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Nonprofiteer
← THE COLBURN SCHOOL

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by THE COLBURN SCHOOL.

Totals

Total revenue
$130,692,009
Total expenses
$54,782,423
Contributions and grants received
$79,720,223
Grants paid
$11,613,565
Program service revenue
$18,494,469
Investment income
$30,521,455
Other revenue
$1,955,862
Total assets, end of year
$732,847,191
Total liabilities, end of year
$141,569,828
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$591,277,363
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$43,795,815
Management and general expenses
$8,125,816
Fundraising expenses
$2,860,792
Program service expenses (Part III)
$43,795,815

Program services were 79.9% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $1,646,538

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $38,437,000

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $179,514

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $39,457,171

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $3,279,528

  • 2a · Program service revenue: TUITION INCOME

    total $18,494,469 · related or exempt $18,494,469

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $13,449,923 · unrelated business $19,635 · excluded $13,430,288

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $1,214,920

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $244,846

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $970,074

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $970,074 · excluded $970,074

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $114,486,750 · other assets $1,460,537

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $98,830,719 · other assets $45,036

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $15,656,031 · other assets $1,415,501

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $17,071,532 · excluded $17,071,532

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $120,450

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $1,646,538

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $425,311

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$304,861 · excluded -$304,861

  • 11a · Other revenue: CAFE REVENUE

    total $1,029,402 · unrelated business $648,133 · excluded $381,269

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $261,247 · excluded $261,247

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $1,290,649

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $11,613,565 · program services $11,613,565

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $2,508,617 · program services $412,105 · management and general $1,724,718 · fundraising $371,794

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $16,950,980 · program services $14,576,570 · management and general $1,216,412 · fundraising $1,157,998

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $794,275 · program services $650,383 · management and general $74,571 · fundraising $69,321

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $1,908,017 · program services $1,582,197 · management and general $200,651 · fundraising $125,169

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,268,150 · program services $1,022,042 · management and general $146,117 · fundraising $99,991

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $95,548 · program services $94,388 · management and general $894 · fundraising $266

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $20,790 · program services $20,300 · management and general $400 · fundraising $90

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $156,194 · program services $25,099 · management and general $130,053 · fundraising $1,042

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $181,826 · fundraising $181,826

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $2,963,307 · management and general $2,963,307

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $3,185,149 · program services $2,491,908 · management and general $303,240 · fundraising $390,001

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $203,278 · program services $104,651 · management and general $73,779 · fundraising $24,848

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $785,155 · program services $576,048 · management and general $124,704 · fundraising $84,403

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $544,445 · program services $345,460 · management and general $90,000 · fundraising $108,985

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $2,084,406 · program services $2,010,283 · management and general $54,910 · fundraising $19,213

  • 17 · Travel

    total $340,764 · program services $258,418 · management and general $27,804 · fundraising $54,542

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $29,878 · program services $24,015 · management and general $5,397 · fundraising $466

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $5,057,379 · program services $4,992,521 · management and general $50,491 · fundraising $14,367

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $615,045 · program services $3,540 · management and general $611,505

  • 24a · Other expenses: FOOD SERVICE AND MEALS

    total $2,487,234 · program services $2,348,987 · management and general $62,719 · fundraising $75,528

  • 24b · Other expenses: RENTALS

    total $269,617 · program services $196,839 · management and general $13,811 · fundraising $58,967

  • 24c · Other expenses: EQUIP, FURN & INSTRUMEN

    total $239,891 · program services $223,950 · management and general $5,984 · fundraising $9,957

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $478,913 · program services $222,546 · management and general $244,349 · fundraising $12,018

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $101,012,603 · end of year $145,699,541

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $118,133,565 · end of year $98,162,870

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $440,988 · end of year $461,169

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $273,037,028

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $86,607,312

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $164,868,170 · end of year $186,429,716

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $22,144,127 · end of year $32,863,493

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $212,236,351 · end of year $252,690,473

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $29,239,770 · end of year $16,539,929

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $4,963,072 · end of year $9,757,033

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $368,015 · end of year $758,030

  • 20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

    beginning of year $130,841,360 · end of year $131,054,765

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $6,177,227 · end of year $0

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $156,437,846 · end of year $201,157,816

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $349,288,054 · end of year $390,119,547

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

THE COLBURN SCHOOL'S FOUNDING PRINCIPLE OF "ACCESS TO EXCELLENCE" PROVIDES A PERFORMANCE-CENTERED EDUCATION WITH UNPARALLELED FACULTY AND FACILITIES FOR ALL LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT, INSTILLS THE JOY AND DISCIPLINE OF THE PERFORMING ARTS, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

Activities or mission (Part I)

A SCHOOL WITH ACCLAIMED FACULTY PROVIDING STUDENTS THE HIGHEST QUALITY PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATION.

