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Cleveland Music School Settlement

EIN 34-0714339 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO WELCOME ALL TO OUR MUSIC AND ARTS COMMUNITY TO LEARN, CREATE, CELEBRATE AND HEAL.

Income
$9.6 million
Spending
$6.6 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 38%
Employees
165
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$191,000, president & ceo

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 81% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 29 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 (3)
  1. $2.0 million spent. THE MISSION OF THE MUSIC SETTLEMENT'S CENTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD IS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN AGES 3 WEEKS TO 6 YEARS OF AGE. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT UNIVERSITY CIRCLE AND OHIO CITY LOCATIONS OFFER STATE ACCREDITED AND GOLD AWARD RATED PRESCHOOL, DAY SCHOOL, AND KINDERGARTEN COURSES TO CHILDREN 3-6 YEARS. THESE PROGRAMS NURTURE THE INDIVIDUAL, SUPPORT THE FAMILY AND ENHANCE A CHILD'S SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INVOLVEMENT WITH CREATIVE ARTS. THIS HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE MUSIC SETTLEMENT FOR OVER 65 YEARS AND WE HAVE EARNED A REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN ALL ASPECTS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
  2. $573,280 spent. ESTABLISHED IN 1966, THE MUSIC SETTLEMENT'S CENTER FOR MUSIC THERAPY HAS BEEN A PIONEER IN HELPING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND/OR MEDICAL ISSUES. THE MISSION OF THE CENTER IS TO CREATIVELY USE MUSIC AS A THERAPEUTIC TOOL FOR MEETING THE CHALLENGES AND NEEDS AND PROMOTING THE WELL-BEING OF THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THE CENTER EMPLOYS STATE OF OHIO LICENSED (LPMT) AND BOARD-CERTIFIED MUSIC THERAPISTS (MT-BC'S) WHO CONDUCT INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP MUSIC THERAPY SESSIONS AT OUR UNIVERSITY CIRCLE AND OHIO CITY CAMPUSES AND AT NUMEROUS EDUCATIONAL, MEDICAL, SOCIAL SERVICE AND RECREATIONAL AGENCIES IN THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN AREA. THE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION CONTINUES ON SCHEDULE O. OUR MT-BC'S SYSTEMATICALLY AND PRESCRIPTIVELY USE MUSIC-BASED INTERVENTIONS TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS FACING A WIDE RANGE OF LIFE'S CHALLENGES. IN FY25 WE SERVED 931 INDIVIDUALS WITH A VARIETY OF DIAGNOSES AND NEEDS AT OUR TWO CAMPUSES AND WITH 6 ORGANIZATIONS AT 6 LOCATIONS.
  3. $2.4 million spent. THE MUSIC SETTLEMENT'S CENTER FOR MUSIC PROVIDES MUSIC INSTRUCTION, CLASSES, AND ENSEMBLES TO STUDENTS OF ALL AGES FROM AROUND THE GREATER CLEVELAND AREA. IN KEEPING WITH OUR MISSION, STUDENTS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS ARE ADMITTED WITHOUT AUDITION, AND THE CENTER AWARDS FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO ENSURE THAT ABILITY TO PAY IS NOT A BARRIER TO MUSICAL STUDY. THE CENTER FOR MUSIC HAS SEVERAL OUTREACH PARTNERS FOR OFF-SITE MUSIC INSTRUCTION. NATIONALLY, WE HAVE COLLABORATED WITH THE BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC AS PART OF THEIR CITY MUSIC NETWORK. THE MUSIC SETTLEMENT STUDENTS, ENROLLED IN THE JAZZ AT THE MUSIC SETTLEMENT (JAMS) PROGRAM, VIE TO BECOME ANNUAL RECIPIENTS OF A FULL SCHOLARSHIP TO BERKLEE'S 5 WEEK SUMMER PERFORMANCE PROGRAM.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1939.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.