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Salt Lake Music School Foundation

EIN 26-3463598 · Slc, UT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GIFTED MUSIC SCHOOL NURTURES THE ARTISTRY, CHARACTER, AND SKILLS VITAL TO A HEALTHY COMMUNITY THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL COMPREHENSIVE MUSIC EDUCATION.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
-4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
63
Volunteers
124
Highest pay
$98,765, executive d

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 391% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (4)
  1. $335,017 spent. CONSERVATORY: THE CONSERVATORY IS A PRESTIGIOUS,INTERNATIONAL-LEVEL PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR PASSIONATE AND DEDICATED MUSIC STUDENTS AGED EIGHT TO EIGHTEEN. ADMITTANCE IS BY AUDITION ONLY, ENSURING THAT EACH STUDENT JOINS A COMMUNITY OF LIKE-MINDED PEERS WHO SHARE A DEEP COMMITMENT TO THEIR CRAFT. THE PROGRAM OFFERS AN INSPIRED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS ARE NOT ONLY GUIDED BY WORLD-RENOWNED FACULTY BUT ARE ALSO MOTIVATED BY THE COLLECTIVE EXCELLENCE OF THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS. DURING FY25, THE CONSERVATORY PROGRAM EXPANDED CURRICULUM, DEVELOPED PARTNERSHIPS, HOSTED 13 RENOWNED MUSICIANS FOR MASTERCLASSES, AND GRADUATED 10 SENIORS WITH A 100% COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE RATE. CONSERVATORY STUDENTS EARNED MANY STATE, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVE DISTINCTIONS.
  2. $514,647 spent. MUSIC ACADEMY: THE MUSIC ACADEMY PROGRAM OFFERS INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP LESSONS AVAILABLE FOR TWELVE INSTRUMENTS. LESSONS ARE DESIGNED TO INSPIRE, CHALLENGE, AND NURTURE EVERY STUDENT. WITH EXPERT INSTRUCTION BOTH ONLINE AND IN-PERSON, STUDENTS ENJOY A PERSONALIZED LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT FITS THEIR SCHEDULE AND GOALS. DURING FY25, MUSIC ACADEMY PROVIDED OVER 6,000 PRIVATE LESSONS AND 244 GROUP CLASS SESSIONS, REPRESENTING PARTICIPATION FROM 176 FAMILIES. MUSIC ACADEMY ALSO STRENGTHENED ITS PRESCHOOL, JAZZ, AND SUZUKI COURSES.
  3. $185,924 spent. GRIT: GRIT (GROWTH, RESILIENCE, INSTINCT, TENACITY), IS A PROGRAM THAT DELIVERS DAILY,HIGH-QUALITY MUSIC INSTRUCTION TO NEARLY 500 STUDENTS AT THREE TITLE I PARTNER SCHOOLS. GRIT HELPS CLOSE THE OPPORTUNITY GAP BY PROVIDING LIFE-CHANGING ACCESS TO MUSIC EDUCATION FOR AT-RISK YOUTH. STUDENTS SHOW MEASURABLE ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL GROWTH. GRIT INSTRUCTION EMPHASIZES EFFORT, CURIOSITY, AND GROWTH OVER PRESSURE.
  4. $22,180 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS

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

  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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on October 15, 2020 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on October 15, 2020.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 August 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 November 2021.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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