  • SEE SCHEDULE OTHE COLBURN SCHOOL (THE "SCHOOL") IS A CALIFORNIA NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION LOCATED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. LED BY AN OUTSTANDING FACULTY, THE SCHOOL PROVIDES DEDICATED STUDENTS THE HIGHEST QUALITY PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATION WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PERFORMANCE.THE SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED IN 1950 AS A PREPARATORY PROGRAM FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND FULFILLED THAT FUNCTION UNTIL 1980 WHEN IT BECAME AN INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AND WAS ACCREDITED AS A NON-DEGREE-GRANTING INSTITUTION BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF MUSIC (NASM). CURRENTLY, THIS PROGRAM IS KNOWN AS THE COLBURN SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS (CSPA) AND OFFERS PROGRAMS IN MUSIC, DANCE, DRAMA, AND VOICE TO APPROXIMATELY 2,000 STUDENTS OF ALL AGES (TODDLER TO ADULT) AND ABILITIES (NOVICE THROUGH ADVANCED). THE SCHOOL ALSO OPERATES COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS THAT BRING PERFORMING ARTS TO UNDER-SERVED CHILDREN IN INNER-CITY SCHOOLS.THE COLBURN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC (CSCM), ESTABLISHED IN 2003, OFFERS UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS SPECIALIZING IN CLASSICAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE. CSCM PROGRAMS RANGE FROM TWO TO FOUR YEARS OF STUDY AND RESULT IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: A BACHELOR OF MUSIC DEGREE, A PERFORMANCE DIPLOMA, A MASTER OF MUSIC DEGREE, AN ARTIST'S DIPLOMA, OR A PROFESSIONAL STUDIES CERTIFICATE. ADMISSION TO CSCM IS HIGHLY SELECTIVE, AND CSCM PROVIDES ALL STUDENTS WITH SCHOLARSHIPS THAT COVER FULL TUITION AND ROOM AND BOARD. CSCM ENROLLED 130 AND 133 STUDENTS DURING THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2024 AND 2023, RESPECTIVELY. CSCM IS ACCREDITED BY THE NASM AS A DEGREE-GRANTING SCHOOL.THE COLBURN MUSIC ACADEMY (CSMA), ESTABLISHED IN 2010, IS A NON-DEGREE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM OF CLASSES TO HIGHLY GIFTED PRE-COLLEGE STUDENTS FOCUSED ON CAREERS IN MUSIC. CSMA ENROLLED 51 AND 45 STUDENTS DURING THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2024 AND 2023, RESPECTIVELY. THE TRUDL ZIPPER DANCE INSTITUTE (TZDI) WAS CREATED IN 2008, CARVING OUT THE YOUTH AND ADULT DANCE CLASSES FROM CSPA. THE DANCE ACADEMY WAS CREATED IN 2014 UNDER TZDI AS A PRE-PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR A SELECT GROUP OF BALLET STUDENTS AGED 14-18. TZDI ENROLLED 250 AND 442 STUDENTS DURING THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2024 AND 2023, RESPECTIVELY, IN ITS BALLET, TAP, AND MODERN DANCE PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, THE DANCE ACADEMY ENROLLED 18 AND 27 STUDENTS DURING THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2024 AND 2023, RESPECTIVELY.PERFORMING ARTS AND OTHER ACADEMIC PROGRAMS INCLUDES EXPENSES FOR THE PROVOST OFFICE, LIBRARY, AND THE PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT, WHICH PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS OF STUDY AND FURTHER OUR MISSION OF PERFORMING ARTS IN ADDITION TO EDUCATION.

    Expenses $43,795,815 · Grants $11,613,565 · Revenue $18,494,469

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Seljuk Kardan

    PRESIDENT & CEO

    Total calculated
    $823,592
    From this org
    $697,138
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $126,454
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $537,400
    Bonus
    $105,000
    Other
    $54,738
    Deferred
    $83,649
    Nontaxable benefits
    $42,805
    Filer's total
    $823,592
  • Robert Lipsett

    PROFESSOR

    Total calculated
    $504,359
    From this org
    $471,179
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,180
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $464,562
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $6,617
    Deferred
    $24,449
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,731
    Filer's total
    $504,359
  • Fabio Bidini

    PROFESSOR

    Total calculated
    $493,330
    From this org
    $462,733
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $30,597
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $459,511
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $3,222
    Deferred
    $21,432
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,165
    Filer's total
    $493,330
  • Maeesha Merchant

    CFO/TREASURER/VP OF BUS. DEVELOP.

