Institute of Music for Children Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ENGAGE CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND THE CREATIVE PROCESS.
- Income
- $4.0 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- -8.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 50%
- Employees
- 111
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $126,741, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 30% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 52% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 65% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $1.6 million spent. THE INSTITUTE OF MUSIC FOR CHILDREN, A COMMUNITY-CENTERED, ARTS-BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION, ENGAGES CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND THE CREATIVE PROCESS. GUIDED BY ITS VISION OF H.A.R.M.O.N.Y. - HELPING ACHIEVE RESPONSIBLE, MOTIVATED, OPTIMISTIC, NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH - THE INSTITUTE IS BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF HIGH-ACHIEVING CITIZENS WHO ARE ARTS LOVERS AND ARTS MAKERS THROUGH PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION, MENTORSHIP, AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT. OVER 1,500 YOUTH ANNUALLY ARE PROVIDED WITH ECONOMICALLY ACCESSIBLE, HIGH- QUALITY ARTS TRAINING IN AN INSPIRING AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT. GUIDED BY THE BELIEF THAT ALL CHILDREN DESERVE ACCESS TO THE BENEFITS OF THE ARTS, NO STUDENT IS EVER TURNED AWAY BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED. CORE PROGRAMS ARTS EDUCATION SERVICES OFFERED: WE PROVIDE MORE THAN 40 ART FORMS IN A WIDE RANGE OF PERFORMING, VISUAL AND MEDIA ARTS, ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING THAT INCLUDES CULINARY, KARATE, YOGA AND MORE. OUR CORE PROGRAMS INCLUDE: - THE AFTERSCHOOL ARTS INSTITUTE: OFFERS 12- OR 24-WEEKS OF PRIVATE AND GROUP INSTRUCTION FROM OCTOBER-MAY FOR OVER 375 STUDENTS AGES 5-18. THIS PROGRAM FEATURES OUR SIGNATURE, TEEN ARTS NIGHT. - THE SUMMER ARTS INSTITUTE: IMMERSES 250 YOUNG PEOPLE IN AT LEAST EIGHT ART FORMS EACH DAY. THE PROGRAM RUNS FOR SIX WEEKS. - THE COMMUNITY INSTITUTE: DEVELOPS COLLABORATIVE ARTIST RESIDENCIES FOR SCHOOLS, JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SETTINGS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY SPACES. - YOUTH LEADER JOB TRAINING AND READINESS PROGRAM: EMPLOYS 45-50 TEENS TO RECEIVE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING THROUGHOUT ALL INSTITUTE FUNCTIONS. THEY ACT AS MENTORS, WORK EVENTS, PROVIDE TOURS, MANAGE OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND PROVIDE SUPPORT IN NEARLY EVERY INSTITUTE FUNCTION. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS 1.GROWN TO SERVE MORE THAN 1,500 CHILDREN EACH YEAR UTILIZING MORE THAN 40 ART FORMS AND OFFERING PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION BY ESTABLISHED WORKING ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. 2.ESTABLISHED BI-LINGUAL STAFF OF ADMINISTRATORS, FACULTY AND YOUTH LEADERS. 3.RAISED MORE THAN 7 MILLION FOR OUR UPCOMING CAMPUS EXPANSION PROJECT, SCHEDULED TO BREAK GROUND IN 2026. 4.RECEIVED FIVE CITATIONS OF EXCELLENCE FROM THE NEW JERSEY STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS. 5.ACCESSED PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL FUNDING FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, THE NONPROFIT FINANCE FUND, NEW YORK LIFE AND THE LEWIS PRIZE FOR MUSIC (SEMI-FINALIST). 6.JOINED THE CONSORTIUM OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROVIDERS TO BRING ARTS RESIDENCIES TO JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE. 7.AWARDED AN IMPACT 100 - GARDEN STATE GRANT TO EXPAND OUR PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH WITH INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AS WELL AS THOSE WITH SEVERE TRAUMA. 