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.
76¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$820K 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

FY2024 · 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
76%
of spending
Looks good: 76% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$820K
to officers and key staff · 20% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 20% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.3 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
$299K
15% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 15% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
15
of 15 voting members
Looks good: 15 of 15 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$3.2M
+52% vs prior year
Spent
$4.0M
To programs
76%
Net assets
$1.7M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$3.2M
FY2024▲ +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
$4.0M
FY2024▲ +3%
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
$1.7M
FY2024▼ -34%
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 FY2024 Form 990 (year ending June 2024) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2024 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

76 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 76% · $3.1M Management & general 12% · $492K Fundraising 12% · $496K

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

25 people listed on the 990; $820K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2023); the FY2024 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director (started May23)
$172,045Pt VII · Sec A
Strategic Partnerships & Impact Director
$168,675Pt VII · Sec A
Ex-Officio Board Member
$125,379Pt VII · Sec A
Development Director
$84,134Pt VII · Sec A
Deputy Director, Clerk (may-Jun24)
$84,134Pt VII · Sec A
Ex-Officio Board Member (feb-Jun24)
$76,020Pt VII · Sec A
Ex-Officio Board Member (feb-Jun24)
$73,384Pt VII · Sec A
Ex-Officio Board Member (jul-Sep23)
$36,661Pt 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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3 programs · $1.9M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

American Railroad

Silkroad's key program, the silkroad ensemble, embarked on the american railroad project, which illuminates 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 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 includes 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…

$201Kprogram 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 FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.3M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$812K
Other incomeLn 4–11$14K
Money outPt IX
$4.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.1M
Managementcol C$492K
Fundraisingcol D$496K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$2.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$299K
PeoplePt VI, VII
25
listed · VII A
PaidVII A8
Voting boardVI 1a15
IndependentVI 1b15
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.3M
Government grantsLn 1e$90K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Fees for servicesLn 2g$812K
Investment incomeLn 3$727
Other incomeLn 4–11$14K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$330
Total revenueLn 12$3.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$136K
SavingsLn 2$972K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K
Other assetsLn 15$6K
Total assetsLn 16$2.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$299K
Net assetsLn 32$1.7M
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.1M$1.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$11K$3K
Total assetsLn 16$3.0M$2.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$358K$299K
Net assetsLn 32$2.6M$1.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.0M$703K$117K$229K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$596K$359K$80K$157K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$325K$195K$60K$70K
Payroll taxesLn 10$0
Legal feesLn 11b$30K$12K$17K
Accounting feesLn 11c$104K$104K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.1M$1.1M$7K$13K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$101K$100K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$41K$19K$10K$12K
OccupancyLn 16$70K$65K$5K$135
TravelLn 17$386K$371K$6K$9K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$84K$79K$3K$2K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$38K$38K
InsuranceLn 23$10K$1K$9K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$63K$26K$35K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.0M$3.1M$492K$496K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $4.8M$3.7M$1.0M$2.8M 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,150,113 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,519,723$2,323,213
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $538,555$812,407
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,987$727
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $13,198$13,766
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,074,463$3,150,113
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 $1,595,707$1,970,516
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,320,088$2,074,482
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,915,795$4,044,998
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$1,841,332−$894,885
Part VI · Governance 15 of 15 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body15
VI-1b Independent voting members15
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 $3,150,113 across 14 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $7,000 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$90,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,233,213
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,323,213
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $812,407 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$812,407
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,057$1,057
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $771$771
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission −$330 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0−$330
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $5,995 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$5,995
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $825,072 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,828$3,150,113
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,044,998 across 15 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $703,153 · Management $116,765 · Fundraising $229,417$1,049,335
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $359,442 · Management $79,813 · Fundraising $157,016$596,271
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $195,233 · Management $59,852 · Fundraising $69,825$324,910
IX-10 Payroll taxes$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $12,200 · Management $17,400$29,600
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $104,456$104,456
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,127,087 · Management $7,486 · Fundraising $12,907$1,147,480
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $99,906 · Fundraising $1,510$101,416
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $18,508 · Management $10,393 · Fundraising $12,229$41,130
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $64,632 · Management $5,432 · Fundraising $135$70,199
IX-17 TravelPrograms $371,427 · Management $6,138 · Fundraising $8,515$386,080
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $78,581 · Management $2,955 · Fundraising $2,345$83,881
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $37,717$37,717
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $1,100 · Management $8,648$9,748
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $26,351 · Management $34,715 · Fundraising $1,709$62,775
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,057,620 · Management $491,770 · Fundraising $495,608$4,044,998
Part X · Balance sheet $2,029,295 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,233,133$136,166
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $824,501$971,954
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $840,644$865,500
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,705$328
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $9,318$11,983
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $62,420$34,581
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $11,305$3,008
X-15 Other assets$5,775
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,983,026$2,029,295
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $305,626$238,043
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $52,690$61,427
X-25 Other liabilities$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $358,316$299,470
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $929,809$1,050,864
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,694,901$678,961
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,624,710$1,729,825
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,983,026$2,029,295
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,729,825 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,150,113
XI-2 Total expenses$4,044,998
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$894,885
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,624,710
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
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$1,729,825

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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