Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Walker West Music Academy

EIN 41-1678368 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WALKER WEST MUSIC ACADEMY CREATES A MUSIC LEARNING COMMUNITY ROOTED IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL EXPERIENCE, WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS CAN GATHER, EXPLORE, AND GROW THROUGH MUSIC, BY PROVIDING LESSONS ON VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS.

Income
$10.4 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
58
Volunteers
45
Highest pay
$149,518, executive director

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

Fair: 69 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 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 71% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 93 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    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

    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 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 (1)
  1. $2.1 million spent. WALKER WEST MUSIC ACADEMY, LOCATED IN SAINT PAUL AT 650 MARSHALL AVE., IS A VIBRANT MUSIC SCHOOL. THOUGHT TO BE THE OLDEST COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL IN THE NATION, FOUNDED BY AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSICIANS, WE OFFER AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE, HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTION IN ALL GENRES OF MUSIC, INCLUDING CLASSICAL, WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON JAZZ, GOSPEL, AND IMPROVISATIONAL MUSIC. MORE THAN JUST A SCHOOL, WE ARE A CARING COMMUNITY WHERE PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS INSPIRE A LIFELONG LOVE OF MUSIC. THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT WALKER WEST FROM AGES 0 TO 99. 345 STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED IN INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE LESSONS. 45 STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED IN OUR ENSEMBLES. LESSONS ARE HELD IN 18-20-WEEK SESSIONS FROM SEPTEMBER TO JUNE AND AN 8-WEEK SESSION OVER THE SUMMER. INSTRUMENTS FOR INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION INCLUDE PIANO, GUITAR, BASS, WIND INSTRUMENTS, VOICE, PERCUSSION, ORGAN, VIOLIN, VIOLA, AND CELLO. AFTER EACH SESSION, A CONCERT IS GIVEN SO STUDENTS CAN PERFORM WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED. THE CONCERTS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND ANYONE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING IS WELCOME TO ATTEND. PRIVATE LESSONS ARE TAUGHT TO STUDENTS AGES 5 AND OLDER. OUR JAZZ ENSEMBLES REHEARSE WEEKLY AND PERFORM FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS JUNETEENTH, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, SELBY JAZZ FESTIVAL, TWIN CITIES JAZZ FEST, AND OTHER COMMISSIONED PERFORMANCES. THERE IS ONE ADULT JAZZ ENSEMBLE AND FOUR YOUTH JAZZ ENSEMBLES. THE KAMOINGE STRING ENSEMBLE, WHICH IS COMPOSED OF PRIVATE LESSON STUDENTS, PREPARES SELECTIONS TO PERFORM AT COMMUNITY EVENTS. OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC PROGRAM SERVES STUDENTS 0-6 WITH THEIR CAREGIVERS. CAREGIVERS AND CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN WEEKLY MUSIC GROUP ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOOL READINESS. IN 2024, WALKER WEST SERVED 104 PARTICIPANTS IN ITS EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC PROGRAMS AT THREE LOCATIONS. OVER THE SUMMER, WALKER WEST OPENS ITS SPACE TO SUMMER CAMPS AND SERVES AN ADDITIONAL 80 STUDENTS. WALKER WEST PROVIDES MUSIC PROGRAMS TO OLDER ADULTS THROUGH TWO KEY PROGRAMS, THE AMAZING GRACE CHORUS AND SINGSPIRATION. IN 2024, THESE PROGRAMS HAD 73 PARTICIPANTS.

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 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 March 1991.

    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.