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Nonprofiteer
← OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC INC

Form 990 for tax year 2025

Filed by OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$15,966,532
Total expenses
$15,804,411
Contributions and grants received
$4,077,317
Grants paid
$207,468
Program service revenue
$10,751,280
Investment income
$349,363
Other revenue
$788,572
Total assets, end of year
$27,587,958
Total liabilities, end of year
$2,698,154
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$24,889,804
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$12,197,267
Management and general expenses
$2,543,163
Fundraising expenses
$1,063,981
Program service expenses (Part III)
$12,197,267

Program services were 77.2% 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.

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $592,978

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $1,141,160

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $65,000

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $2,278,179

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $240,483

  • 2a · Program service revenue: TUITION

    total $7,274,751 · related or exempt $7,274,751

  • 2b · Program service revenue: CONCERT ADMISSION/SALES

    total $2,863,445 · related or exempt $2,863,445

  • 2c · Program service revenue: REFERRALS

    total $240,658 · related or exempt $240,658

  • 2d · Program service revenue: COMMUNITY PROGRAMS/OUTREACH

    total $170,800 · related or exempt $170,800

  • 2e · Program service revenue: MEDIA PRODUCT REVENUE

    total $75,921 · related or exempt $75,921

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $125,705 · related or exempt $125,705 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $354,518 · excluded $354,518

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $0 · personal property $0

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $2,867,567 · other assets $151,611

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

    securities $2,867,567 · other assets $156,766

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $0 · other assets -$5,155

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$5,155 · excluded -$5,155

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $77,040

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

    $1,141,160

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $208,274

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$131,234 · excluded -$131,234

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $1,767,724

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $847,918

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $919,806 · related or exempt $919,806

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $0

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $207,468 · program services $207,468

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $386,181 · management and general $266,764 · fundraising $119,417

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $7,992,735 · program services $6,671,192 · management and general $663,524 · fundraising $658,019

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $103,258 · program services $78,719 · management and general $15,473 · fundraising $9,066

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $772,182 · program services $588,679 · management and general $115,709 · fundraising $67,794

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $606,208 · program services $501,610 · management and general $52,415 · fundraising $52,183

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $64,224 · program services $18,433 · management and general $45,791

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $63,415 · program services $18,201 · management and general $45,214

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $2,223,986 · program services $2,084,159 · management and general $139,827 · fundraising $0

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $598,081 · management and general $593,953 · fundraising $4,128

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $359,619 · program services $162,465 · management and general $158,247 · fundraising $38,907

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $77,324 · program services $70,372 · management and general $3,561 · fundraising $3,391

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $249,649 · program services $226,856 · management and general $11,889 · fundraising $10,904

  • 17 · Travel

    total $145,900 · program services $143,436 · management and general $2,402 · fundraising $62

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $778,460 · program services $443,708 · management and general $313,371 · fundraising $21,381

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $76,965 · program services $69,938 · management and general $3,665 · fundraising $3,362

  • 24a · Other expenses: BANKING AND CREDIT CARD

    total $373,159 · program services $321,592 · management and general $30,233 · fundraising $21,334

  • 24b · Other expenses: BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT

    total $142,840 · program services $125,902 · management and general $12,351 · fundraising $4,587

  • 24c · Other expenses: CONCERT PRODUCTION

    total $298,621 · program services $298,621 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 24d · Other expenses: MEMBERSHIP MAINTENANCE

    total $49,032 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $49,032

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $235,104 · program services $165,916 · management and general $68,774 · fundraising $414

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $3,841,337 · end of year $3,956,604

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $535,514 · end of year $830,281

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $338,524 · end of year $356,746

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $85,409 · end of year $165,511

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

    $26,573,304

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

    $11,584,000

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $15,325,245 · end of year $14,989,304

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $6,503,889 · end of year $7,164,118

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $36,843 · end of year $125,394

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $732,407 · end of year $833,194

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $1,734,232 · end of year $1,739,287

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $37,769 · end of year $125,673

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $21,190,800 · end of year $21,225,811

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,971,553 · end of year $3,663,993

Mission and programs · 2025

Mission

THE OLD TOWN SCHOOL BEGAN AS A DREAM OF CHICAGO POLITICAL PROGRESSIVES WIN STRACKE, DAWN GREENING, FRANK HAMILTON, AND IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, STUDS TERKEL. THE SCHOOL'S HISTORY INVOLVES ALUMNI STEVE GOODMAN, JOHN PRINE, BONNIE KOLOC AND ROGER MCGUINN, AND PERFORMERS LIKE PETE SEEGER, BIG BILL BROONZY, ODETTA, AND MAHALIA JACKSON. TODAY, OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC IS THE LARGEST COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL IN THE US, THE LARGEST EMPLOYER OF TEACHING ARTISTS AND AN INTERNATIONAL MODEL FOR COMMUNITY MUSIC AND MOVEMENT.

Activities or mission (Part I)

OLD TOWN SCHOOL BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER TO LEARN, CREATE, PERFORM, AND ENJOY MUSIC AND DANCE.

