Skip to the page content
Passes our checks

Bring on the Music Inc

EIN 27-0030546 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION AT SILVERLAKE CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC, A NON-PROFIT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION, IS TO FACILITATE A DYNAMIC MUSIC EDUCATION AND TO TEACH BEGINNING AND ACCOMPLISHED MUSICIANS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS. OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IS ON THE YOUTH OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALL ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE. WE OFFER PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS ON ALL ORCHESTRAL AND BAND INSTRUMENTS INCLUDING VOICE, AS WELL AS A VARIETY OF ENSEMBLE CLASSES AT A REASONABLE COST. WE GRANT SCHOLARSHIPS TO CHILDREN WHO QUALIFY, PROVIDING FREE LESSONS AND INSTRUMENTS. PERFORMANCES AND RECITALS PUT ON BY THE CONSERVATORY ARE A FULFILLING EXPERIENCE FOR THE STUDENTS AND A BEAUTIFUL OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY. OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP OUR STANDARD OF TEACHING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL WHILE MAINTAINING A FRIENDLY, FUN AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT. THE STUDY OF MUSIC ENRICHES NOT ONLY THE LIVES OF THE STUDENT AND TEACHER, BUT THE COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY AS WELL.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
15.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
59
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$163,692, managing director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 13 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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)
  1. $1.8 million spent. THE SILVERLAKE CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC (SCM)(WWW.SILVERLAKECONSERVATORY.ORG) PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 850 INDIVIDUALS FROM SILVERLAKE AND SURROUNDING L.A. COMMUNITIES WITH AFFORDABLE PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS AND BASIC MUSIC EDUCATION. THE CONSERVATORY ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY BASED EVENTS AND HELD QUARTERLY RECITALS TO HIGHLIGHT OUR STUDENTS FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF OUR PARENTS AND COMMUNITY. THE CONSERVATORY ALSO OFFERS ENSEMBLE CLASSES FOR STUDENTS ALREADY ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL.
  2. $117,886 spent. SCM HELD SUMMER CAMPS FOR AGES 7-18. ALL CAMPS INCLUDE WORKSHOPS IN INSTRUMENTAL AND VOCAL TECHNIQUE, MUSIC READING, MUSIC THEORY AND EAR TRAINING, MUSIC APPRECIATION, LISTENING AND ENSEMBLE PLAYING IN VARIOUS STYLES.
  3. $696,071 spent. SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS TOTALED ABOUT 185 IN 2023. OUR GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN UP TO 200 SCHOLARSHIPS. SCM SEEKS CHARITABLE SUPPORT TO FUND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LOW-INCOME CHILDREN AGES 7 TO 17. STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR SCHOLARSHIP IF THEY ARE A TITLE 1 (LOW-INCOME) STUDENT. SCM PROVIDESSCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION, ENSEMBLE PARTICIPATION AND ENROLLMENT AT OUR SUMMER CAMPS. AS PART OF THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, SCM PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH FREE INSTRUMENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 February 2003.

    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.