City Singers Children's Choirs

City Singers Children's Choirs General Information Contact Information Nonprofit City Singers Children's Choirs Address P.O. Box 73504 Richmond, VA 23235 Phone 804 657-7664 Fax 804 657-7667 Web Site www.citysingerschoir.org Facebook facebook.com/citysingerschoir Twitter @CitySingersCC At A Glance Year of Incorporation 2009 Organization's type of tax exempt status Public Supported Charity 1

Statements & Search Criteria Mission To inspire the highest level of artistic choral performance while bringing together youth of the greater Richmond area in a joyful appreciation of their ethnic, religious and cultural diversity. The organization is committed to making its choral education experience available to qualified singers regardless of their economic situations. Background City Singers Youth Choirs in Richmond, Virginia perform the highest caliber of distinguished children's choral music from the body of classical, traditional, and modern compositions from around the world. City Singers Youth Choirs consist of four performing vocal groups: City Singers Advanced Ensemble for girls and boys in grades 6 through 12, Neighborhood Singers for grades 2 through 5, Young Women's Ensemble for girls in grades 6-12, and Young Men's Ensemble for boys in grades 6-12. City Singers Youth Choirs have been bringing Richmond area youth together through song since 1996. Our performance calendar is designed to support the performances of area schools and our singers are encouraged to take active part in their school music programs. Each year auditions begin in May and are followed by a week-long summer camp in August where singers are introduced to each other and some of their repertoire for the upcoming season. During the school year, singers meet with their choir for 1-2 hours per week (depending on age) and hone their craft. Impact Went on tour for the first time in 2013. The choir brought songs from the Civil War era to Washington, D.C. and Gettysburg, Pa. as part of the 150th celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation. Brought our singers into the recording studio for the first time in 2012, recording vocals for Susan Greenbaum's upcoming album. Expanded our performing groups from 2 to 4 from 2010 to 2011, successfully incorporating changed and changing male voices in an educationally effective and developmentally appropriate way. Planned and successfully executed first major fundraising event in 2011. Designed, developed and implemented new website with improved functionality including online payments and donations, online audition registration, and automatically updated event calendar, improving administration efficiency. Needs Supplement tuition income with grants and other funding to allow the organization to offer compensation to our choral directors that is similar to that of comparable regional and national children's community choirs. Seek grants and other funding to allow for a significant biennial artistic collaboration in the form of a tour or sponsoring a visiting musician/musical group. Increase visibility in Richmond area through organized marketing campaign utilizing social media, print and radio. Expand the Board of Directors to provide more support to the teaching and artistic team. Raise funds to hire a business manager. 2

CEO/Executive Director Statement Why is it important that our youth learn to sing? You've no doubt heard the valuable arguments for preserving our arts and our heritages, developing future patrons of the arts, increasing test scores and critical thinking, and the innumerable extrinsic benefits of vocal musical study, but at the end of the day these pale in comparison to the core reason I do what I do. I teach young people to sing because singing makes them stronger. Young people who learn to sing have, whether they know it or not, set out on a grand journey which will teach them powerful life lessons. Singers learn to overcome fear of rejection in favor of generously sharing their voices, to value the group's interest above their own, they discover their true gifts and likewise where they must grow, and they walk in another s shoes as they internalize song texts. Humility, generosity, modesty, honesty, empathy --all developed and encouraged in the practical setting of rehearsals and concerts. These elements combine in a powerful way to build up the young singer into a confident, competent, kind and strong young person. This singing journey weaves a rich tapestry of character that infuses young lives with what we at City Singers Youth Choirs call the power of song.' The power of song reaches deep into the singer's soul, shakes things up a bit and emerges to be shared with the listener. We hope you will join us on our journey, through financial, volunteer or audience support. We want to share with the world the marvel our young people are discovering: the power of song! Leslie M. Dripps Executive & Artistic Director City Singers Youth Choirs Areas Of Service Areas Served Areas Metro Richmond Tri-cities Region Richmond, City Ashland Chester Chesterfield County Hanover County Henrico County Petersburg, City Colonial Heights, City Goochland County Powhatan County Each choir season, City Singers Youth Choirs enrolls 50 to 70 children in grades 2 through 12 in its choral music education programs. We are a community children s choir that comprises children from Richmond, Henrico, Hanover, Chesterfield, Goochland, Colonial Heights, Petersburg, Powhatan and Varina. Service Categories Singing & Choral Groups Scholarships & Student Financial Aid 3

