Merit School of Music
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Merit School of Music is dedicated to helping young people transform their lives by removing barriers to high-quality music education, with the majority of students benefitting from need-based financial aid, scholarship support, or low-cost instrument rental. Merit enables motivated students, regardless of economic circumstance, to develop their talent and to use music as a springboard for achieving their full personal potential, with 100% of Merit graduates going on to college. The community music school's programming continuum consists of five major areas: Early Childhood, Instrumental & Vocal Music Program(Group classes), Private Lessons, Merit Music in Communities, and the Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory.
- Income
- $13.8 million
- Spending
- $9.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 27.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 49%
- Employees
- 224
- Volunteers
- 80
- Highest pay
- $200,693, president and executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 27.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2527 of 27 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 August 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 (6)
- $2.2 million spent. The Merit Music in Communities (MMiC) program was founded in response to a request from Chicago Public Schools to create an in-school music education program. MMiC provides provides high-quality music education to students at dozens of schools throughout the city through group instruction in strings, band, choir, piano, guitar, early childhood, and general music. In addition to leading year-long courses, Merit faculty also participate in multi-week general music residencies where they collaborate with students and CPS teachers to creatively enhance reading, language, and critical thinking skills through music.
- $2.6 million spent. Merit School of Music has a robust private lesson program for jazz and classical students of all ages and levels of musical ability. Over 900 students take private lessons at Merit, working one-on-one with celebrated music faculty to explore individual talents and interests, develop skills and technique, and overcome challenges. Most all of students enrolled in private lessons at Merit receive financial aid.
- $1.1 million spent. Merit's Instrumental & Vocal Music program provides beginning and intermediate K-9 musicians with small group after-school programming for string, band, piano, guitar, and voice. As students move through the program's sequential curriculum by achieving set goals, the program becomes deeper and more rigorous, preparing students for entry into Merit's prestigious Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory.
- $1.0 million spent. Merit's Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory accepts approximately 300 students annually, by competitive audition. Each Saturday, students receive a full day of pre-collegiate classes including technique, music theory, chamber music, large ensembles, masterclasses, and more-all TUITION-FREE. 100 percent of Conservatory students graduate high school and many are accepted to the most prestigious university and conservatory programs, often achieving successful careers in music performance or education.
- $734,921 spent. In addition to Merit's programming continuum, the music school is also a lead partner for Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative, a multi-organization collaborative effort with a mission to identify and develop gifted and motivated orchestral students from underrepresented backgrounds for acceptance into top-tier conservatory, college or university classical music programs in preparation for careers as professional musicians.
- $247,539 spent. Early Childhood, Summer, other music instruction programming, and student support. Early Childhood Programs offer weekly day-time music exploration classes for newborns to age 7. Merit's Instrumental and Ensemble camps offer a wide variety of worthwhile and fun summer musical experiences for intermediate, high intermediate, and advanced students. Merit's program administration and Student Support Services provide support for students and program pedagogy.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 August 2025.
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 September 1979.
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 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.