2026-02-26T10:19:06-06:00 2025-08-31 310800053 CLARK SCHAEFER HACKETT & CO 1 EAST 4TH STREET CINCINNATI OH 45202 990 2024-09-01 852618740 EQUITY ARC EQUI 5137443306 1241 ELM STREET CINCINNATI OH 45202 ALISON MELICK TREASURER 5137443306 2026-02-13 1 0 ANNAMARIE B REILLY P00431897 5132413111 2026-02-13 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z STANFORD THOMPSON 1241 ELM STREET CINCINNATI OH 45202 1805991 0 X WWW.EQUITYARC.ORG X 2020 OH DEVELOP EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ASPIRING CLASSICAL MUSICIANS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED ETHNICITIES 15 15 0 17 0 0 1015272 1760675 27475 24284 0 18624 765 2408 1043512 1805991 0 63000 0 0 377384 510089 0 0 145268 148177 477999 525561 1051088 517951 754903 1002324 1752326 22091 17190 980233 1735136 X EQUITY ARC IS A COALITION CHARGED BY ITS DIVERSE MEMBERSHIP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO ALIGN, PROMOTE, AND DEVELOP EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ASPIRING CLASSICAL MUSICIANS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED ETHNICITIES. 1 0 274170 24039 EQUITY ARC PRODUCED THE PATHWAYS ORCHESTRA, A MULTI-DAY PRE-COLLEGE ORCHESTRAL TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE PROGRAM. 64 PRE-COLLEGE MUSICIANS PARTICIPATED IN AN IN-PERSON RESIDENCY IN CHICAGO THAT INCLUDED ENSEMBLE REHEARSALS, MENTORING, AND A PUBLIC PERFORMANCE. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HOSTED A CONCURRENT CONVENING FOR PARENTS AND ARTS ADMINISTRATORS, WITH 157 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING PLENARY SESSIONS AND FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS FOCUSED ON EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS AND PROGRAM SUPPORT. EQUITY ARC ALSO SUPPORTED EARLY-CAREER MUSICIANS THROUGH A SEPARATE RESIDENCY PROGRAM SERVING 10 PARTICIPANTS, CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A MAJOR U.S. ORCHESTRA. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDED REHEARSALS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES. THESE PROGRAMS FURTHERED THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING MUSICIANS. 94078 63000 EQUITY ARC OPERATED THE NATIONAL COLLECTIVE FOR MUSICAL PATHWAYS, A NATIONAL NETWORK OF 19 PRE-COLLEGE MUSIC TRAINING PROGRAMS. DURING THE REPORTING YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION FACILITATED COORDINATION AMONG PARTNER PROGRAMS THROUGH MEETINGS AND FORUMS FOCUSED ON PROGRAM DESIGN AND STUDENT SUPPORT AND INITIATED DEVELOPMENT OF A SHARED PEDAGOGICAL RESOURCE. IN FY25, EQUITY ARC LAUNCHED AN INSTRUMENT FUND TO PROVIDE DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MUSICIANS PURSUING COLLEGIATE-LEVEL MUSIC TRAINING. THE ORGANIZATION DISBURSED $63,000 BY YEAR-END TO SUPPORT THE ACQUISITION AND MAINTENANCE OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. THESE ACTIVITIES FURTHERED THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE BY SUPPORTING EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS AND REDUCING FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO ADVANCED MUSICAL TRAINING. 157990 245 EQUITY ARC PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND ACCESS RESOURCES TO ITS NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP. DURING FY25, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED ITS VIRTUAL MEMBER COMMUNITY THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF A CUSTOM CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT (CRM) SYSTEM DESIGNED TO FACILITATE PROGRAM APPLICATIONS, RESOURCE SHARING, AND NETWORKING. EQUITY ARC ALSO HOSTED 11 VIRTUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS AND ADDITIONAL IN-PERSON GATHERINGS FOCUSED ON TOPICS RELEVANT TO EMERGING MUSICIANS AND MUSIC EDUCATORS. COLLEGIATE ACCESS FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS AS PART OF ITS MEMBER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFERINGS, EQUITY ARC OPERATED THE COLLEGIATE ACCESS FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS SERIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EL SISTEMA USA. THE SIX-PART VIRTUAL SERIES FOCUSED ON THE COLLEGE AND CONSERVATORY APPLICATION PROCESS, INCLUDING AUDITIONS AND ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS. DURING THE REPORTING YEAR, MORE THAN 200 MUSICIANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM. COMMON APPLICATION FOR SUMMER STUDY EQUITY ARC OPERATED THE COMMON APPLICATION FOR SUMMER STUDY, A CENTRALIZED APPLICATION PLATFORM ALLOWING MUSICIANS TO APPLY TO MULTIPLE SUMMER MUSIC PROGRAMS THROUGH A SINGLE APPLICATION AND AUDITION PROCESS. IN FY25, THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERED WITH 24 ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING 26 PROGRAMS AND SERVED 207 APPLICANTS. EQUITY ARC COVERED APPLICATION FEES FOR APPLICANTS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. THESE ACTIVITIES FURTHERED THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE BY EXPANDING ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING MUSICIANS. 