Buffalo Suzuki Strings INC FY2023 filing

Tax-deductible

N Tonawanda, NY501(c)(3)Since 1983Arts & CultureEIN 13-3263534Revenue $665K in FY2023

On file with the IRSbuffalosuzukistrings.org4 Webster St, 14120-5810 · N Tonawanda, NYTax-exempt since Nov 1983Publicly supported — 509(a)(2)

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To teach children about music in a manner consistent with the philosophy and pedagogy developed by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki. We are dedicated to achieving excellence in music education by supporting a strong partnership of parents, teachers, students, and the community in a nurturing environment.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
75¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$108K 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

FY2023 · 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
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $45K a year · 7% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 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
$108K
to officers and key staff · 17% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 17% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $48K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$143K
8% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 8% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 10 voting members
Looks good: 8 of 10 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$665K
+10% vs prior year
Spent
$654K
To programs
75%
Net assets
$1.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$665K
FY2023▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$767K
FY2021$602K
FY2022$606K
FY2023$665K
FY2024$734K
FY2025$647K
Expenses
$654K
FY2023▲ +14%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$527K
FY2021$529K
FY2022$574K
FY2023$654K
FY2024$775K
FY2025$693K
Net assets
$1.6M
FY2023▲ +2%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.5M
FY2021$1.7M
FY2022$1.6M
FY2023$1.6M
FY2024$1.6M
FY2025$1.6M

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending July 2023) · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 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 Nov 1983.

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% · $489K Management & general 25% · $165K

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

15 people listed on the 990; $108K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
Co-Executive Director
$57,450Pt VII · Sec A
Co-Executive Director
$50,895Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Mary Cay Neal’s $63K as Co-Executive Director is at the 58th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2215 $100K–1M 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Mary Cay Neal$63,448$61,329$57,450$50,105$41,425$44,930
Lauren Eastlack$56,790$44,015$50,895$55,184$55,557$57,048

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.

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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

Teaches children music using the Suzuki method, fostering a supportive community for excellence.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $489K · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Buffalo Suzuki Strings provides a complete and comprehensive music education for children from birth to age 18. We teach private lessons and group enrichment classes in violin, viola, cello, piano, and harp for students ages 3-18 and early childhood Suzuki music for children from birth to age 3.

$489Kprogram 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 4 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$665K
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$513K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$100K
Investment incomeLn 3$42K
Money outPt IX
$654K
Ln 25
Programscol B$489K
Managementcol C$165K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$219K
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$143K
PeoplePt VI, VII
15
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$100K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$513K
Investment incomeLn 3$42K
Other incomeLn 4–11$10K
Gains on assetsLn 7$30K
Total revenueLn 12$665K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$133K
SavingsLn 2$86K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$219K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$768K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$599K
Other assetsLn 15$158K
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$143K
Net assetsLn 32$1.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 514
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderJuly
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$207K$219K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$758K$768K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$643K$599K
Total assetsLn 16$1.6M$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$32K$143K
Net assetsLn 32$1.6M$1.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$76K$13K$63K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$298K$248K$50K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$15K$10K$4K
Payroll taxesLn 10$28K$20K$9K
Accounting feesLn 11c$7K$7K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$31K$31K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$475$475
Office expensesLn 13$634$571$63
OccupancyLn 16$20K$18K$2K
TravelLn 17$453$453
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$68K$61K$7K
InsuranceLn 23$13K$12K$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$94K$74K$21K
All other expensesLn 24e$2K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$654K$489K$165K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $647K$693K−$46K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 $734K$775K−$42K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $665K$654K$11K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $606K$574K$32K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $602K$529K$74K$1.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 $767K$527K$240K$1.5M 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 FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $664,693 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $89,379$99,861
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $431,076$513,014
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $63,408$41,721
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $22,266$10,097
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $606,129$664,693
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 $409,580$417,067
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $164,368$236,507
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $573,948$653,574
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $32,181$11,119
Part VI · Governance 8 of 10 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
VI-1b Independent voting members8
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 $664,693 across 7 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $4,526 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$99,861
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$99,861
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $513,014$513,014
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $11,520$11,520
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $30,201$30,201
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $5,571$5,571
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $547,741 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $17,091$664,693
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $653,574 across 14 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $12,553 · Management $63,388$75,941
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $247,982 · Management $50,135$298,117
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $10,139 · Management $4,419$14,558
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $19,817 · Management $8,634$28,451
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $6,795$6,795
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $30,783$30,783
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $475$475
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $571 · Management $63$634
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $18,373 · Management $2,042$20,415
IX-17 TravelPrograms $453$453
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $61,387 · Management $6,821$68,208
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $11,650 · Management $1,295$12,945
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $73,535 · Management $20,517$94,052
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,747$1,747
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $488,990 · Management $164,584 · Fundraising $0$653,574
Part X · Balance sheet $1,756,023 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $147,049$133,252
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $59,560$86,165
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $9,526$10,892
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $1,177$1,128
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $643,411$598,636
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $758,410$768,360
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$157,590
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,619,133$1,756,023
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $3,971$115,704
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $28,182$26,803
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $32,153$142,507
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,185,379$1,211,765
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $401,601$401,751
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,586,980$1,613,516
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,619,133$1,756,023
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,613,516 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$664,693
XI-2 Total expenses$653,574
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$11,119
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,586,980
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$15,417
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,613,516

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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