Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Community School of Music and Arts

EIN 23-7023900 · Mountain View, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

CSMA INSPIRES EXCELLENCE THROUGH ART AND MUSIC EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES.

Income
$8.2 million
Spending
$8.6 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
208
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$148,388, chief financial officer

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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
  1. $4.6 million spent. MUSIC:THE SCHOOL OFFERS PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS, CLASSES, ENSEMBLES, WORKSHOPS, CAMPS, AND MASTER CLASSES FOR NEARLY 2,300 STUDENTS, TAUGHT BY A DISTINGUISHED INTERNATIONAL FACULTY OF 62 ON OVER 15 INSTRUMENTS. THE SCHOOL ALSO OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF CONCERTS AND LECTURES IN TATEUCHI HALL. THE SCHOOL OFFERS QUALITY LESSONS AND CLASSES DIRECTLY TO EMPLOYEES OF CORPORATE PARTNERS DURING THE WORKDAY, GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECHARGE, REFOCUS, AND RE-ENERGIZE THROUGH A CREATIVE EXPERIENCE.THE SCHOOL PROVIDES FREE PUBLIC PERFORMANCES AT THE FINN CENTER YEAR-ROUND. THE SCHOOL'S COMMUNITY CONCERT SERIES IN TATEUCHI HALL AT THE FINN CENTER INCLUDES DIVERSE PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS BY CSMA MERIT SCHOLARS, FACULTY, AND PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS.
  2. $2.3 million spent. IN-SCHOOL:THE SCHOOL OFFERS AWARD-WINING IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, ART4SCHOOLS AND MUSIC4SCHOOLS, REACHING NEARLY 22,000 STUDENTS AT 49 SCHOOLS IN SAN MATEO AND SANTA CLARA COUNTIES WITH A SEQUENTIAL, STANDARDS-BASED, AND COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM. THE SCHOOL RAISES FUNDS TO SUBSIDIZE PROGRAMS AT SCHOOLS SERVICING STUDENTS AT HIGH RISK OF ACADEMIC FAILURE. THE PROGRAM'S REACH IS EXTENDED BY AFTER SCHOOL ART CLUBS AND MUSIC PROGRAMS. THE ART4SCHOOLS CURRICULUM DEVELOPS TECHNICAL SKILLS AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE LANGUAGE OF ART WHILE ALSO TEACHING APPRECIATION AND CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING OF ART AND ITS HISTORY. END-OF-THE-YEAR EXHIBITS PRESENT THOUSANDS OF PIECES OF STUDENT ART.THE MUSIC4SCHOOLS PROGRAM TEACHES SINGING, CREATIVE MOVEMENT, INSTRUMENTS, MUSIC APPRECIATION, AND CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING OF MUSIC AND ITS ORIGINS. IN ADDITION, STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN AN INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM DURING SCHOOL HOURS AND/OR AFTER SCHOOL. END-OF-THE-YEAR CHORAL AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PERFORMANCES LET CHILDREN SHARE WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED BEFORE A LIVE AUDIENCE.
  3. $979,047 spent. ART SCHOOL:THE SCHOOL PROVIDES ON-SITE ART INSTRUCTION, INCLUDING WEEKLY CLASSES, VACATION CAMPS, AND SPECIAL WORKSHOPS. ANNUALLY, NEARLY 1,500 CHILDREN, YOUTH, TEENS, AND ADULTS RECEIVE INSTRUCTION IN A VARIETY OF DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING DRAWING, PAINTING, PRINTMAKING, SCULPTURE, MULTIMEDIA COMPOSITION, ANIMATION, AND FOLK ARTS. VACATION CAMPS FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES K-8 OFFER FUN AND CREATIVE CLASSES IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ATMOSPHERE. THE SCHOOL ALSO OFFERS EXHIBITIONS AND ART LECTURES IN THE MOHR GALLERY.THE SCHOOL PROVIDES FREE GALLERY EXHIBITIONS ONSITE AT THE FINN CENTER YEAR-ROUND. EXHIBITIONS IN THE MOHR GALLERY AT THE FINN CENTER SHOWCASE EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED VISUAL ARTISTS WITH ARTIST TALKS, RECEPTIONS, AND HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS. IN ADDITION, CSMA PARTICIPATES IN A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS ANNUALLY, PROVIDING FREE HANDS-ON ARTS ACTIVITIES, INFORMATION BOOTHS, PUBLIC PERFORMANCES, AND EXHIBITIONS AT LOCAL FAIRS AND FESTIVALS AND OTHER PUBLIC VENUES (E.G. HOSPITALS, BUSINESSES, ETC.).

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1969.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.