  • ART INSTRUCTION: OUR PROGRAMMING IS ENDORSED BY THE ACCREDITING COMMISSION FOR COMMUNITY AND PRECOLLEGIATE ARTS SCHOOLS (ACCPAS). DURING 2025, 24,542 STUDENTS MADE OVER 34,000 REGISTRATIONS IN OUR INSTRUMENTAL, DANCE AND OTHER PROGRAMS INVOLVING OVER 700 CLASSES EACH WEEK, AND OVER 60 ENSEMBLES AND 400 WORKSHOPS AT OUR THREE FACILITIES IN LINCOLN SQUARE AND LINCOLN PARK. IN ORDER TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION IN OUR PROGRAMS, OLD TOWN SCHOOL PROVIDED A TOTAL OF $206,326 IN FINANCIAL AID TO 395 INDIVIDUALS DURING 2025, INCLUDING 122 INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN AND 15 TEENS, REPRESENTING 31% OF THE AWARDEES.

    Expenses $6,444,131 · Grants $207,468 · Revenue $7,274,751

  • OLD TOWN SCHOOL IS A PROLIFIC CONCERT VENUE. DURING 2025, WE PRESENTED OVER 200 TICKETED EVENTS ENJOYED BY 63,235 TICKETHOLDERS. IN JULY, OUR ANNUAL SUMMER SQUARE ROOTS FESTIVAL WAS ATTENDED BY OVER 45,000.

    Expenses $3,045,415 · Revenue $2,863,445

  • OUTREACH: WORLD MUSIC PROGRAMMING - THE WORLD MUSIC WEDNESDAY SERIES ANNUALLY PRESENTS 40 INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS CO-PRODUCED WITH DOZENS OF LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS. DURING 2025, WORLD MUSIC WEDNESDAYS HOSTED 5,820 CONCERT ATTENDEES. COMMUNITY VENTURES: DURING 2025, OUR CPS PARTNERSHIPS SERVED 1,615 IN 18 SCHOOLS. PARTICIPATION IN INGENUITY, INC. AND EMBARC ADDED SERVICE TO AN ADDITIONAL 368 CHILDREN IN 10 SCHOOLS. 1,265 CHILDREN WERE SERVED THROUGH OUR EXPANDED WIGGLEWORMS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAMMING: 501 EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDENTS AT CAROLE ROBERTSON CENTER'S THREE MAIN SITES AND 273 AT FOUR NEW SITES IN NORTH LAWNDALE. SUMMER PROGRAMMING SERVED 190 AND NEW IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING SERVED 301. OUR SOUTH AND WEST SIDE MUSIC MOVES CHICAGO PROGRAM PROVIDES CLASSES IN A VARIETY OF DISCIPLINES, APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND LIBERATORY SOCIAL JUSTICE PERSPECTIVES TO YOUTH AND ADULTS. MUSIC MOVES SERVED 7,382 PARTICIPANTS DURING 2025, ENGAGED 20 ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS AND EMPLOYED 31 TEACHING ARTISTS AND 10 ARTS ACTIVATORS. A TOTAL OF 4,026 CPS STUDENTS ATTENDED 17 FIELD TRIP CONCERTS AT OUR LINCOLN SQUARE CAMPUS.

    Expenses $1,716,450 · Revenue $172,800

  • OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC'S CAMPUS INCLUDES A RETAIL MUSIC STORE WHICH PROVIDES INSTRUMENTS FOR PURCHASE OR RENTAL TO OUR STUDENTS. THE SCHOOL ALSO SERVES CUSTOMERS THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AND A THIRD PARTY ONLINE WEBSITE, REVERB. AN IN-HOUSE CAFE OPERATES DURING CONCERTS, SERVING DRINKS AND SNACKS.

    Expenses $991,271 · Revenue $1,360,090

As filed on the 2025 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Kate Tomford

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Kenneth Kaufman

    CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Michael Warner

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Tim Hunter

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Anne Phillips

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Candice Rosevear

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • David Lentz

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Eddie Lawlor

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Eric Nordness

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Ernest Dawkins

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Geraldine Keefe

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jeff Judge

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kim Moran

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kish Khemani

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Lori Seaman

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Louise Frank

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Martina Keller

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mary Beth Berkoff

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mike Prussian

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Oliver G Prince Jr

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Rana Komar

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Robert D Ospalik

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Susan Kessell

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Yolanda Lawler

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Gail Prete

    CFO

    Total calculated
    $133,203
    From this org
    $121,576
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,627
    Hours/week
    40

  • Troy Anderson

    CEO

    Total calculated
    $271,934
    From this org
    $263,695
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,239
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $263,695
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,800
    Nontaxable benefits
    $439
    Filer's total
    $271,934

  • Mary Jane Drews

    DIR. OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

    Total calculated
    $264,582
    From this org
    $247,211
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,371
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $247,211
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,840
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,531
    Filer's total
    $264,582

  • Dave Zibell

    DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

    Total calculated
    $100,277
    From this org
    $99,909
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $368
    Hours/week
    40

  • Dawn Patch

    SR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

    Total calculated
    $119,942
    From this org
    $99,131
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,811
    Hours/week
    40

  • Gregg Tager

    DIRECOR OF INFO TECHNOLOGY

    Total calculated
    $114,194
    From this org
    $106,374
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,820
    Hours/week
    40

  • John Huber

    DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

    Total calculated
    $121,884
    From this org
    $106,419
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,465
    Hours/week
    40

  • Troy Hansbrough

    SR DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING

    Total calculated
    $157,501
    From this org
    $135,587
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $21,914
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $135,587
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,353
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,561
    Filer's total
    $157,501

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

  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 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
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

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.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2025
Filed
27 August 2026
IRS schema version
2025v4.2
Source object
202622399349300407

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