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.
76¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$204K 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 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
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
$204K
to officers and key staff · 16% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 16% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
10 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 10.1 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
$275K
24% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 24% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
10
of 12 voting members
Looks good: 10 of 12 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.3M
-18% vs prior year
Spent
$1.3M
To programs
76%
Net assets
$888K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$1.3M
FY2023▼ -18%
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
$1.3M
FY2023▲ +5%
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
$888K
FY2023▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$465K
FY2022$850K
FY2023$888K
FY2024$818K
FY2025$819K

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending July 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · 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 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% · $975K Management & general 16% · $204K Fundraising 8% · $108K

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

14 people listed on the 990; $204K 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
Executive Director
$102,063Pt VII · Sec A
$52,440Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$49,316Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$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 · $877K · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Concerts

Cantus continued its hybrid IN-PERSON/ONLINE concert model that the organization piloted during and in the re-emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2022-23 season, the ensemble performed five subscription concerts, as well as a collaborative concert with a norwegian women's chorus, also named cantus.

$468Kprogram expense
02

Touring

Cantus' national touring continued its post-pandemic rebound in the 2022-23 season, with engagements spanning 15 states. Of particular note, the ensemble appeared at the chautauqua institution in chautauqua, new york; sonoma state university in rohnert park, california; shalin liu performance center in rockport, massachusetts; newport…

$253Kprogram expense
03

Media Initiatives

British record label signum classics released "into the light" in november 2022, marking the ensemble's first holiday album in more than a decade. The album was well received by audiences and critics alike: "into the light" hit no.

$156Kprogram 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 FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$716K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$602K
Other incomeLn 4–11$4K
Money outPt IX
$1.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$975K
Managementcol C$204K
Fundraisingcol D$108K
Owns and owesPt X
$888K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$1.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$275K
PeoplePt VI, VII
14
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$716K
Government grantsLn 1e$266K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$602K
Investment incomeLn 3$3K
Other incomeLn 4–11$4K
Total revenueLn 12$1.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$1.1M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$37K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2K
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$1.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$275K
Net assetsLn 32$888K
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$993K$1.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$37K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4K$2K
Total assetsLn 16$1.0M$1.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$199K$275K
Net assetsLn 32$850K$888K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$228K$120K$61K$47K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$443K$352K$62K$29K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$13K$12K$1K$241
Other employee benefitsLn 9$38K$29K$6K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$50K$35K$9K$5K
Legal feesLn 11b$26$26
Accounting feesLn 11c$27K$27K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$114K$114K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$54K$38K$10K$6K
Office expensesLn 13$95K$68K$17K$10K
Information technologyLn 14$5K$3K$887$542
OccupancyLn 16$28K$20K$5K$3K
TravelLn 17$133K$133K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1K$760$193$118
InsuranceLn 23$17K$12K$3K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$41K$38K$2K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.3M$975K$204K$108K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $1.5M$1.5M$1K$819K 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.3M$1.3M−$70K$818K 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $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 FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,324,947 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,009,905$715,983
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $597,032$601,882
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $188$2,958
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $174$4,124
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,607,299$1,324,947
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 $662,827$771,580
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $559,075$514,922
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,221,902$1,286,502
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $385,397$38,445
Part VI · Governance 10 of 12 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12
VI-1b Independent voting members10
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 $1,324,947 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$266,438
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$449,545
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$715,983
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $601,882$601,882
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $2,958$2,958
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $4,124$4,124
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $606,006 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $2,958$1,324,947
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,286,502 across 16 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $119,933 · Management $61,252 · Fundraising $47,236$228,421
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $352,102 · Management $62,055 · Fundraising $28,985$443,142
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $11,552 · Management $1,049 · Fundraising $241$12,842
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $29,028 · Management $5,603 · Fundraising $2,956$37,587
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $35,207 · Management $8,926 · Fundraising $5,455$49,588
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $26$26
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $26,845$26,845
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $114,349$114,349
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $38,314 · Management $9,713 · Fundraising $5,936$53,963
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $67,640 · Management $17,148 · Fundraising $10,479$95,267
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $3,497 · Management $887 · Fundraising $542$4,926
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $19,984 · Management $5,066 · Fundraising $3,096$28,146
IX-17 TravelPrograms $132,859$132,859
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $760 · Management $193 · Fundraising $118$1,071
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $11,942 · Management $3,028 · Fundraising $1,850$16,820
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $37,689 · Management $1,838 · Fundraising $1,123$40,650
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $974,856 · Management $203,629 · Fundraising $108,017$1,286,502
Part X · Balance sheet $1,163,748 assets, 16 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $992,571$1,084,238
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $33,949$37,008
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $8,089$948
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $8,837$1,941
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,517$2,446
X-12 Other securities$37,167
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,753$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,048,716$1,163,748
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $43,701$38,511
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $5,000$49,289
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$37,488
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $198,701$275,288
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $845,015$885,460
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $5,000$3,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $850,015$888,460
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,048,716$1,163,748
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $888,460 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,324,947
XI-2 Total expenses$1,286,502
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$38,445
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$850,015
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$888,460

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

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