Civic Music Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF CMA IS TO ENGAGE, ENRICH AND EDUCATE THE CENTRAL IOWA COMMUNITY THROUGH PROVOCATIVE, WORLD-CLASS MUSICAL PERFORMANCES BY LEGENDS AND RISING STARS. CMA IS GOVERNED BY A VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND HAS AN ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET EXCEEDING 450,000. CMA PRESENTS A SEVEN CONCERT SEASON FEATURING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CLASSICAL AND JAZZ ARTISTS. THROUGH ITS CMA STUDIO PROGRAM CMA, CONTRACTS THESE PERFORMING ARTISTS TO PRESENT EDUCATIONAL EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY CONCURRENT WITH THEIR CONCERTS. IN ADDITION CMA MANAGES THE BELIN QUARTET, A STRING QUARTET FUNDED THROUGH A FOUNDATION CREATED BY THE BELIN FAMILY, WHICH PERFORMS FREE CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO OFFERS FREE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR AREA SCHOOLS, YOUTH AGENCIES, RETIREMENT HOMES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $486,098
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- 35.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $43,569, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 35.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 78% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 277% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
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
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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)
- $314,604 spent. HISTORICALLY, CMA CONCERTS ARE ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 4,000 TICKET BUYERS EACH YEAR. IN ADDITION, CMA DELIVERS FREE CONCERTS AND MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO AN AUDIENCE OF 5,000 ADULTS AND CHILDREN. THE DIRECT COSTS FOR PRESENTING THESE CONCERTS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE APPROXIMATELY 250,000 PER YEAR. REVENUE TO SUPPORT OUR WORK COMES FROM TICKET SALES, CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS, AS WELL AS GRANTS FROM PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS AND PUBLIC FUNDING AGENCIES.
- THE BELIN QUARTET WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE YEAR 2000 BY A GRANT TO THE CIVIC MUSIC ASSOCIATION FROM THE IOWA FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT, AND THE ARTS, A CHARITABLE FOUNDATION CREATED BY DAVID BELIN. HIS VISION THAT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE JOYS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC IS REALIZED THROUGH THE BELIN QUARTET. EACH YEAR THE QUARTET ENTERTAINS OVER 1000 PEOPLE AT ITS INDOOR AND OUTDOOR LUNCHTIME CONCERTS. ADDITIONALLY THEY ANNUALLY PERFORM TO MORE THAN 500 STUDENTS AND SENIOR CITIZENS IN AREA SCHOOLS AND THE WESLEY RETIREMENT COMMUNITY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1974.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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