2025-02-24T08:30:57-06:00 2024-06-30 010494526 Baker Newman & Noyes PO Box 507 Portland ME 04112 990 2023-07-01 474914834 Palaver Strings Inc PALA 2079305189 380 Cumberland Avenue Floor 2 Portland ME 04101 Maya French Managing Director 2079305189 2025-02-21 1 0 Connor Smart P02285543 2078792100 2025-02-21 2023 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Maya French 380 Cumberland Avenue Floor 2 Portland ME 04101 786128 0 X https://www.palaverstrings.org/ X 2015 ME To strengthen and inspire communities through music. 12 12 18 14 0 0 519262 587033 106370 194309 227 278 2017 -3832 627876 777788 0 40287 0 0 316219 486742 0 0 8734 282326 276730 598545 803759 29331 -25971 165064 110170 65141 36218 99923 73952 X Palaver Strings is a musician-led string ensemble and nonprofit organization based in Portland, ME. Our mission is to strengthen and inspire community through music. (Continued on Schedule O)In our musician-led model, Palaver's musicians share artistic and administrative leadership, guided by a passion for engaging new audiences, addressing social justice issues, and amplifying underrepresented voices. Equally committed to performance and education, Palaver presents a full season of live concerts and serves hundreds of students each year at the Palaver Music Center in Portland. 0 0 352997 40287 107549 Palaver Music Center (PMC) seeks to generate a love of music, foster creativity, and hold space for dialogue between people from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds in Portland, ME. 272186 82928 Palaver Strings is a musician-led string ensemble and nonprofit organization based in Portland, ME. Palaver has established itself as aforward-thinking ensemble whose mission is to strengthen and inspirecommunity through music. In our musician-led model, Palaver's musicianspresent over 40 performances a year, share artistic and administrativeleadership, guided by a passion for engaging new audiences, addressingsocial justice issues, and amplifying underrepresented voices. 625183 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 35 0 1 18 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 12 12 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 X Maya French Managing Director 2079305189 380 Cumberland Avenue Floor 2 Portland ME 04101 Ekhlas Ahmed Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Carolyn Benthien Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 William Black Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 David Lakari Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Pargha Leboua Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Molly McCarthy Director (end 5/2024) 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Max Monks Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Blanca Santiago Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Ari Solotoff Director (end 5/2024) 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Dana Swenson Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Christina Wright Director (start 4/2024) 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Josue Gonzales President 2.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Lauren Eidson Treasurer 2.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Kate Knox Secretary 2.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Maya French Managing Director 40.00 0.00 X 69029 0 2000 Matthew Smith Director of Education 40.00 0.00 X 67253 0 2000 136282 0 4000 0 0 0 0 0 11182 7500 568351 587033 Education Revenue 611600 102799 102799 Performance Revenue 711130 86760 86760 Recital Space Rentals 531390 4750 4750 194309 278 278 4508 8340 -3832 -3832 777788 190477 0 278 40287 40287 140282 106249 34033 300643 225565 75078 19666 19666 26151 17454 8697 480 480 12890 12890 30481 30481 34085 34085 17899 14631 3268 2137 2137 30909 27164 3745 49924 49924 107 107 4582 4582 1857 794 1063 Performances/education 91379 82645 8734 803759 625183 169842 8734 40156 47560 767 767 6050 0 38392 16901 18670 21491 35252 99421 5100 165064 110170 62 49 65079 36169 65141 36218 X 44923 -4048 55000 78000 99923 73952 165064 110170 -25971 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 219631 295789 467482 519262 587033 2089197 63127 44376 78944 108387 190477 485311 282758 340165 546426 627649 777510 2574508 16860 24110 23894 43957 73585 182406 0 16860 24110 23894 43957 73585 182406 2392102 37 26 2544 227 278 3112 37 26 2544 227 278 3112 282795 340191 548970 627876 777788 2577620 0.92800 0.99860 0.00120 0.00140 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 38392 16901 21491 21491 Lease Liability 36169 36169 X 745841 8340 8340 737501 40287 40287 777788 771812 8340 8340 763472 40287 40287 803759 Part X, Line 2: The Organization is exempt from federal and state income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code). The Organization has been classified as a publicly supported organization that is not a private foundation under Section 509(a) of the Code. Accordingly, no provision for income taxes has been recorded in the financial statements. In certain circumstances, tax-exempt organizations may be required to record an obligation for income taxes as the result of a tax position they have historically taken on various tax exposure items including unrelated business income or tax status. Under guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), assets and liabilities are established for uncertain tax positions taken or positions expected to be taken in income tax returns when such positions are judged to not meet the "more-likely-than-not" threshold, based upon the technical merits of the position. Management has evaluated the Organization's tax positions and concluded that the Organization has maintained its tax-exempt status, does not have any significant unrelated business income and has taken no uncertain tax positions that require adjustment to the financial statements. Part XI, Line 2d - Other Adjustments: Cost of goods sold 8,340. Part XI, Line 4b - Other Adjustments: Scholarships 40,287. Part XII, Line 2d - Other Adjustments: Cost of goods sold 8,340. Part XII, Line 4b - Other Adjustments: Scholarships 40,287. 1 Scholarships 29 0 40287 Book Value Tuition reductions and discounts pursuant to scholarship awards. Part I, Line 2: Palaver Music Center (PMC) seeks to generate a love of music, foster creativity, and hold space for dialogue between people from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds in Portland, ME. Based in Portland, ME, PMC offers early childhood music classes, string instrument lessons, community music classes, and songwriting projects such as the Lullaby Project and Lifesongs Project. To make our programming as accessible as possible, we offer sliding-scale tuition payments and generous financial aid, and offer all programming at transit-accessible locations in downtown Portland. All applicants may apply for financial assistance during the application process. Awards are determined based on need. Applicants seeking financial aid are asked to answer various questions regarding their family's present income and economic need. