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Roots of American Music Inc

EIN 34-1888282 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceFair52 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF ROOTS OF AMERICAN MUSIC IS TO NOURISH NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF MUSIC THROUGH EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE.

Income
$335,331
Spending
$291,139
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
5
Highest pay
$24,231, e.d. (throug

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 83% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $214,433 spent. ROOTS ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING DURING 2025: 1.ADULT DAY PARTNERS 328 MUSIC ENRICHMENT PERFORMANCES 22 DIFFERENT FACILITIES SERVING A TOTAL OF 872 PERSONS WITH PHYSICAL AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES 2.SENIOR CENTERS/MEMORY CARE 77 MUSIC ENRICHMENT PERFORMANCES 9 DIFFERENT FACILITIES SERVING A TOTAL OF 532 PEOPLE 3.STOP THE HATE PROVIDED IN 16 SCHOOLS ACROSS NORTHEAST OH SERVED: 976 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS 4. CLEVELAND MONTESSORI SPRING 2025 - 28 STUDENTS GRADES 1-3 18 VISITS SPRING 2025 - 15 STUDENTS GRADES 4 & 518 VISITS FALL 2025 - 30 STUDENTS GRADES 1-3 6 VISITS FALL 2025 - 18 STUDENTS GRADES 4 & 58 VISITS 5.BLUES IS THE BACKBONE PROVIDED FOR 36 CLASSES IN 10 SCHOOLS IN CLEVELAND SERVING 805 STUDENTS IN GRADES K & 2 6.LIVE PERFORMANCES WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS 13 COMMUNITY PARTNER SITES 36 TOTAL PERFORMANCES SERVING 2,625 ADULTS & CHILDREN 7A.FATIMA - FOOD FOR THE SOUL 13 VISITS - 670 PEOPLE SERVED 2 CONCERTS - 117 PEOPLE SERVED 7B.BARTON CENTER - FOOD FOR THE SOUL 15 VISITS - 313 PEOPLE SERVED 1 CONCERT - 22 PEOPLE SERVED 7C. FATIMA - LUNCHTIME CONCERTS 30 PERFORMANCES - 1437 PEOPLE SERVED 7D.FATIMA - SUMMER CONCERTS 6 CONCERTS - 311 PEOPLE SERVED 7E.DAVE'S MARKET 16 PERFORMANCES - 1502 PEOPLE SERVED ROOTS ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING DURING 2025: 1.ADULT DAY PARTNERS 328 MUSIC ENRICHMENT PERFORMANCES 22 DIFFERENT FACILITIES SERVING A TOTAL OF 872 PERSONS WITH PHYSICAL AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES 2.SENIOR CENTERS/MEMORY CARE 77 MUSIC ENRICHMENT PERFORMANCES 9 DIFFERENT FACILITIES SERVING A TOTAL OF 532 PEOPLE 3.STOP THE HATE PROVIDED IN 16 SCHOOLS ACROSS NORTHEAST OH SERVED: 976 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS 4. CLEVELAND MONTESSORI SPRING 2025 - 28 STUDENTS GRADES 1-3 18 VISITS SPRING 2025 - 15 STUDENTS GRADES 4 & 518 VISITS FALL 2025 - 30 STUDENTS GRADES 1-3 6 VISITS FALL 2025 - 18 STUDENTS GRADES 4 & 58 VISITS 5.BLUES IS THE BACKBONE PROVIDED FOR 36 CLASSES IN 10 SCHOOLS IN CLEVELAND SERVING 805 STUDENTS IN GRADES K & 2 6.LIVE PERFORMANCES WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS 13 COMMUNITY PARTNER SITES 36 TOTAL PERFORMANCES SERVING 2,625 ADULTS & CHILDREN 7A.FATIMA - FOOD FOR THE SOUL 13 VISITS - 670 PEOPLE SERVED 2 CONCERTS - 117 PEOPLE SERVED 7B.BARTON CENTER - FOOD FOR THE SOUL 15 VISITS - 313 PEOPLE SERVED 1 CONCERT - 22 PEOPLE SERVED 7C. FATIMA - LUNCHTIME CONCERTS 30 PERFORMANCES - 1437 PEOPLE SERVED 7D.FATIMA - SUMMER CONCERTS 6 CONCERTS - 311 PEOPLE SERVED 7E.DAVE'S MARKET 16 PERFORMANCES - 1502 PEOPLE SERVED

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 August 1999.

    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.