Cantus engages audiences in a meaningful music experience and ensures (continued on schedule o) the future of ensemble singing by mentoring young singers and educators. Cantus was founded on the ideals of collaborative music-making: artists and staff work together to reach new levels of artistic excellence, innovation and audience engagement. Our vision is to give voice to shared human experiences.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
67¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 61 volunteers and 11 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
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $123K a year · 9% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
67%
of spending
Fine: 67% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$180K
to officers and key staff · 12% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 12% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 6.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $7K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$110K
12% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 12% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 11 voting members
Looks good: 9 of 11 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.5M
+17% vs prior year
Spent
$1.5M
To programs
67%
Net assets
$819K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$1.5M
FY2025▲ +17%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$1.0M
FY2022$1.6M
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$1.3M
FY2025$1.5M
Expenses
$1.5M
FY2025▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$763K
FY2022$1.2M
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$1.3M
FY2025$1.5M
Net assets
$819K
FY2025+0.1%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$465K
FY2022$850K
FY2023$888K
FY2024$818K
FY2025$819K

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending July 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 Nov 1999.

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

Where the money goes

67 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 67% · $989K Management & general 23% · $341K Fundraising 10% · $142K

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

16 people listed on the 990; $180K 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
Executive Director
$66,875Pt VII · Sec A
$59,173Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$53,629Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Michelle Quiala’s $67K as Executive Director is at the 10th 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Joeseph Heitz—$104,419———
Joseph Heitz——$102,063$100,219$79,087
Michelle Quiala$66,875————
Alex Nishibun$59,173$55,017$52,440——
Paul Scholtz———$54,904$47,309
Jeremy Wong$53,629$50,517———
Alberto De La Paz———$52,482$44,711
Jeremey Wong——$49,316——

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

Mentors young singers and educators, ensuring ensemble singing's future through engaging musical experiences.

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3 programs · $876K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Concerts

Cantus continued its successful hybrid concert model, combining in-person and online performances. During the season, the ensemble presented five subscription concert programs, along with a special collaboration with the world-renowned swingles.

$495Kprogram expense
02

Touring

During the 2024-2025 concert season, cantus performed in 15 cities across the united states. Highlights included performances in new york city, dallas, and austin, a residency in san francisco in collaboration with the golden gate men's chorus and ragazzi boys chorus, and appearances at brigham young university in salt lake city and the…

$247Kprogram expense
03

Recording

Cantus released alone together on the signum classics label and recorded the secret letter for future release. Throughout the year, the ensemble shared individual performances on youtube, showcasing both new works and its renowned stylistic RANGE.ADDITIONALLY, cantus partnered with american public media to produce a new radio special…

$134Kprogram 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
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$7K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$825K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$615K
Investment incomeLn 3$33K
Money outPt IX
$1.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$989K
Managementcol C$341K
Fundraisingcol D$142K
Owns and owesPt X
$819K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$847K
Total assetsLn 16$929K
LiabilitiesLn 26$110K
PeoplePt VI, VII
16
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$825K
Government grantsLn 1e$149K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$23K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$615K
Investment incomeLn 3$33K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$1.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$847K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$847K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$8K
Other assetsLn 15$12K
Total assetsLn 16$929K
LiabilitiesLn 26$110K
Net assetsLn 32$819K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 511
VolunteersI 661
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$989K$847K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1K$8K
Total assetsLn 16$1.1M$929K
LiabilitiesLn 26$253K$110K
Net assetsLn 32$818K$819K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$199K$129K$32K$37K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$604K$408K$154K$43K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$14K$3K$9K$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$26K$3K$21K$2K
Payroll taxesLn 10$59K$39K$14K$6K
Accounting feesLn 11c$26K$26K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$128K$121K$5K$2K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$127K$126K$540$255
Office expensesLn 13$36K$16K$18K$2K
Information technologyLn 14$3K$3K
OccupancyLn 16$27K$27K
TravelLn 17$81K$78K$4K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$50K$1K$433$48K
InterestLn 20$9K$9K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$2K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$16K$16K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$65K$64K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.5M$989K$341K$142K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $1.5M$1.5M$1K$819K 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.3M$1.3M−$70K$818K 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.3M$1.3M$38K$888K 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.6M$1.2M$385K$850K 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.0M$763K$261K$465K 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 O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,472,751 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $681,756$825,244
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $564,802$614,625
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $16,278$32,882
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $20$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,262,856$1,472,751
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 $779,862$902,234
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $553,477$569,368
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,333,339$1,471,602
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$70,483$1,149
Part VI · Governance 9 of 11 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body11
VI-1b Independent voting members9
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 $1,472,751 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$149,046
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$676,198
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$23,071
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$825,244
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $614,625$614,625
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $32,882$32,882
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $614,625 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $32,882$1,472,751
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,471,602 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $129,484 · Management $32,200 · Fundraising $37,136$198,820
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $407,586 · Management $153,733 · Fundraising $42,906$604,225
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $2,638 · Management $9,274 · Fundraising $2,288$14,200
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $2,649 · Management $21,465 · Fundraising $2,138$26,252
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $39,023 · Management $13,845 · Fundraising $5,869$58,737
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $26,233$26,233
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $121,141 · Management $5,171 · Fundraising $1,500$127,812
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $125,710 · Management $540 · Fundraising $255$126,505
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $15,855 · Management $18,035 · Fundraising $2,122$36,012
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $2,811$2,811
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $26,528$26,528
IX-17 TravelPrograms $77,850 · Management $3,586$81,436
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $1,000 · Management $433 · Fundraising $48,114$49,547
IX-20 InterestManagement $9,132$9,132
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,809$1,809
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $16,158$16,158
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $64,023 · Management $1,362$65,385
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $988,768 · Management $340,506 · Fundraising $142,328$1,471,602
Part X · Balance sheet $928,878 assets, 15 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $988,662$846,735
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $45,956$19,253
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,321$4,000
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $8,961$38,966
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,444$7,953
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $24,723$11,971
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,071,067$928,878
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $39,289$31,660
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $38,489$65,839
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $25,312$12,253
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $253,090$109,752
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $802,977$814,126
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $15,000$5,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $817,977$819,126
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,071,067$928,878
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $819,126 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,472,751
XI-2 Total expenses$1,471,602
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,149
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$817,977
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$819,126

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

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