127269 EQUITY ARC OPERATED THE INAUGURAL WIND SYMPHONY, A MULTI-DAY PRE-COLLEGE WIND ENSEMBLE TRAINING PROGRAM. 22 PRE-COLLEGE MUSICIANS PARTICIPATED IN AN IN-PERSON RESIDENCY IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA THAT INCLUDED ENSEMBLE REHEARSALS, SECTIONALS, AND MENTORING ACTIVITIES. PARTICIPANTS WORKED WITH 28 PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS FORMERLY AFFILIATED WITH U.S. MILITARY AND MILITARY ACADEMY BANDS AND TOOK PART IN A CULMINATING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE CONDUCTED BY A GUEST MUSIC DIRECTOR.THESE ACTIVITIES FURTHERED THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE BY PROVIDING ADVANCED MUSICAL TRAINING AND ENSEMBLE EXPERIENCE FOR EMERGING MUSICIANS. 127269 653507 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 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 X 9 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 15 15 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 IL AL AR CA CT FL GA KS KY MD MA MI MN MS NH NJ NM NY NC ND OR PA RI SC TN VA WA WV WI X CSO ACCOUNTING 5137443306 1241 ELM STREET CINCINNATI OH 45202 CHARLES GRODE BOARD CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 EMILY LIAO MASTER TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 ANJOLI FERRARA-CLAYTON SECRETARY 1.00 X X 0 0 0 MICHAEL ANGELL DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ABRA BUSH DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARK CHURCHILL DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARK GILLESPIE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JENNY SNYDER KOZOROZ DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 KATHERINE DRAGO LUELLEN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARIA MATHIESON DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ANTHONY MAZZOCCHI DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 IAN SAUNDERS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ALISA KUNO DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 STEFANIE WAKEMAN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JEFFERY TRIBBLE JR DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 STANFORD THOMPSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 1.00 40.00 X 0 104139 12003 0 104139 12003 0 0 0 0 0 37490 1723185 1760675 CONFERENCE REGISTRATIO 900099 24039 24039 VIRTUAL EVENT REGISTRA 900099 245 245 24284 18624 18624 MISCELLANEOUS INCOME 900099 2408 2408 2408 1805991 24284 0 21032 X 63000 63000 116142 29036 17421 69685 291311 189176 76584 25551 71426 71426 31210 16786 7099 7325 11389 6339 5050 38200 38200 146490 111271 392 34827 1925 1075 850 7976 936 4443 2597 13564 5307 8195 62 64950 45373 15241 4336 60567 59993 574 4206 4206 CONCERT ACTIVITY 50178 50168 10 MUSICIAN AND FELLOW FEE 43089 43089 APPLICATION FEE 12670 12670 GIFTS 5858 5064 589 205 16937 14224 2033 680 1051088 653507 252313 145268 989421 1150195 999 600000 5484 6420 2131 1002324 1752326 22091 17190 22091 17190 X 62233 130246 918000 1604890 980233 1735136 1002324 1752326 754903 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 213596 627563 1015272 1760675 3617106 213596 627563 1015272 1760675 3617106 2871660 745446 18624 18624 130 360 765 2034 3289 3639019 73317 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 X 1805991 0 1805991 0 1805991 1051088 0 1051088 0 1051088 PART X, LINE 2: EQUITY ARC IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENTITY EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL INCOME TAXES UNDER PROVISIONS OF SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT EQUITY ARC IS NOT A PRIVATE FOUNDATION. EQUITY ARC HAS ADOPTED ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE, WHICH REQUIRES THAT A TAX POSITION BE RECOGNIZED OR DERECOGNIZED BASED ON A "MORE LIKELY THAN NOT" THRESHOLD. THIS APPLIES TO POSITIONS TAKEN OR EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN IN A TAX RETURN. EQUITY ARC'S INCOME TAX FILINGS ARE SUBJECT TO AUDIT BY VARIOUS TAXING AUTHORITIES. EQUITY ARC BELIEVES IT HAS APPROPRIATE SUPPORT FOR ANY TAX POSITION TAKEN AND, THEREFORE, DOES NOT HAVE ANY UNCERTAIN INCOME TAX POSITIONS THAT ARE MATERIAL TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. EQUITY