    Total calculated
    $448,229
    From this org
    $416,912
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $31,317
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $394,728
    Bonus
    $20,000
    Other
    $2,184
    Deferred
    $21,350
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,967
    Filer's total
    $448,229
  • Linda Cormier

    VP HR/BOD SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $359,125
    From this org
    $335,460
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $23,665
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $317,237
    Bonus
    $13,792
    Other
    $4,431
    Deferred
    $22,279
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,386
    Filer's total
    $359,125
  • Clive Greensmith

    PROFESSOR

    Total calculated
    $358,075
    From this org
    $315,970
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $42,105
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $313,450
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $2,520
    Deferred
    $22,197
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,908
    Filer's total
    $358,075
  • Anne E Wickert

    VP ADVANCEMENT

    Total calculated
    $338,531
    From this org
    $315,885
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,646
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $298,795
    Bonus
    $16,250
    Other
    $840
    Deferred
    $20,937
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,709
    Filer's total
    $338,531
  • Martin Beaver

    FACULTY

    Total calculated
    $326,703
    From this org
    $286,637
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,066
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $284,024
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $2,613
    Deferred
    $20,266
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,800
    Filer's total
    $326,703
  • Tatjana Masurenko

    FACULTY

    Total calculated
    $309,504
    From this org
    $280,501
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,003
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $277,819
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $2,682
    Deferred
    $19,878
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,125
    Filer's total
    $309,504
  • Nathaniel Zeisler - Dir Cici

    (THRU 08/23)/PROVOST (AS OF 08/23)

    Total calculated
    $283,932
    From this org
    $242,157
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $41,775
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $241,456
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $701
    Deferred
    $17,418
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,357
    Filer's total
    $283,932
  • Adrian Daly

    PROVOST (THRU 08/23)

    Total calculated
    $241,061
    From this org
    $215,428
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,633
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $213,680
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,748
    Deferred
    $15,081
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,552
    Filer's total
    $241,061
  • Mira Wolff - Vp Hrgeneral

    COUNSEL/BOD SECRETARY (AS OF 10/23)

    Total calculated
    $47,670
    From this org
    $43,875
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $3,795
    Hours/week
    40
  • Andrew Millstein

    CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Carol Colburn Grigor

    LIFE CHAIRMAN EMERITUS

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2 related
  • David D Colburn

    VICE CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Diane Naegele

    VICE CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Daniel L Avchen

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Robert N Braun

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Henry Choi

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Bethany Coffee

    DIRECTOR (AS OF 12/23)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Richard W Colburn

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2 related
  • Alice Coulombe

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Linda Curtis

    DIRECTOR (AS OF 12/23)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jennifer Diener

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jerry Eberhardt

    DIRECTOR (AS OF 04/24)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Darren Edwards

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Juan Carlos Gonzalez

    DIRECTOR (AS OF 12/23)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Greg Guyett

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Carol F Henry

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Catherine Colburn Hogel

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • William Kennedy

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Molly Kirk

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Aliza Lesser

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Robert Lewis

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Allan Marks

    DIRECTOR (AS OF 12/23)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Beverly C Marksbury

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Worthy McCartney

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Greg McWilliams

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Ann Moore

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mahnaz Newman

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Heinrich Schelbert

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Harry B Suh

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Keith Terasaki

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dylan Yolles

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 1a · Tax indemnification and gross-up payments
  • 1a · Health or social club dues or initiation fees
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 1A
THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED THE PRESIDENT AND CEO A GROSS-UP PAYMENT FOR SOCIAL CLUB DUES, WHICH IS ALSO REPORTED IN OTHER REPORTABLE COMPENSATION IN SCHEDULE J, PART II, COLUMN B (III). THE SOCIAL CLUB DUES FOR THE COLBURN SCHOOL ARE RELATED TO THE CALIFORNIA CLUB. THIS LOCATION IS WHERE BOARD RETREATS AND DONOR MEETINGS ARE HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THESE DUES ARE ONLY PROVIDED TO THE PRESIDENT/CEO AND ARE REPORTED ON THE FORM W-2 AS TAXABLE COMPENSATION.
PART I, LINE 4B
THE PRESIDENT & CEO PARTICIPATES IN A SEC 457(F) RETIREMENT PLAN. THE SCHOOL HAS CONTRIBUTED $50,000 TO THE PLAN FOR THE YEAR ENDING 06/30/24. THIS IS A DEFERRED COMPENSATION PROGRAM AND WILL VEST IN 2026 IF THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT ARE MET.
PART I, LINE 7
MEMBERS OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A BONUS OPPORTUNITY, BUT ANY BONUS IS SUBJECT TO MANAGEMENT'S DISCRETION AND BASED ON PERFORMANCE. ANY OTHER BONUSES ARE BASED ON PERFORMANCE.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

  • COLBURN MUSIC FUND

    501(C)(3) · PF · CA · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by COLBURN SCHOOL

  • COLBURN FOUNDATION

    501(C)(3) · PF · CA · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by COLBURN SCHOOL

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Disregarded entities

Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.

  • WFBI LLC

    REAL PROPERTY · DE · income $589,002 · assets $7,906,571

    Directly controlled by COLBURN SCHOOL

  • WFGTI LLC

    REAL PROPERTY · DE · income $0 · assets $0

    Directly controlled by COLBURN SCHOOL

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
15 May 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202521349349304287

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