philanthropy.org | 990 Resource | FAQ Verify yourself
Sign in

Project Step INC Symphony Hall FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Boston, MA501(c)(3)Since 1983Arts & CultureEIN 22-2505816Revenue $1.1M in FY2021

On file with the IRSprojectstep.org301 Massachusetts Ave, 02115-4557 · Boston, MATax-exempt since Oct 1984Publicly supported — 509(a)(2)

This page gets seen. Tell your story. Claim this org.

Project STEP, Inc., (Project STEP) was incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation in 1983 under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Project STEP uses classical music training to bring positive change to the lives of students, their families, and their communities. The Organization identifies musically talented students from underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities at an early age and provides them with a comprehensive music program that prepares them to compete at the highest levels. Project STEP's goals are to expand the lives of students through music, helping them reach their potential, and to bring diversity to the field of classical music. By teaching the values of responsibility, respect, perseverance and joy in achievement through learning a string instrument, Project STEP develops strong, productive and happy adults.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
55¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$71K 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
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.3M a year · 61% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
55%
of spending
Worth a look: 55% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$71K
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $2K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$18K
0.5% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 0% 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
$1.1M
+29% vs prior year
Spent
$684K
To programs
55%
Net assets
$3.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.1M
FY2021▲ +29%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$828K
FY2021$1.1M
FY2022$889K
FY2023$6.5M
FY2024$1.6M
FY2025$1.8M
Expenses
$684K
FY2021▲ +13%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$607K
FY2021$684K
FY2022$733K
FY2023$773K
FY2024$1.0M
FY2025$1.1M
Net assets
$3.4M
FY2021▲ +35%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.5M
FY2021$3.4M
FY2022$3.0M
FY2023$8.9M
FY2024$9.3M
FY2025$10.2M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
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 Oct 1984.

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

Where the money goes

55 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 55% · $376K Management & general 34% · $235K Fundraising 11% · $74K

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

Something off? The org can add a note here. Claim this org to fix it.

Who runs it and what they're paid

20 people listed on the 990; $71K 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
Lee Alyssa
Executive Director
$70,600Pt VII · Sec A
McCray Alex
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Jasani Meghan
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Hoyle Michael
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Josue Gonzlez’s $78K as Executive Director is at the 16th 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 · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Josu Gonzlez—$98,825$83,494———
Josue Gonzlez$77,633—————
Lee Alyssa————$70,600$70,600
Alyssa Lee———$54,481——
Malik Williams——$5,000———

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 Project Step INC Symphony Hall executive salaries →

Are you one of these people? Claim this org to confirm your role

Something off? The org can add a note here. Claim this org to fix it.

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

Provides classical music training to talented minority students, fostering personal growth and diversity in music.

Questions for Project Step INC Symphony Hall

Tap to ask. Project Step INC Symphony Hall sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Project Step INC Symphony Hall answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this organization? Claim it to add your story

1 program · $376K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Weekly program of private lessons, chamber music coaching, orchestra and theory classes. The program includes approximately 55-60 students ages six to eightteen. 100% of the program's graduates have gone on to college or conservatory.

$376Kprogram 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 · FY2025
Gibson GivesFY2025$2K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$2K

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$984K
Investment incomeLn 3$50K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$31K
Money outPt IX
$684K
Ln 25
Programscol B$376K
Managementcol C$235K
Fundraisingcol D$74K
Owns and owesPt X
$3.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$181K
Total assetsLn 16$3.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$18K
PeoplePt VI, VII
20
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a19
IndependentVI 1b19
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$984K
Government grantsLn 1e$138K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$31K
Investment incomeLn 3$50K
Gains on assetsLn 7$9K
Total revenueLn 12$1.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$181K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$181K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$70K
Total assetsLn 16$3.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$18K
Net assetsLn 32$3.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 56
VolunteersI 610
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$258K$181K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.0M$3.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$80K$70K
Total assetsLn 16$2.6M$3.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$72K$18K
Net assetsLn 32$2.5M$3.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$71K$0$71K$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$224K$94K$76K$54K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$26K$9K$12K$5K
Payroll taxesLn 10$27K$8K$14K$5K
Accounting feesLn 11c$19K$0$19K$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$17K$0$17K$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$13K$700$12K$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$300$0$300$0
Office expensesLn 13$13K$8K$3K$1K
OccupancyLn 16$100$0$100$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$14K$14K$0$0
InsuranceLn 23$6K$0$6K$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$255K$241K$5K$9K
Total functional expensesLn 25$684K$376K$235K$74K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $1.8M$1.1M$683K$10.2M 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.6M$1.0M$525K$9.3M 990 PDF
FY2023 $6.5M$773K$5.8M$8.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $889K$733K$156K$3.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $1.1M$684K$380K$3.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $828K$607K$221K$2.5M 990 PDF

Want to add your own materials alongside these filings? Claim this org

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 $1,064,600 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $808,800$983,600
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $27,400$30,800
I-10 Investment incomePrior year −$8,100$50,200
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $828,100$1,064,600
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $309,400$347,700
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $297,700$336,500
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $607,100$684,200
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $221,000$380,400
Part VI · Governance 19 of 19 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body19
VI-1b Independent voting members19
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,064,600 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$138,400
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$845,200
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$983,600
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$30,800
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $40,900$40,900
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $9,300 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$9,300
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $40,100 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $40,900$1,064,600
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $684,200 across 13 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $0 · Management $70,600 · Fundraising $0$70,600
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $94,300 · Management $75,500 · Fundraising $54,400$224,200
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $8,800 · Management $12,500 · Fundraising $4,700$26,000
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $8,100 · Management $13,700 · Fundraising $5,100$26,900
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $18,800 · Fundraising $0$18,800
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $16,700 · Fundraising $0$16,700
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $700 · Management $12,000 · Fundraising $0$12,700
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $0 · Management $300 · Fundraising $0$300
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $8,400 · Management $3,400 · Fundraising $1,300$13,100
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $0 · Management $100 · Fundraising $0$100
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $14,000 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$14,000
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $0 · Management $6,000 · Fundraising $0$6,000
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $241,200 · Management $5,000 · Fundraising $8,600$254,800
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $375,500 · Management $234,600 · Fundraising $74,100$684,200
Part X · Balance sheet $3,419,200 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $258,200$181,300
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $261,700$135,000
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $5,900$3,600
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $79,600$70,000
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,978,300$3,029,300
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,583,700$3,419,200
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $22,900$18,100
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $49,600$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $72,500$18,100
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,776,700$2,578,000
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $734,500$823,100
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,511,200$3,401,100
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,583,700$3,419,200
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,401,100 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,064,600
XI-2 Total expenses$684,200
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$380,400
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,511,200
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$509,500
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$3,401,100

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

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

If you ARE the filing organization, claim this org and add context

Made it to the end? Claim this organization

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.