Is Horns For Kids a non-profit
organization?
A. Yes. Horns For
Kids, Inc. is a CT non-profit corporation, and is a Federal 501c3
non-profit organization (Federal EIN: 45-2159084).
How many CT schools have received
instruments from H4K?
A. Since 2003, H4K has awarded instruments to well
over 500 Connecticut schools.
Where do the instruments come from?
A. Most instruments are donated. Although, we do buy some if there
is a shortage of
certain kinds.
How are the instruments awarded
to schools?
A. A group of available instruments is posted on
our website, 2-4 times a year.
Teachers and administrators are notified through e-mail,
and download the
application from the website; fill-it-out and return it by a certain
date. After about
a 2 week application period, H4K reads all the applications
and awards the
instruments to CT public and private schools, based on need.
Do some schools get priority?
A. Schools that have never received an instrument,
get priority. Also, schools
that have not received an instrument for 3 years
get priority.
Does H4K keep records on where the instruments went?
A. Yes, we have a database of where every instrument
was awarded since 2005.
Where does H4K get its funding?
A. We get funding from people like you who believe that every student should have
the opportunity to make music in school and
as a lifelong activity. We also receive
funding from a few family-run
charitable funds, student-run school fund drives,
and from generous private donors using the Donate button on our website:
Are
donations to Horns For Kids tax-deductible?
A. Yes. Cash donations and instrument donations are tax-deductible
(as long as no
goods or services were provided in exchange).
How are the funds used?
A. Most of the funds are used to repair instruments. H4K
has about six technicians
that make sure every donated instrument is clean, playable,
and in excellent
condition. We do buy some instruments that are popular with teachers, if there is
a shortage. Our annual accounting (CPA) and filing fees (CT) for Horns For Kids,
Inc. total
around $1,200.
Does H4K pay salaries to directors?
A. No. The two directors (Fred and Lee)
receive no pay whatsoever. In fact, they
both donate to H4K in several
ways: regular cash donations, office space and
machines, telephones, postage,
internet and webhosting costs, gas and vehicle
to pick-up instruments, and time spent
for clerical database entries — and
taking instruments to and from repair
technicians.
What kinds of instruments does Horns For Kids accept?
A. We accept gently used — standard
bowed strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass),
woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments
that are played in school bands,
orchestras, and other ensembles. We also
accept guitars, ukuleles, guitar
amplifiers, and accessories.
Does H4K accept pianos?
A. Yes. But we are picky when it comes
to acoustic pianos. They are
expensive to move, tune, and store. We don’t
take all of these instruments.
We will ask for brand, model, condition, and photos. Schools prefer electronic
keyboards nowdays, since they do
not need to be tuned or maintained.
Will H4K come to pick-up donated instruments?
A. Yes, but it would be very helpful if you could
drop it off at our office in
Hamden. There are only two of us here (no
fleet of trucks). Some
people ship the instrument to us. We
also have a couple of drop-off
locations. If necessary,
we can schedule a time to come to you.
How is the value of a donated
instrument determined?
A. As a courtesy, H4K will research the web and consult
with music stores
for comparable instruments and suggest a value to the donor in a
written
letter. However, for tax purposes, the donor is welcome to assign
any value
to an instrument that he/she believes is fair.
What is the capital of Nebraska?
A. Lincoln
