Save the Music Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SAVE THE MUSIC FOUNDATION HELPS KIDS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH THE POWER OF MAKING MUSIC.
- Income
- $7.8 million
- Spending
- $8.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 4.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 21
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $304,648, executive director, asst. secretary
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 59 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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 December 31, 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)
- $6.2 million spent. SAVE THE MUSIC FOUNDATION ("FOUNDATION") IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO CREATING SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BY RESTORING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAMS AND BY RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MUSIC EDUCATION. THE FOUNDATION WAS CREATED TO ADDRESS THE INEQUITY IN AVAILABILITY OF MUSIC EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS IN MANY OF THE MOST CHALLENGED COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S. SINCE ITS CREATION, SAVE THE MUSIC FOUNDATION, WORKING WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HAS RESTORED MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN MORE THAN 2,992 SCHOOLS IN 369 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE COUNTRY IMPACTING THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS. DURING THAT TIME, THE FOUNDATION HAS DONATED MORE THAN $68 MILLION WORTH OF NEW MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, EQUIPMENT, AND TECHNOLOGY TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.THE FOUNDATION VALUES MUSIC AS A CRITICAL LEARNING TOOL THAT KEEPS STUDENTS ENGAGED IN SCHOOL, HELPS DEVELOP WELL-ROUNDED INDIVIDUALS, AND ENCOURAGES SKILLS THAT ARE VITAL FOR SUCCESS IN THE 21ST CENTURY. PROGRAM STAFF MEMBERS FROM THE FOUNDATION WORK CLOSELY WITH SUPERINTENDENTS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, PRINCIPALS, ARTS COORDINATORS, AND MUSIC EDUCATORS IN EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO IDENTIFY SCHOOLS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE. THE FOUNDATION WORKS WITH LOCAL POLICYMAKERS AND ADVOCATES TO HELP ENSURE SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FOUNDATION'S RESTORATION OF MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS TAKE THE STEPS NEEDED TO BECOME ELIGIBLE. THE FOUNDATION WORKS TO ENABLE EVERY SCHOOL WITHIN THE DISTRICT TO HAVE ACCESS TO MUSIC EDUCATION. THE FOUNDATION EXPANDS ITS REACH IN SERVING ALL PUBLIC-SCHOOL STUDENTS PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE.THE FOUNDATION HAS DEVELOPED A UNIQUE MODEL TO FOSTER EQUITABLE ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE MUSIC EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN. THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES BRAND-NEW MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY, METHOD BOOKS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND PROGRAM SUPPORT TO PUBLIC ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS, JUMP-STARTING DORMANT MUSIC PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT MUSIC PROGRAMS REMAIN A CORE PART OF THE CURRICULUM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THAT THE PROGRAMS LIVE ON IN PERPETUITY, THE FOUNDATION WORKS WITH SCHOOLS THAT HAVE AGREED TO IMPLEMENT A SEQUENTIAL INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM BASED ON LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR MUSIC EDUCATION.GRANT OFFERINGS AND SCHOOLS SERVEDTHE FOUNDATION OFFERS SIX DIFFERENT TYPES OF GRANT PACKAGES TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS BASED ON GRADE LEVEL, NEED, AND THE SCHOOL'S MUSIC PROGRAM GOALS. THE GRANT PACKAGES ARE DECIDED UPON WITH THE INPUT OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS, SCHOOL LEADERS, AND THE FOUNDATION'S PROGRAM STAFF. A SCHOOL MUST MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO CONDUCT