ARC DOES NOT BELIEVE IT HAD ANY INCOME THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME. 1 INSTRUMENT FUND 8 63000 PART I, LINE 2: THE INSTRUMENT FUND OPERATES UNDER WRITTEN GRANT AGREEMENTS SPECIFYING ALLOWABLE EXPENSES. PAYMENTS ARE MADE DIRECTLY ONLY TO AUTHORIZED INSTRUMENT VENDORS UPON RECEIPT OF AN ITEMIZED INVOICE AND COMPLETED IRS FORM W-9. PRIOR TO PURCHASE, THE GRANTEE'S PRIVATE TEACHER MUST APPROVE THE INSTRUMENT FOR SUITABILITY, AND THE GRANTEE MUST PROVIDE A PROFESSIONAL APPRAISAL VERIFYING AUTHENTICITY AND FAIR MARKET VALUE. STAFF RECEIVE AND APPROPRIATELY CODE VENDOR INVOICES FOR FINANCE BEFORE PAYMENT IS RELEASED. FOLLOWING PURCHASE, GRANTEES ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT PROOF OF INSURANCE THAT INCLUDES THE INSTRUMENT'S MAKE, MODEL, AND SERIAL NUMBER. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 2 LAUNCHED THE INSTRUMENT FUND, WHICH PROVIDES DIRECT FUNDS TO PATHWAYS MUSICIANS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO PURSUING INTENSIVE TRAINING IN THEIR COLLEGIATE STUDY. INAUGURAL EQUITY ARC WIND SYMPHONY PROVIDED A MULTI-DAY TRAINING RESIDENCY FOR PRE-COLLEGE MUSICIANS TO RECEIVE MENTORING FROM PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF WIND ENSEMBLE TRAINING. LAUNCHED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CUSTOM CRM, WHICH WILL SUPPORT OUR VIRTUAL COMMUNITY THROUGH PROGRAM APPLICATIONS, NETWORKING, AND MATCHING MUSICIANS WITH OPPORTUNITIES. THE ORGANIZATION IS NO LONGER COLLECTING MEMBERSHIP DUES AND RESOURCES ARE NOW MORE BROADLY AVAILABLE. FORM 990, PART V, LINE 2A AND 2B: THE ORGANIZATION'S STAFF IS PAID THROUGH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (CSO), WHICH IS AN UNRELATED ORGANIZATION. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ORGANIZATION AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS PROVIDE 100% OF THEIR TIME TO THE ORGANIZATION. THE W-2S ARE ISSUED BY CSO AND THE ORGANIZATION REIMBURSES CSO FOR ALL COSTS RELATED TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 4 DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, EQUITY ARC AMENDED ITS CODE OF REGULATIONS TO REFLECT THE CONCLUSION OF ITS PAID MEMBERSHIP. THE ORGANIZATION IS NO LONGER COLLECTING MEMBERSHIP DUES AND RESOURCES ARE NOW MORE BROADLY AVAILABLE. THE UPDATES ALIGNED THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S CURRENT STRUCTURE AND OVERSIGHT PRACTICES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6 THE ORGANIZATION HAS MEMBERS, BUT THEY HAVE NO GOVERNANCE OVERSIGHT. DURING FY 2025 THE ORGANIZATION STOPPED REQUIRING MEMBERS TO PAY DUES AND RESOURCES ARE MORE BROADLY AVAILABLE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE BOARD TREASURER BRIEFS THE FULL BOARD CONCERNING THE ANNUAL FORM 990 DURING A BOARD MEETING. THE COMPLETE DRAFT FORM 990 IS CIRCULATED TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS FOR INFORMATION PRIOR TO EXECUTION AND FILING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C WHEN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS CONSIDERING A PROPOSED TRANSACTION THAT MAY BENEFIT THE PRIVATE INTEREST OF AN OFFICER OR DIRECTOR, A DISCLOSURE MUST BE MADE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. WE ENGAGE IN REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO ENSURE ONGOING COMPLIANCE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 EQUITY ARC'S GOVERNING DOCUMENTS MADE AVAILABLE AS REQUIRED BY LAW. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G CONSULTING SERVICES: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 0. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 34,827. TOTAL EXPENSES 34,827. PHOTOGRAPHY: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 14,196. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 14,196. INTERNS/ADMIN ASSISTANCE: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 11,115. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 11,115. PAYROLL SERVICES: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 0. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 392. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 392. TECHNICAL CONSULTANTS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 73,210. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 73,210. PR FIRM: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 12,100. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 12,100. INSTRUMENT FUND REVIEWERS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 650. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 650. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.