Inspire Arts and Music Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
YOUTH ACTIVITY-PROVIDING MUSIC EDUCATION, TRAVEL, AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR APPROXIMATELY 18,500 TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS.
- Income
- $4.9 million
- Spending
- $4.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- -2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 61%
- Employees
- 27
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $215,674, ceo and executive director
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
Weak: 38 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 62% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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.
Independent board
25 of 2543 of 43 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 (3)
- $3.3 million spent. DRUM & BUGLE CORPS: THE BOSTON CRUSADERS DRUM & BUGLE CORPS IS THE THIRD-OLDEST JUNIOR DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS IN THE NATION AND IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL. THE CORPS, COMPOSED ENTIRELY OF BRASS PLAYERS, PERCUSSIONISTS AND COLOR GUARD MEMBERS UNDER THE AGE OF 22, TRAVELS OVER 10,000 MILES EACH SUMMER, PERFORMING IN MORE THAN 40 COMPETITIONS AND EXHIBITIONS BEFORE A COMBINED AUDIENCE OF OVER 300,000 FANS. THE BOSTON CRUSADERS' MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ITS MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL--AS BOTH A PERSON AND AN ARTIST. THE BOSTON CRUSADERS PROVIDE A HEALTHY BALANCE BETWEEN EDUCATION AND COMPETITION AND SEEK TO CONSTANTLY CHALLENGE MEMBERS TO THROUGH A DYNAMIC AND UNIQUE COMBINATION OF ARTISTIC ATHLETIC AND LIFE GOALS.
- $969,550 spent. MUSIC FESTIVALS: GREAT EAST MUSIC FESTIVAL AND FANTASTIC FESTIVALS EXPERIENCE PROVIDES A FORMATIVE EVALUATION FOR PERFORMANCES AS WELL AS A COMPREHENSIVE CLINIC THAT SUPPORTS MIDDLE SCHOOLS MUSIC PROGRAMS EDUCATIONAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. THE FESTIVALS ARE NON-COMPETITIVE ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC FESTIVALS FOR CONCERT BAND, WIND ENSEMBLES, ORCHESTRA, CONCERT, SELECT AND SHOW CHOIR, JAZZ BAND AND SMALL ENSEMBLES. OUR PROGRAM REACHES MORE THAN 18,000 STUDENTS.
- $210,963 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS: INCLUDES HYDE INNER CITY PERCUSSION LESSONS - A FREE PROGRAM FOR INNER CITY YOUTH OF HYDE PARK, AS WELL AS THE DENNEY CENTER PERCUSSION PROGRAM AT THE DORCHESTER BOYS & GIRLS CLUB AND VARIOUS OTHER PROGRAMS.
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 1991.
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.