Melodic Caring Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
We bring hope, connection, and the power of music to people battling illness.
- Income
- $405,016
- Spending
- $341,862
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- -1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 35
- Highest pay
- $66,154, 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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 118% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (1)
- $250,211 spent. At MCP we believe in transparency, community and inclusivity. Our vision is to provide love, encouragement and healing through music to every person in need and inspire our communities worldwide to do the same.At Melodic Caring Project, the patients are the rockSTARS and we are their #1 Fans. Since 2010, we've supported over 57,000 patients and family members battling illness and isolation around the world. We've partnered with over 465 artists and supported patients at over 350 hospitals in 50 countries around the world. In 2025, we impacted nearly 8,000 rockSTAR patients and family members providing over 745 personalized song requests, 486 1:1 Music Therapy Sessions, 70 Group Music and Art Therapy Sessions and 5 special livestream concerts including Regina Spektor, Mount Joy, OK GO, Thee Sacred Souls and Switchfoot.In just four years, Melodic Caring Project has grown from providing 186 programs to now, more than 1,300 annually. Our 1:1 Music Therapy Sessions have increased twentyfold from 24 to nearly 500 annually and our total programs have grown by over 600%. Every one of our programs is provided completely free of charge, ensuring that patients from marginalized and underserved communities along with their families, siblings, and caregivers receive consistent, compassionate, and ongoing support.Our programs offer consistent, ongoing and accessible support for free to patients of all ages as well as the whole family including siblings and parents. As we continue to experience huge growth and demand for our services we are seeing an even greater positive impact on the patients and families we serve through self-discovery, emotional expression, and genuine connection allowing patients the safe space and freedom to express themselves, navigate their personal journeys, and build meaningful friendships. Our programs are making a tremendous impact on the mental, emotional and spiritual health of patients. Patients who receive support through our programs say they experience:-decreased feelings of isolation;-positive shift in mood;-normalization of hospital environment;-positive coping;-increased socialization;-increased emotional identification and/or expression;-increased resilience;-facilitated movement and/or range of motion; as well as-increased self-esteem.We accomplish our mission by connecting patients with musicians, performers, celebrities, and our team of Rockologists offering a range of programs including 1:1 Music Therapy Sessions, Personalized Livestream Concerts, Weekly Group Music & Art Therapy Sessions, personalized Song Requests, Therapeutic Songwriting Sessions and other specialty programs.This has been an exciting year of growth and change. As our impact increases, so does the demand for our programs and next year we plan to add another Music Therapist to our team to keep up with the increasing requests for patient support. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, our programs are free to all patients and families through the generosity of individual donors, foundations, corporate giving and sponsorships.Thank you for your continued support and belief in our mission. We can't wait to see what we can do together in 2026.
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
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 June 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 February 2012.
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.