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Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation Inc

EIN 27-5553072 · Deerfield Bch, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 42% of its spending went to programs.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 122 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation (KTBA) is dedicated to offsetting the loss of music education programming due to budget cuts across America. We strive to pass the torch on to the next generation by empowering them to manifest their talents within the arts community and using music as an outlet to exercise creativity in the entertainment workforce. As of Dec 2022, KTBA has supported over 585 schools and reached 89,000 students by providing new instruments, sheet music, supplies, and professional development tools for music teachers. KTBA supports music educators who give their students a positive and rewarding experience in the arts. As KTBA promotes the advancement of STEM to STEAM curricula in schools, KTBA acknowledges the inherent resistance from dated education administrations and diminishing arts and music programming budgets. Each quarter, KTBA assess its goals and measures allowing the staging the opportunity to improve and adjust its procedures accordingly. KTBA makes a week

Income
$174,417
Spending
$239,617
Spent on programs
42%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 74%
Employees
0

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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 47% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    42% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 122 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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.

  • 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. $57,000 spent. JOE BONAMASSAS FUELING MUSICIANS PROGRAM (FMP) IS AN EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM FOR MUSICIANS FACING HARDSHIP. THIS INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT MUSICIANS BY PROVIDING IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR ESSENTIAL LIVING EXPENSES SUCH AS FOOD, SHELTER, AND MORE. FMP PROVIDES CASH PAYMENTS OF $1,500.00. IN 2022, 36 AWARD PACKAGES WERE DISTRIBUTED TO MUSICIANS FACING HARDSHIP. RECIPIENTS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT GRATITUDE CONTENT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE FUNDING. RECIPIENTS MAY RE-APPLY FOR FUNDING IN THE NEXT CALENDAR YEAR.
  2. $26,965 spent. EVERY WEEK, KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE CHOOSES A DIFFERENT SCHOOL TO DONATE RESOURCES, INCLUDING INSTRUMENTS, SHEET MUSIC, AND RECORDING EQUIPMENT THAT ACCELERATES THE GROWTH AND IMPACT OF MUSIC EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS. IN 2022, KTBA FUNED 57 PROJECTS, SUPPORTING AN ESTIMATED 11,275 STUDENTS. PROJECTS REACHED THE FOLLOWING STATES: AL, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, AND WI.
  3. $17,371 spent. KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE FOUNDATION HAS PARTNERED WITH GLOBAL LIGHTHOUSE STUDIOS (FORMERLY, INSPIRE CITIZENS) IN ORDER TO HIGHLIGHT THE RICH CULTURE OF BLUES HISTORY IN SCHOOLS BY CONNECTING QUALIFIED TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WITH FUN, STUDENT-LED ACTIVITIES THROUGH A VIRTUAL LEARNING SETTING. THESE ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE PODCASTS, SONG RECORDINGS, LYRIC WRITING, TINY DESK/CLASSROOM CONCERTS, AND A CUSTOMIZED CURRICULUM FOR EACH COHORT. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF A MINIMUM OF FOUR (4) CLASSROOM SESSIONS PER PARTNER SCHOOL PER SEMESTER. SESSIONS INCLUDE A $1,000 STIPEND TO BE USED TO PURCHASE INSTRUMENTS REQUIRED FOR THE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAMS MISSION IS TO INSPIRE & EMPOWER STUDENTS TO CAPTURE THE DIVERSE SOUNDS, STORIES, HISTORIES & PERFORMANCES HIGHLIGHTING THE POWERFUL INFLUENCE OF THE BLUES ON COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD.

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 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 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 August 2011.

    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.

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.