More Than Music Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
The mission of More Than Music Inc. is to challenge audiences to listen for and live out their callings to serve others - using music presented in ensemble community as model and catalyst.
- Income
- $451,416
- Spending
- $486,835
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- -0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 66%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $110,922, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 24 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 597% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 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 March 31, 2026, 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)
- $322,369 spent. School Assembly Programs. At the Table with Dr. King is a multi-media assembly program and concert production which uses live music video and visual images from the Civil Rights Movement Era to challenge students to discover and live out their callings in their communities. The performances dramatize the kitchen table moment in Dr. Kings life using it as model and catalyst for what can happen when one person hears the call to serve his or her community overcomes obstacles and lives it out. The video version of the program captured the day before lockdown began in 2020 continues to impacted thousands of viewers lives across the world through partnerships with the Mizel Museum the US State Department Stanford Universitys Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Research and Education Institute the NAACP and schools and community organizations across the US. Its companion program available for schools to present in alternating years is called The Music of Movements and focuses on helping its attendees find their constructive voice examining historical examples to extrapolate how they can make their voices matter. In FY 25-26 MTM served 51,208 attendees through live film and online programs.
- $108,338 spent. Blue Gospel Scripts is a multi-media performance which builds on the proven success of the At the Table with Dr. King format - a mix of music video visual images and spoken word - and focuses its impact toward lessening society-wide Biblical illiteracy by presenting the Bible in multi-media script format with very little commentary. While the videos created during Covid are still accessible and accessed on YouTube during FY 25-26 MTM also presented 6 live shows directly impacting 585 people.
- $7,246 spent. MTM presented 7 live community events during FY 25-26 which served 4,850 grateful people. Live music is a powerful tool to restore hope and joy to those lacking and build lasting community ties and More Than Music ensures that this service is available to the largest possible number of people by: 1. For self-produced events always charging reduced-rate prices and when tickets are sold offering complimentary tickets to those unable to afford them 2. For events produced by others always requesting reduced-rate honorariums to cover musician & organization costs 3. Working when possible with contract musicians who receive highly reduced fees for their services and often volunteer their time to ensure the largest possible number of people will have access to the powerful impact of live music.
- More Than Music creates recordings of its music in order to lengthen and strengthen its impact on those it serves both through distribution of physical recordings and streaming services. In the 25-26 FY the organization sold few recordings but was able to impact many thousands through streaming services.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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 March 2026.
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 November 2009.
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.