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The Troy Andrews Foundation

EIN 45-4524559 · New Orleans, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PRESERVE AND PERPETUATE THE MUSICAL CULTURE OF NEW ORLEANS BY PASSING ITS TRADITIONS DOWN TO FUTURE GENERATIONS OF MUSICIANS.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
31.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
4
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$167,100, executive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 31.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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 (6)
  1. $150,904 spent. TROMBONE SHORTY ACADEMY EDUCATES THE NEXT GENERATION OF NEW ORLEANS MUSIC STUDENTS AND ASPIRING MUSIC INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS. FOLLOWING THE PATH THAT LED TO TROMBONE SHORTY'S SUCCESS, OUR PROGRAM IS BASED ON DANNY BARKER'S FAIRVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH BRASS BAND PROGRAM, RELYING UPON CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TECHNIQUES TAUGHT BY CULTURE BEARERS AND ARTIST EDUCATORS FROM THE NEW ORLEANS COMMUNITY. STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE TROMBONE SHORTY ACADEMY ARE IMMERSED IN CONTEMPORARY AND TRADITIONAL BRASS BAND MUSICAL ENSEMBLE INSTRUCTION WHILE LEARNING THE HISTORY AND THEORY THAT IS SO DEEPLY ENTWINED IN NEW ORLEANS MUSIC. AS A PART OF THE PROGRAM, STUDENTS THEIR TALENTS ON STAGES AT FRENCH QUARTER FEST, THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL, AND ALONGSIDE TROY "TROMBONE SHORTY ANDREWS AT THE ANNUAL SHORTY FEST. OUR STUDENTS ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL WITH TROMBONE SHORTY FOUNDATION, LEARNING FROM PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS ACROSS THE US AND INTERNATIONALLY.
  2. $416,324 spent. THROUGH THE MUSIC INDUSTRY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, WE AIM TO EQUIP YOUTH AGES 16 - 24 WITH SKILLS AND PERSPECTIVES TO EARN A THRIVING WAGE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, SUPPORTING THEM THROUGH A CAREER PATHWAY THAT LEADS TO EMPLOYMENT, CONTINUED EDUCATION, AND/OR SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURSHIP. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE PROVIDE BOTH HARD SKILL TRAINING AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS A STRUCTURED SPACE TO REFLECT AND DEVELOP SOFT SKILLS. THE FOUNDATION THEN PARTNERS WITH MUSIC AND CREATIVE INDUSTRY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE INTERNSHIPS FOR YOUTH TO APPLY THE SKILLS THEY LEARNED IN A HANDS-ON WORK ENVIRONMENT. THE PROGRAM IS ROOTED IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, YOUTH TRAINING, AND DEVELOPMENT, HELPING TO DEVELOP A PIPELINE OF TALENTED AND EXPERIENCED YOUNG TALENT TO SERVE AS THE NEXT LEADERS WITHIN NEW ORLEANS.
  3. $166,596 spent. THE CULTURAL EXPERIENCES PROGRAM ADVANCES OUR MISSION OF INSPIRING AND UPLIFTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF NEW ORLEANS MUSICIANS BY BRINGING YOUTH AGES 14-24 TO LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD TO BUILD CULTURAL CONNECTIONS, EXPAND THEIR NETWORKS, AND GAIN FIRSTHAND INSIGHT INTO THE GLOBAL MUSIC INDUSTRY. THROUGH WORKSHOPS, CULTURAL EXCHANGES, PROFESSIONAL GIG OPPORTUNITIES, AND INDUSTRY NETWORKING, PARTICIPANTS DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF MUSICAL TRADITIONS THAT HAVE SHAPED OR INFLUENCED NEW ORLEANS MUSIC WHILE BROADENING THEIR WORLDVIEWS-OFTEN EXPERIENCING THEIR FIRST TRIP OUTSIDE OF NEW ORLEANS, THEIR FIRST FLIGHT, OR THEIR FIRST INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL.
  4. $26,159 spent. "TUNES FOR TOYS" IS AN ANNUAL EVENT THAT FEATURES A TOY DRIVE, COMMUNITY EVENING MUSIC CONCERT, AND TOY GIVEAWAY WHICH TAKES PLACE MID-DECEMBER. THE PERFORMANCE FEATURES STUDENTS FROM THE TROMBONE SHORTY ACADEMY PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDING TROY "TROMBONE SHORTY ANDREWS. THIS COMMUNITY EVENT IS ALWAYS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, BUT ATTENDEES ARE ENCOURAGED TO BRING A NEW TOY IN EXCHANGE FOR ADMISSION. THE TOYS ARE COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED AS HOLIDAY GIFTS TO CHILDREN IN NEED AT AN EVENT THE FOLLOWING DAY CALLED "TOYS FROM TROY."
  5. $70,135 spent. FREDMAN MUSIC BUSINESS INSTITUTE IS A FREE AFTER-SCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS TEACHING STUDENTS IN 8TH - 12TH GRADE WITH TRAINING IN THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT MUSIC INDUSTRY SKILLS RANGING FROM LIVE AND STUDIO RECORDING, EVENT PRODUCTION AND PROMOTION, TOURING, LEGAL CONCEPTS, LICENSING, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND MORE.
  6. $64,505 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS $ 64,505

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 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 June 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 April 2012.

    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.

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