Rock the Cause Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Our mission is to engage others to become involved in their communities through volunteerism. We achieve this goal through volunteer drives, music downloads on our record label, live concert events, and classroom workshops in colleges and high schools.
- Income
- $102,286
- Spending
- $104,003
- Reserves
- 0 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 84%
- Highest pay
- $52,876, ceo
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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)
- $21,500 spent. Our recording label income allowed us to make grants to organizations like Children's Cancer Research Fund, Sexual Violence Center MN, High School for Recording Arts, and others. Our charities report that they benefit from residual direct donations from donors who discover their cause, by learning about them first through a Rock the Cause digital music stream, download, or CD. Rock the Cause music releases were streamed over 4 million times in 2024. That is a significant amount of consumer interaction. Our music releases are monetized on all digital platforms to capture revenues that we in-turn grant to charitable organizations as decided by our officers and stakeholders. We also use our label to support artists who want to expand their audience through radio and social media marketing. We also mentor opportunity youth in real world internships doing marketing, distribution and PR
- $45,413 spent. In 2024 we spent an entire year at High School for Recording Arts a charter based in Saint Paul, MN that serves under-served children and high school dropouts. We conducted an in-classroom workforce training program for media occupations that teaches students job skills like how e-commerce works, digital distribution, podcasting, copyright, branding, or how to write a press release and media servicing. We also covered subjects like nonprofit careers and entertainment law and servicing learning. Once the students were trained on this knowledge they worked directly with Rock the Cause staff and volunteers to release music singles and student-made compilations on the High School for Recording Arts Record Label. We also developed a paid internship program giving vulnerable populations of youth the opportunity to participate in vocational discovery. Our CEO was awarded the Ramsey County Vern Vick Award for youth workforce development. We worked with over 35 low income youth who are from underserved and marginalized communities. We also placed 15 youth in jobs working in media Occupations. We also offered paid internship training to 15 youth helping to ease financial burdens and create economic access for youth struggling to find employment.
- $27,978 spent. Rock the Cause was continued in our role of education facilitation for a media occupations training program for youth in partnership with High School for Recording Arts & ReConnect Rondo. We mentored over 12 youth in content creation for the Voices of Rondo Youth Podcast and assisted with youth centered community organizing.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 2024.
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 December 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 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.