Uptown Music Collective
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL MUSIC EDUCATION AND HIGH IMPACT MUSICAL EXPERIENCES THAT INSTILL A LOVE OF MUSIC, AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF DISCIPLINE, HARD WORK, AND COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $644,694
- Spending
- $592,395
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 11.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 65%
- Employees
- 26
- Volunteers
- 10
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 August 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 (2)
- $473,916 spent. THE UMC PROGRAM IS THE SCHOOLS PRIMARY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. IT PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE MODERN MUSIC EDUCATION FOR AN AVERAGE 130 STUDENTS EACH SEMESTER AND EMPHASIZES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOLE STUDENT . THE TUITION FOR THIS PROGRAM IS THE SCHOOLS LARGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE. STUDENTS PAY $525 PER 15-WEEK SEMESTER AND FOR FIFTEEN THIRTY MINUTE LESSONS ON THEIR CHOSEN INSTRUMENT, AND AN ADDITIONAL THREE HOURS OF GROUP INSTRUCTION, WHICH INCLUDES A PRIMARY TO COLLEGE-LEVEL MUSIC THEORY CURRICULUM, AND A WORKSHOP SERIES THAT TEACHES GROUP PERFORMANCE SKILLS. ENROLLED STUDENTS ALSO HAVE FREE ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL SCHOOL PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE PERFORMANCE PROGRAM, iOn UPTOWN, AND THE TECH MONKEY PROGRAM.
- $118,479 spent. THE UPTOWN MUSIC COLLECTIVES PERFORMANCE PROGRAM IS THE PUBLIC FACE OF THE ORGANIZATION. THE PERFORMANCE PROGRAM IS FREE TO ALL ENROLLED STUDENTS AND IS DIVIDED INTO THREE PROGRAM AREAS. STUDENT SHOWCASES, WHICH ARE EVENTS ALL STUDENTS CAN TAKE PART IN. THEY TAKE PLACE THREE TIMES A YEAR, ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, FEATURE AN AVERAGE OF 60 STUDENTS PERFORMING FOR AN AUDIENCE OF 200, AND ADMISSION IS FREE. THE COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES ADVANCED STUDENTS WITH THE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE OF PERFORMING AT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EVENTS. IT AVERAGES 60 PERFORMANCES PER YEAR, FOR AN ESTIMATED AUDIENCE OF 5000 PER YEAR, AND SERVES AN AVERAGE 25 PARTICIPANTS. THE MAJOR PERFORMANCE PROGRAM GIVES ADVANCED PARTICIPANTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAN, DIRECT, AND PRESENT LARGE-SCALE CONCERTS IN MAJOR PERFOMANCE VENUES. THE SCHOOL PRESENTS AN AVERAGE OF 4 PER YEAR, SERVES 30-35 PARTICIPANTS, AND PERFORMS FOR AN AVERAGE OF 5000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 2007.
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.