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.
57¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$224K 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
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
57%
of spending
Worth a look: 57% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$224K
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
9 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 8.9 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
$253K
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
-5% vs prior year
Spent
$1.3M
To programs
57%
Net assets
$818K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$1.3M
FY2024▼ -5%
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
FY2024▲ +4%
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
$818K
FY2024▼ -8%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$465K
FY2022$850K
FY2023$888K
FY2024$818K
FY2025$819K

From the FY2024 Form 990 (year ending July 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 Nov 1999.

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

Where the money goes

57 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 57% · $757K Management & general 29% · $382K Fundraising 15% · $195K

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

17 people listed on the 990; $224K 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 (thru 8/23))
$104,419Pt VII · Sec A
$55,017Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$50,517Pt VII · Sec A
Interim Executive Director
$14,000Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$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.

Questions for Cantus

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $669K · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Concerts

Cantus maintained the use of the hybrid IN-PERSON/ONLINE concert model that was initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2023-24 concert season, the ensemble performed five subscription concerts, in addition to a collaborative concert with the world-renowned canadian brass.

$374Kprogram expense
02

Touring

Cantus was engaged for performances in 8 states and canada during the 2023-24 concert season. Highlights included concerts at the musical instrument museum in phoenix, az and illinois college in jacksonville, il.

$191Kprogram expense
03

Recording

Cantus recorded an album, "mountain nights," for future release by signum classics. Cantus released selected individual songs on youtube throughout the year, demonstrating the ensemble's commitment to new music and stylistic versatility.

$104Kprogram 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 FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$682K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$565K
Investment incomeLn 3$16K
Money outPt IX
$1.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$757K
Managementcol C$382K
Fundraisingcol D$195K
Owns and owesPt X
$818K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$989K
Total assetsLn 16$1.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$253K
PeoplePt VI, VII
17
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$682K
Government grantsLn 1e$133K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$13K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$565K
Investment incomeLn 3$16K
Other incomeLn 4–11$20
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$1.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$989K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$989K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1K
Other assetsLn 15$25K
Total assetsLn 16$1.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$253K
Net assetsLn 32$818K
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.1M$989K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2K$1K
Total assetsLn 16$1.2M$1.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$275K$253K
Net assetsLn 32$888K$818K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$164K$135K$18K$12K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$547K$376K$108K$64K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$5K$3K$1K$587
Other employee benefitsLn 9$14K$6K$5K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$49K$35K$9K$5K
Management feesLn 11a$61K$61K
Legal feesLn 11b$25$25
Accounting feesLn 11c$28K$28K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$82K$58K$24K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$144K$72K$72K
Office expensesLn 13$38K$27K$7K$4K
Information technologyLn 14$477$339$86$52
OccupancyLn 16$30K$21K$5K$3K
TravelLn 17$45K$45K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$36K$9K$27K
InterestLn 20$663$663
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1K$712$180$110
InsuranceLn 23$14K$10K$3K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$72K$31K$41K$164
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.3M$757K$382K$195K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $1.5M$1.5M$1K$819K 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,262,856 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $715,983$681,756
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $601,882$564,802
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,958$16,278
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $4,124$20
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,324,947$1,262,856
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 $771,580$779,862
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $514,922$553,477
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,286,502$1,333,339
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $38,445−$70,483
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 $1,262,856 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$132,721
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$549,035
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$12,588
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$681,756
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $564,802$564,802
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $16,278$16,278
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $20$20
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $564,822 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $16,278$1,262,856
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,333,339 across 19 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $134,546 · Management $17,686 · Fundraising $12,001$164,233
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $375,517 · Management $107,545 · Fundraising $64,355$547,417
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $3,038 · Management $1,013 · Fundraising $587$4,638
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $5,732 · Management $5,291 · Fundraising $3,439$14,462
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $34,870 · Management $8,840 · Fundraising $5,402$49,112
IX-11a Management feesManagement $61,000$61,000
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $25$25
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $27,844$27,844
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $57,932 · Management $23,830$81,762
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $72,238 · Fundraising $72,237$144,475
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $27,136 · Management $6,880 · Fundraising $4,204$38,220
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $339 · Management $86 · Fundraising $52$477
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $21,460 · Management $5,441 · Fundraising $3,325$30,226
IX-17 TravelPrograms $45,320$45,320
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $8,604 · Fundraising $27,305$35,909
IX-20 InterestManagement $663$663
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $712 · Management $180 · Fundraising $110$1,002
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $10,207 · Management $2,588 · Fundraising $1,581$14,376
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $31,472 · Management $40,542 · Fundraising $164$72,178
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $756,885 · Management $381,692 · Fundraising $194,762$1,333,339
Part X · Balance sheet $1,071,067 assets, 15 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,084,238$988,662
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $37,008$45,956
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $948$1,321
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $1,941$8,961
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $2,446$1,444
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $37,167$24,723
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,163,748$1,071,067
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $38,511$39,289
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $49,289$38,489
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $37,488$25,312
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $275,288$253,090
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $885,460$802,977
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $3,000$15,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $888,460$817,977
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,163,748$1,071,067
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $817,977 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,262,856
XI-2 Total expenses$1,333,339
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$70,483
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$888,460
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$817,977

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

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