Programs Programs City Singers Advanced Ensemble Description For girls and boys in grades 6-12, a mixed-voice choral performing group. Budget $0.00 Long term Success Short Term Success Singers participating in City Singers Advanced Ensemble receive advanced vocal training in a group setting. Participants are inspired to enjoy a lifelong appreciation of music and the arts. Singers in City Singers Advanced Ensemble master and perform the highest caliber of youth choral repertoire from across the ages and around the world. Singers graduating from the program have received collegeprep level vocal music education. Young Women's Ensemble Description For girls in grades 6-12, a treble voice performing choral ensemble, and subgroup of the Advanced Ensemble. (All girls in Advanced Ensemble are also members of Young Women's Ensemble.) Budget $0.00 Long term Success Short Term Success Girls participating in the Young Women's Ensemble receive focused vocal training and attention in a group setting that is specific to their vocal needs and abilities. They are able to master and perform a wide variety of repertoire, particularly selections that uniquely speak in the female voice. By the end of a performance season, girls in the Young Women's Ensemble will demonstrate mastery of advanced treble voice repertoire, and will display confidence and competence both musically and personally. Young Men's Ensemble Description For boys in grades 6-12, a mixed voice performing choral ensemble, and subgroup of the Advanced Ensemble. (All boys in Advanced Ensemble are also members of Young Men's Ensemble.) Budget $0.00 Long term Success Short Term Success Boys participating in the Young Men's Ensemble receive focused vocal training and attention in a group setting that is specific to their vocal needs and abilities. They are enabled to master and perform a wide variety of repertoire, particularly selections that uniquely speak in the male voice. By the end of a performance season, boys in the Young Men's Ensemble will demonstrate mastery of advanced treble voice repertoire, and will display confidence and competence both musically and personally. 4

Neighborhood Singers Training Choir Description For boys and girls in grade 2-5, a treble voice performing choral ensemble. Budget $0.00 Long term Success Short Term Success Boys and girls participating in Neighborhood Singers will be inspired to have a lifelong appreciation for music and the arts. Boys and girls participating in Neighborhood Singers will be inspired in a fun, engaging and encouraging environment to love singing and music. They will be trained in the choral and musical skills required for continued participation in the advanced choirs of City Singers Children's Choirs. 5

Board & Governance Board Chair Board Chair Lee Hanchey Company Affiliation Retired Term May 2015 to May 2018 Email lghanchey@gmail.com Board Members Name Affiliation Status Lee Hanchey BrightLights Education Initiative Partnership Voting Tom Kozusko CFA CPA Voting Suzanne Mallory-Parker CenterStage Foundation Voting Mary Beth Meyer Retired Voting Sharon Potts Chick Fil A Voting Troy Svenko Capital One Voting David Trace Community Volunteer Voting Diane Woodruff Retired Voting Board Demographics - Ethnicity African American/Black 1 Asian American/Pacific Islander 0 Caucasian 5 Hispanic/Latino 0 Native American/American Indian 0 Other 0 0 Board Demographics - Gender Male 1 Female 5 Unspecified 0 Governance Board Term Lengths 2 Board Term Limits 0 Board Meeting Attendance % 72 Written Board Selection Criteria? Written Conflict of Interest Policy? Yes Yes 6