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 6 The Corporation shall have members consisting of the following classes: (a) Artistic Directors; and (b) Honorary Artistic Directors. Artistic Directors: Artistic Directors shall be any individual of at least 18 years of age who has been elected as a member of the Artistic Ensemble according to the application and audition procedures, is an employee of the Corporation, and whose status as an Artistic Director remains in good standing. Artistic Directors shall serve a term of one year, and are not subject to term limits. Honorary Artistic Directors: Honorary Artistic Directors shall be any individual of at least 18 years of age who has previously served as an Artistic Director and member of the Artistic Ensemble, but who is no longer serves in such capacity. An individual may become an Honorary Artistic Director upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members. The current members who are Artistic Directors shall annually fix the number of members who are Artistic Directors at the Annual Meeting and shall elect the number of Artistic Directors so fixed. At any special or regular meeting of the members, the members may increase the number of members and elect new members to complete the number so fixed by a majority vote of the members then in office; or they may decrease the number of members by a majority vote, but only to eliminate vacancies caused by death, resignation or removal of one or more members. Unless the members otherwise designate additional qualifications, all Artistic Directors in good standing shall comprise the "Artistic Ensemble." There shall be no limit on the number of Honorary Artistic Directors. If a member ceases to serve as an Artistic Director, whether due to his or her removal, resignation, death, or incapacity for any other reason, he or she will immediately cease to serve as a member of the Corporation Any member may resign at any time by giving notice of resignation. Additionally, An Artistic Director shall automatically be removed from membership immediately and without further action by the Artistic Directors if an Artistic Director ceases to be an employee of the Corporation; and (b) subject to the right to appear before and be heard at any meeting of the Artistic Directors in which a vote on removal will be considered, an Artistic Director may be removed from membership at any time with or without cause by a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the Artistic Directors. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 7a The members shall exercise all powers reserved to them by statute, and are expressly provided the following powers to influence the composition of the Organization's board and management as follows: 1. Existing members may vote to elect or remove individuals as Artistic Directors of the Corporation. 2. To elect the Ensemble Liaisons to the Board of Directors. 3. To elect or remove an individual as an Honorary Artistic Director of the Corporation. And, 4. To appoint the Chair and membership of each administrative committee established by the Artistic Ensemble. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 7b The members shall exercise all powers reserved to them by statute, and are expressly provided the following powers to influence the governance and actions of the Organization's as follows: 1. To amend the Articles of Organization. 2. To amend or repeal the Corporation's Bylaws. And, 3. To ratify, confirm, and approve the artistic direction of the Corporation, subject to the financial parameters established by the Board of Directors. Furthermore, the Board of Directors, in its discretion and from time to time, may establish one or more standing or special committees (including executive, finance, development, nominating, and other committees) whose members shall include at least one (1) or more directors and one (1) or more Artistic Directors, and thereafter may disband the same Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b The Form 990 is prepared with the assistance of an independent CPA firm. The CPA firm coordinates with key officers of the Organization to prepare and review a draft of the Form 990 prior to its filing with the IRS. Once a completed draft of the Form 990 is prepared, the drafted return is sent to the the Organization's Managing Director and the Board Treasurer for their review and consideration. As these individuals consider the drafted Form 990, they are given the opportunity to ask questions and to address any concerns with the tax filing or otherwise. The majority of the Board of Trustees are provided the Public Disclosure Copy of the Form 990 prior to filing; only key personnel and select trustees and officers review the Complete Copy of the Form 990. The only information contained in the Complete Copy that is not provided in the Public Disclosure Copy are the names and addresses of donors disclosed on Schedule B. All other information disclosed on the Form 990 is made available for the Board's review and comment prior to filing. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c Each employee, director, officer, member of a committee, or person associated with the Corporation (i.e., Palaver Strings) who, in a position of significant authority as designated by the President, shall annually sign a statement that discloses such person's financial interests and personal interests and affirms that such person: 1. Has received a copy of the conflicts of interest policy set forth in this Article; 2. Has read and understands the policy; 3. Has agreed to comply with the policy; and 4. Understands that the Corporation is a charitable organization and that in order to maintain its qualification as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, it must engage primarily in activities that accomplish one or more of its tax exempt purposes. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15a The Corporation may pay compensation in reasonable amounts to the Managing Director, Managing Director for Education, and such other agents and employees for services rendered, such amount to be fixed by the Board of Directors, or, if the Board of Directors delegate power to any officer or officers, then by such officer or officers. Furthermore, No part of the assets or the net earnings of the Corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its member, directors, officers or other private persons, except that the Corporation shall be authorized and empowered: (i) to pay reasonable compensation for services actually rendered; (ii) to reimburse reasonable expenses incurred on behalf of and for the benefit of the Corporation; and (iii) to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the Corporation's purposes set forth in the Articles of Organization. The current compensation process for the Corporation's employed officers also includes an annual review and assessment by the Board of Directors. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 The Organization makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public upon request. Form 990, Part XII, Line 2c: The audit process has not changed from the prior year.