Home Within

Home within is an emotional accounting of home in a time of conflict. An audio-visual performance conceived by syrian composer and clarinetist kinan azmeh and syrian armenian visual artist kevork mourad, the result is an impressionistic reflection on the unity of loss, longing, and the impact of tragedy on our sense of 'home.' rather…

$868Kprogram expense
02

University Residencies

Silkroad residencies are long-term educational partnerships designed to synergize academic curriculum with silkroad's mission and ongoing artistic initiatives. By working closely with our institutional partners and their local community, students gain an advanced understanding of global cultures and musical traditions, explore…

$215Kprogram 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 FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.9M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$166K
Other incomeLn 4–11$9K
Money outPt IX
$1.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.1M
Managementcol C$421K
Fundraisingcol D$209K
Owns and owesPt X
$4.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.1M
Total assetsLn 16$4.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$255K
PeoplePt VI, VII
19
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b17
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.9M
Government grantsLn 1e$251K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$72K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Fees for servicesLn 2g$166K
Investment incomeLn 3$529
Other incomeLn 4–11$9K
Total revenueLn 12$5.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2.1M
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$32K
Total assetsLn 16$4.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$255K
Net assetsLn 32$4.2M
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$748K$2.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$7K$32K
Total assetsLn 16$1.3M$4.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$349K$255K
Net assetsLn 32$924K$4.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$203K$104K$55K$43K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$447K$230K$122K$95K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$237K$127K$65K$45K
Payroll taxesLn 10$4K$3K$174$233
Legal feesLn 11b$4K$4K
Accounting feesLn 11c$49K$49K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$547K$494K$49K$4K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$66K$65K$500
Office expensesLn 13$67K$16K$42K$8K
Information technologyLn 14$2K$2K
OccupancyLn 16$4K$4K$389
TravelLn 17$43K$37K$88$6K
InterestLn 20$374$374
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$11K$11K
InsuranceLn 23$23K$3K$20K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$7K$35$0$7K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.7M$1.1M$421K$209K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $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 Viewing $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 I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $5,025,735 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,622,143$4,850,136
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,594,007$165,811
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $454$529
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $8,361$9,259
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,224,965$5,025,735
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 $1,067,270$889,730
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $100,252$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,540,479$822,703
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,708,001$1,712,433
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$483,036$3,313,302
Part VI · Governance 17 of 17 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body17
VI-1b Independent voting members17
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 $5,025,735 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $8,403 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$541
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$250,775
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$4,598,820
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$71,604
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,850,136
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $165,811 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$165,811
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $529$529
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $856 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$856
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $175,070 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $529$5,025,735
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,712,433 across 16 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $104,206 · Management $55,305 · Fundraising $43,053$202,564
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $229,701 · Management $121,909 · Fundraising $94,901$446,511
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $126,979 · Management $64,765 · Fundraising $45,189$236,933
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $3,315 · Management $174 · Fundraising $233$3,722
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $4,492$4,492
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $48,713$48,713
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $494,290 · Management $49,016 · Fundraising $3,930$547,236
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $65,108 · Fundraising $500$65,608
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $16,256 · Management $42,096 · Fundraising $8,363$66,715
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $1,895$1,895
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $3,900 · Management $389$4,289
IX-17 TravelPrograms $36,613 · Management $88 · Fundraising $6,009$42,710
IX-20 InterestManagement $374$374
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $11,235$11,235
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $2,589 · Management $20,272$22,861
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $35 · Management $0 · Fundraising $6,540$6,575
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,082,992 · Management $420,723 · Fundraising $208,718$1,712,433
Part X · Balance sheet $4,491,777 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $695,488$2,079,402
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $52,841$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $384,640$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $64,810$2,314,503
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $2,421$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $58,810$65,904
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $6,561$31,968
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,273,630$4,491,777
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $349,426$244,901
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$10,000
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payable$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $349,426$254,901
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $253,466$754,924
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $670,738$3,481,952
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $924,204$4,236,876
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,273,630$4,491,777
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $4,236,876 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,025,735
XI-2 Total expenses$1,712,433
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$3,313,302
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$924,204
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$630
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$4,236,876

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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