Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	From the Top
Address:	295 Huntington Avenue, Suite 201
	Boston, MA 02115
Phone:	617-437-0707
Web Address:	www.fromthetop.org

From the Top (FT) does not meet the following 2 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 6: Board Policy on Effectiveness - Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission. FT does not meet this Standard because: The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission. Standard 7: Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness - Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions. FT does not meet this Standard because: It has not completed an effectiveness assessment in the past 2 years.

From the Top (FT) meets the remaining 18 Standards for Charity Accountability.

FT is a showcase for America’s young musicians. Through its radio program, online media, national tour of live events, and education programs, the organization shares the stories and performances of pre-collegiate classical musicians with as broad an audience as possible. FT does 18 live tapings each year in venues across the country. Each one-hour program presents five young performers or ensembles whose performances are combined with interviews, pre-produced stories, and segments that delve into young performers' lives and musical insights on the pieces they play. FT reports that it has produced 200 performances reaching more than 200,000 live audience members in 33 states. These performances are then broadcast to an audience of reportedly 700,000 weekly radio listeners. FT performers also play at schools and other local organizations. In addition, every performer that appears on FT’s show is required to participate in the organization’s Arts Leadership training. This program encourages the young musicians to use their talents to advocate for the arts in schools, teach music to others, raise money for charitable causes, and engage people outside of the concert hall. FT has also recently launched the Center for the Development of Arts Leaders for its pilot year in Boston, MA. Four teams are paired with five community organizations in Boston and are developing and implementing year-long projects at their host organizations.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, FT's program expenses were:

Program services	2,849,916
Total Program Expenses:	$2,849,916

Chief Executive : Jennifer Hurley-Wales, Co-CEO and Executive Producer

Compensation*:

$125,774

Chair of the Board: Jeffrey F. Rayport
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Operating Partner, Castanea Partners

Board Size: 15

Paid Staff Size: 33

*July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and membership appeals.

Fund raising costs were 24% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $2,996,778, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on FT's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009.

Source of Funds
Contributions	1,721,622
Program service fees	711,857
In-kind contributions	536,585
Government support	400,871
Event revenue	337,700
Investment income	25,342
Merchandise sales	8,559
Total Income	$3,742,536

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 71%  Fund Raising: 18%  Administrative: 11%

Total income				$3,742,536
	Program expenses			$2,849,916
	Fund raising expenses			720,696
	Administrative expenses			462,747
Total expenses				$4,033,359
Expenses in Excess of Income				(290,823)
Beginning net assets				1,934,054
Ending net assets				1,643,231
Total liabilities				370,924
Total assets				$2,014,155

Note 1: For the year ended June 30, 2009, FT received in-kind donations in the amount of $536,585 which includes advertsing ($278,670), professional fees ($185,630), scholarships ($48,766), event expenses ($10,500), marketing ($7,696), and rent ($5,323).