Chamber Music Unbound
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CMU is dedicated to providing outstanding classical music performances and music education to the residents and visitors of Mono and Inyo counties, nurturing the love for music in people of all ages and backgrounds.
- Income
- $426,356
- Spending
- $396,455
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 7.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 45
- Highest pay
- $103,220, education director
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
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 6 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or 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 (4)
- $119,497 spent. 2024 SUMMER FESTIVAL. The 2024 music festival was held Cerro Coso College in Mammoth Lakes and consisted of 6 concerts over the period, July 17 - July 28. Twenty guest artists joined the resident Felici Piano Trio in the performances. 1250 tickets were purchased.
- $88,183 spent. 2024/25 WINTER CONCERT SERIES. The resident Felici Piano Trio and 7 guests presented 10 chamber music concerts at the Cerro Coso Colleges in Mammoth Lakes & Bishop from October 2024 to April 2025. 650 tickets were purchased and an estimated 300 people viewed free livestreams.
- $26,132 spent. 2024/25 IN-SCHOOL MUSIC PRESENTATIONS. The CMU Artists-in-Residence presented 28 educational outreach programs for the various elementary, middle and high schools and libraries of Mono and Inyo counties. The programs cover a wide array of topics, from composer portraits to linking classical music to experiences in children's lives, like sports, movement, dance, stories and storytelling.
- $117,791 spent. 2024/25 AFTER-SCHOOL GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL MUSIC LESSONS. The CMU Artists-in-Residence provide individual and group instrumental instruction, coach chamber ensembles and direct youth chamber orchestras. In order to keep group programs available to all students, lessons are provided at reduced rates and instruments are loaned out to students depending on their need. 23 students took individual lessons and a total of 81 students were involved in the 5 group lessons programs: Mammoth Honors Strings, Mammoth Elementary Strings, Bishop Honors Strings, Bishop Elementary Strings, & Lee Vining Elementary Strings.
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
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 June 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 August 2003.
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.
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.