Percentage Making Monetary Contributions 100 Percentage Making In-Kind Contributions 100 Number of Full Board Meetings Annually 9 Standing Committees Board Development / Board Orientation Development / Fund Development / Fund Raising / Grant Writing / Major Gifts Nominating Executive Marketing Additional Board Members Name Leslie M Dripps Mara Smith Affiliation Executive and Artistic Director, City Singers Children's Choirs Director, Neighborhood Singers Comments The twentieth anniversary of City Singers Youth Choirs is fast approaching and we want to celebrate with current and former choir members and supporters, and planning for that event is already taking place. We hope that you will continue to support this wonderful choir, our faculty and staff, and help us increase our presence and visibility in the greater Richmond area in order to serve more young singers through the Power of Song! 7

Management Executive Director/CEO Executive Director Term Start May 2011 Email Leslie Moruza Dripps lesliedripps@gmail.com Experience Leslie Moruza Dripps received her Bachelor's degree in Music Education from James Madison University. She has taught choral music at the elementary, middle and high school levels, starting her career in Richmond Public Schools and then later directing the choral program for several years at Chickahominy Middle School in Hanover County. Leslie currently teaches private voice lessons, frequently directs all-area choral ensembles in Virginia and is becoming well known in the area as a clinician. She also is a performing singer-songwriter with her band Moruza. Leslie has been teaching with City Singers Youth Choirs since 2007, became artistic director in 2009, and was made executive director in 2011. Leslie directs City Singers Advanced Ensemble and the Young Women s Ensemble. Senior Staff Name Mara Smith Title Staff Full Time Staff 0 Part Time Staff 0 Volunteers 3 Contractors 3 Retention Rate 100 Plans Organization has a Fundraising Plan? Under Development Organization has a Strategic Plan? Yes Date Strategic Plan Adopted Apr 2013 Management Succession Plan? Under Development Organization Policy and Procedures Under Development 8

Financials Fiscal Year May Fiscal Year 2018 Projected Revenue $33,090.00 Projected Expenses $33,090.00 Endowment Value 28227 Spending Policy Income Only Percentage (if selected) 0% Form 990s Detailed Financials Revenue and Expenses Total Revenue $38,190 $32,052 $57,896 Total Expenses $38,356 $30,984 $28,142 Revenue Sources Foundation and Corporation -- -- -- Contributions Government Contributions $0 $1,000 $0 Federal -- -- -- State -- -- -- Local -- -- -- Unspecified -- $1,000 -- Individual Contributions $38,190 $9,623 $34,166 Indirect Public Support -- -- -- Earned Revenue -- $21,429 $18,512 Investment Income, Net of Losses -- -- -- Membership Dues -- -- -- Special Events -- -- $5,218 Revenue In-Kind -- -- -- Other -- -- -- 9

Expense Allocation Program Expense $36,161 $30,109 $27,402 Administration Expense $1,600 $875 $740 Fundraising Expense $595 -- -- Payments to Affiliates -- -- -- Total Revenue/Total Expenses 1.00 1.03 2.06 Program Expense/Total Expenses 94% 97% 97% Fundraising Expense/Contributed Revenue 2% 0% 0% Assets and Liabilities Total Assets $43,604 $41,702 $41,167 Current Assets $12,755 $41,702 $41,167 Long-Term Liabilities $0 $0 -- Current Liabilities $200 $0 -- Total Net Assets $43,404 $41,702 $41,167 Short Term Solvency Current Ratio: Current Assets/Current Liabilities 63.78 -- -- Long Term Solvency Long-Term Liabilities/Total Assets 0% 0% 0% Top Funding Sources Top Funding Source & Dollar Amount -- -- -- Second Highest Funding Source & Dollar -- -- -- Amount Third Highest Funding Source & Dollar Amount -- -- -- Capital Campaign Currently in a Capital Campaign? No Goal 0 Capital Campaign Anticipated in Next 5 Years? Yes State Charitable Solicitaions Permit Permit? Yes Sept 2014 Comments Organization Comments City Singers Children's Choirs files a (e-postcard). For more information about our income and expenses, please see attached copies of our year end Profit and Loss Statements. Foundation Comments Form 990 and financial statements prepared internally by the organization. Financial analysis performed with financial statements. 10