Neighborhood Music School Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF NEIGHBORHOOD MUSIC SCHOOL IS TO DEEPEN THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE AND BUILD CONNECTIONS THROUGH THE LEARNING, PRACTICE, AND PRESENTATION OF THE PERFORMING ARTS.
- Income
- $5.7 million
- Spending
- $5.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 3.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 61%
- Employees
- 176
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $133,450, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 45% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 2515 of 15 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 June 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 (4)
- $2.6 million spent. NMS OFFERS LESSONS, CLASSES, AND ENSEMBLES IN MUSIC, DANCE, DRAMA AND FILM, SERVING NEARLY 2,500 STUDENTS AGES 6 MOS. TO 100+ FROM 80 TOWNS AND CITIES ACROSS THE STATE. THESE ACTIVITIES COMBINE HIGH QUALITY ARTISTIC TRAINING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE SKILLS, WHILE BUILDING A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT RACES, BACKGROUNDS, ECONOMIC MEANS AND LEARNING STYLES. POPULAR PROGRAMMING INCLUDES EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC AND MOVEMENT, SUZUKI MUSIC CLASSES, ONE-ON-ONE MUSIC LESSONS, MEET THE PIANO, THE GREATER NEW HAVEN YOUTH SYMPHONY, CHAMBER MUSIC ENSEMBLES, MULTIPLE STYLES OF CHORUS', PREMIER ENSEMBLES, COLLABORATIVE CHOREOGRAPHY DANCE, YOUNG ARTIST DIPLOMA PROGRAM, DANCE FOR PD(R), STEEL PANS AND SO MUCH MORE. ACTIVITIES RUN SEP-JUNE.
- $768,061 spent. NMS OFFERS TWO FULL-DAY PRIMARY SCHOOLING EXPERIENCES. THE PRESCHOOL AND TODDLER PROGRAM AT NMS OFFERS CHILDREN AGES TWO THROUGH FIVE A STATE-LICENSED, ARTS-BASED PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCE. YOUNG CHILDREN ARE NATURAL EXPLORERS, LEARNERS, AND CREATIVE THINKERS, AND THE ARTS ARE THE PERFECT VEHICLE FOR THEM TO EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTAND THE WORLD AROUND THEM. AT ATLAS MIDDLE SCHOOL, 7TH AND 8TH GRADER STUDENTS DIRECT THEIR OWN LEARNING BY RUNNING ALL ASPECTS OF A THEATRE COMPANY, USING THE THEATRICAL PROCESS TO EXPLORE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS IN LITERATURE, SCIENCE, HISTORY, MATH AND BEYOND.
- $345,406 spent. NMS OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF COMPREHENSIVE SUMMER PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING AUDUBON ARTS (FOCUSED ON MUSICAL THEATER) AND SUMMER JAZZ. IN ADDITION NMS OFFERS PERFORMING ARTS LESSONS, CLASSES AND ENSEMBLES.
- N/A
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 October 13, 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 June 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 February 1950.
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 October 21, 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.