THEIR INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM AS PART OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL DAY, PROVIDE A DESIGNATED SPACE FOR MUSIC INSTRUCTION AND INSTRUMENT STORAGE, AND COMMIT TO HIRING A FULL-TIME, CERTIFIED MUSIC EDUCATOR. BY GUARANTEEING THAT EACH GRANT RECIPIENT SCHOOL FULFILLS THE SCHEDULE, SPACE, AND STAFF REQUIREMENTS, THE FOUNDATION FOSTERS A SUSTAINABLE MUSIC PROGRAM. IN THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR, THE FOUNDATION DELIVERED GRANT PACKAGES (CORE, INTRO TO MUSIC, J DILLA MUSIC TECH, MIDDLE SCHOOLMUSIC TECH, AND HOMETOWN MUSIC TECH) TO 99 SCHOOLS, TOTALING MORE THAN 22,000 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND PIECES OF MUSICAL EQUIPMENT, IN 44 SCHOOL DISTRICTS (LISTED BELOW) ACROSS 16 STATES. THESE GRANTS IMPACTED MORE THAN 72,000 STUDENTS AND MUSIC EDUCATORS BY INCREASING THEIR ACCESS TO QUALITY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, INSTRUCTIONAL BOOKS, EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY, AND RESOURCES. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EACH GRANT PACKAGE FOLLOWS. 44 SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT RECEIVED GRANT PACKAGES IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 (PLEASE SEE SCHEDULE I FOR LIST OF 44 SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT RECEIVED GRANTS IN 2025).CORE GRANTTHE CORE GRANT IN THE FORM OF BAND, STRING, MARIACHI, OR SONIDOS LATINOS HAS BEEN THE CORNERSTONE GRANT THAT THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES TO SCHOOL GRANT RECIPIENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. EACH CORE GRANT IS VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $80,000 AND JUMP-STARTS A NEW INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM AT A SCHOOL. THE CORE BAND GRANT INCLUDES 36 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS - WOODWIND, BRASS, AND PERCUSSION. THE STRING GRANT INCLUDES UP TO 36 STRING INSTRUMENTS - VIOLINS, VIOLAS, CELLOS, AND BASSES. THE MARIACHI GRANT INCLUDES 36 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS BRASS AND STRING INSTRUMENTS, BOTH FRETTED AND UNFRETTED, AS WELL AS MARIACHI BOWTIE AND BELTS. THE SONIDOS LATINOS GRANT INCLUDES 33 INSTRUMENTS FROM THE BAND PACKAGE BRASS AND CLASSICAL PERCUSSION ALONG WITH 13 PIECES OF LATIN PERCUSSION CONGAS, TIMBALES, BONGOS, CLAVES, ETC. ALL CORE GRANTS INCLUDE MUSIC STANDS, INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD BOOKS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR MUSIC TEACHERS, AND FOUNDATION PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR 10 YEARS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE FOUNDATION DELIVERED 31 CORE BAND GRANT PACKAGES, 7 CORE STRINGS GRANT PACKAGES, AND 5 CORE SONIDOS LATINOS GRANT PACKAGES, IMPACTING MORE THAN 25,500 STUDENTS AND MUSIC EDUCATORS.INTRO TO MUSIC GRANTTHE INTRO TO MUSIC GRANT WAS DEVELOPED IN 2018 AND INCLUDES EVERYTHING A MUSIC TEACHER NEEDS TO PROVIDE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 5 WITH SEQUENTIAL, STANDARDS-BASED GENERAL MUSIC INSTRUCTION FOCUSED ON ACTIVE MUSIC-MAKING AND ENGAGEMENT. THE GRANT IS VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $32,000 INCLUDING DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT INSTRUMENTS AND RESOURCES: DIGITAL PIANO, ACOUSTIC GUITAR, ORFF INSTRUMENTS, WORLD DRUMS, RECORDERS, HAND-HELD PERCUSSION, BOOMWHACKERS, A CLASSROOM SET OF UKULELES, INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD BOOKS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR MUSIC TEACHERS, AND FOUNDATION PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR 10 YEARS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE FOUNDATION DELIVERED 29 INTRO TO MUSIC GRANT PACKAGES, IMPACTING MORE THAN 15,000 STUDENTS AND MUSIC EDUCATORS.J DILLA MUSIC TECH GRANTTHE J DILLA MUSIC TECH GRANT WAS DEVELOPED IN 2018 AND FOCUSES ON DELIVERING THE FUTURE OF MUSIC LEARNING THROUGH INNOVATIVE MUSIC TE
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 August 1955.
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.