8.PRESENTED OUR EQUITY WORK AT STATEWIDE CONFERENCES AND CONVENINGS IN THE ARTS AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. THE INSTITUTE OF MUSIC FOR CHILDREN, A COMMUNITY-CENTERED, ARTS-BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION, ENGAGES CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND THE CREATIVE PROCESS. GUIDED BY ITS VISION OF H.A.R.M.O.N.Y. - HELPING ACHIEVE RESPONSIBLE, MOTIVATED, OPTIMISTIC, NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH - THE INSTITUTE IS BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF HIGH-ACHIEVING CITIZENS WHO ARE ARTS LOVERS AND ARTS MAKERS THROUGH PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION, MENTORSHIP, AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT. OVER 1,500 YOUTH ANNUALLY ARE PROVIDED WITH ECONOMICALLY ACCESSIBLE, HIGH- QUALITY ARTS TRAINING IN AN INSPIRING AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT. GUIDED BY THE BELIEF THAT ALL CHILDREN DESERVE ACCESS TO THE BENEFITS OF THE ARTS, NO STUDENT IS EVER TURNED AWAY BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED. CORE PROGRAMS ARTS EDUCATION SERVICES OFFERED: WE PROVIDE MORE THAN 40 ART FORMS IN A WIDE RANGE OF PERFORMING, VISUAL AND MEDIA ARTS, ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING THAT INCLUDES CULINARY, KARATE, YOGA AND MORE. OUR CORE PROGRAMS INCLUDE: - THE AFTERSCHOOL ARTS INSTITUTE: OFFERS 12- OR 24-WEEKS OF PRIVATE AND GROUP INSTRUCTION FROM OCTOBER-MAY FOR OVER 375 STUDENTS AGES 5-18. THIS PROGRAM FEATURES OUR SIGNATURE, TEEN ARTS NIGHT. - THE SUMMER ARTS INSTITUTE: IMMERSES 250 YOUNG PEOPLE IN AT LEAST EIGHT ART FORMS EACH DAY. THE PROGRAM RUNS FOR SIX WEEKS. - THE COMMUNITY INSTITUTE: DEVELOPS COLLABORATIVE ARTIST RESIDENCIES FOR SCHOOLS, JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SETTINGS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY SPACES. - YOUTH LEADER JOB TRAINING AND READINESS PROGRAM: EMPLOYS 45-50 TEENS TO RECEIVE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING THROUGHOUT ALL INSTITUTE FUNCTIONS. THEY ACT AS MENTORS, WORK EVENTS, PROVIDE TOURS, MANAGE OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND PROVIDE SUPPORT IN NEARLY EVERY INSTITUTE FUNCTION. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS 1.GROWN TO SERVE MORE THAN 1,500 CHILDREN EACH YEAR UTILIZING MORE THAN 40 ART FORMS AND OFFERING PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION BY ESTABLISHED WORKING ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. 2.ESTABLISHED BI-LINGUAL STAFF OF ADMINISTRATORS, FACULTY AND YOUTH LEADERS. 3.RAISED MORE THAN 7 MILLION FOR OUR UPCOMING CAMPUS EXPANSION PROJECT, SCHEDULED TO BREAK GROUND IN 2026. 4.RECEIVED FIVE CITATIONS OF EXCELLENCE FROM THE NEW JERSEY STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS. 5.ACCESSED PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL FUNDING FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, THE NONPROFIT FINANCE FUND, NEW YORK LIFE AND THE LEWIS PRIZE FOR MUSIC (SEMI-FINALIST). 6.JOINED THE CONSORTIUM OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROVIDERS TO BRING ARTS RESIDENCIES TO JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE. 7.AWARDED AN IMPACT 100 - GARDEN STATE GRANT TO EXPAND OUR PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH WITH INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AS WELL AS THOSE WITH SEVERE TRAUMA. 8.PRESENTED OUR EQUITY WORK AT STATEWIDE CONFERENCES AND CONVENINGS IN THE ARTS AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.