Youth Music Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE OUTSTANDING ROCK, POP, AND COUNTRY MUSIC EDUCATION FOR YOUTH BY OFFERING TUITION ASSISTANCE, INSTRUMENT RENTALS, AND EXCEPTIONAL, STATE-OF-THE-ART PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES.
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $2.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 54%
- Employees
- 68
- Volunteers
- 70
- Highest pay
- $136,087, 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: 54 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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 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)
- $1.9 million spent. FOUNDED IN 2012, YOUTH MUSIC PROJECT IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEVOTED TO PROVIDING OUTSTANDING ROCK, POP, AND COUNTRY MUSIC EDUCATION FOR YOUTH BY FURNISHING TUITION ASSISTANCE, INSTRUMENT RENTAL, AND EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES. YOUTH MUSIC PROJECT OFFERS YEAR-ROUND AFTER-SCHOOL GROUP AND PRIVATE LESSONS, SUMMER CAMPS, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC EDUCATION.YOUTH MUSIC PROJECT BELIEVES THAT MUSIC IS ESSENTIAL FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND THAT ALL CHILDREN DESERVE ACCESS TO QUALITY MUSICAL EXPERIENCES. PERFORMING MUSIC IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE BUILDS CONFIDENCE AND PROVIDES VALUABLE SKILLS, BENEFITTING STUDENTS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O. ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSIVITY ARE AT YOUTH MUSIC PROJECT'S CORE.YOUTH MUSIC PROJECT OFFERS INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, AND SUMMER CAMP MUSIC INSTRUCTION IN PIANO, VIOLIN, DRUMS, GUITAR, BASS, UKULELE, VOICE, ROCK BAND, AND MORE. LAUNCHED OUT OF A TRAVEL TRAILER IN 2012, THE ORGANIZATION WENT FROM A TRAVELING MUSIC PROGRAM TO HAVING A PERMANENT HOME IN AN ADA-ACCESSIBLE, STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY. IN 2024, YOUTH MUSIC PROJECT PROVIDED MUSIC INSTRUCTION TO 1,238 NON-DUPLICATED STUDENTS, 29% OF WHOM ATTENDED FOR NO COST. THESE STUDENTS ACCOUNTED FOR A CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF 2,798 ENROLLMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, 35% OF WHICH WERE PROVIDED AT NO COST. THIS REFLECTED A 9% INCREASE IN TOTAL NON-DUPLICATED STUDENTS, AND A 10% INCREASE IN TOTAL ENROLLMENTS BETWEEN FISCAL YEAR 2023 AND 2024.YOUTH MUSIC PROJECT IS ALSO THE MUSIC EDUCATION PROVIDER FOR LAKE OSWEGO PARKS & RECREATION, PROVIDING MUSIC EDUCATION TO AN ADDITIONAL 162 NON-DUPLICATED STUDENTS AND 217 ENROLLMENTS VIA THIS CONTRACT IN 2024.
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
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2013.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.