Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Muse Machine Inc

EIN 31-1028673 · Dayton, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH THE ARTS.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
9
Volunteers
205
Highest pay
$103,317, executive 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: 82 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    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 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)
  1. $319,270 spent. MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM: IN-SCHOOL PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL AND NATIONAL ARTISTS AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL PRODUCTIONS BY LOCAL PROFESSIONAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS INTRODUCE STUDENTS TO A VARIETY OF PERFORMING ARTS IN DAYTON'S ROBUST ARTISTIC SCENE. THE PROGRAMS ARE EXCITING AND PARTICIPATORY AND ALSO DESIGNED WITH A CURRICULUM COMPONENT. INVOLVES 26,000 STUDENTS ANNUALLY.
  2. $231,131 spent. TEACHER TRAINING: TRAINING TEACHERS TO INTEGRATE THE ARTS INTO WHATEVER SUBJECT THEY TEACH, FROM ENGLISH TO HISTORY TO SCIENCE. INCORPORATING THE ARTS INTO CORE CURRICULUM AREAS ENERGIZES TEACHERS AND BRINGS LEARNING TO LIFE IN NEW WAYS FOR MANY STUDENTS. TRAINING OCCURS ALL YEAR LONG: INCLUDES A FOUR-DAY SUMMER WORKSHOP AND FOUR-DAY ADVANCED TEACHER TRAINING SEMINAR IN NEW YORK CITY; THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR INCLUDES WORKSHOPS AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT CONNECT CURRICULUM TO THE GOINGS-ON OF THE LIVELY DAYTON ARTS SCENE. APPROXIMATELY 400 TEACHERS RECEIVE TRAINING ANNUALLY.
  3. $345,522 spent. STUDENT PROGRAMS: INCLUDES PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS THE ANNUAL MUSE MUSICAL AND SUMMER CONCERT, AS WELL AS: TRIPS TO OUT-OF-TOWN ARTS EVENTS; WORKSHOPS THAT ALLOW STUDENT MEMBERS TO PURSUE THEIR ARTISTIC INTERESTS WITH GUIDANCE FROM RECOGNIZED ARTS PROFESSIONALS; AND OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERACT WITH STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE MIAMI VALLEY WHO HAVE SIMILAR INTERESTS IN THE ARTS. STUDENT PRODUCTIONS INVOLVE OVER 120 STUDENTS AS CAST, CREW, AND ORCHESTRA FROM 45 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE REGION AND ATTRACT AUDIENCES OF OVER 4,000 PEOPLE FROM 100 ZIP CODES.
  4. $65,680 spent. TICKETS - TICKETS PURCHASED FOR THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FOR VARIOUS ART PERFORMANCES.

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

  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 June 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 June 1982.

    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.