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Upbeat Academy Foundation

EIN 46-1269947 · New Orleans, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceWeak41 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE UPBEAT ACADEMY MISSION IS TO PROVIDE UNDERPRIVILEDGED, AT-RISK WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO PRODUCE AND PERFORM ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC AND HIP-HOP. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SEEKS TO INTRODUCE ITS STUDENTS TO THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, OFFERING REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE, CASE STUDIES, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET THEIR FAVORITE MUSICIANS

Income
$505,941
Spending
$23,115
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
1

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
  1. $23,115 spent. SINCE 2012, UPBEAT ACADEMY FOUNDATION HAS PROVIDED FREE MUSIC PRODUCTION PROGRAMMING TO OVER ONE HUNDRED UNDERSERVED MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM OVER TEN DIFFERENT SCHOOLS IN THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS AREA. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED UPBEAT ACADEMY'S PROGRAM HAVE ALSO ATTAINED ALL NECESSARY CREDITS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. TO DATE, FIVE UPBEAT ACADEMY GRADUATES HAVE GONE ON TO PURSUE MUSIC PRODUCTION DEGREES AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL, WITH TWO OF THESE GRADUATES RETURNING TO UPBEAT AS PAID INSTRUCTORS. STUDENTS WILL AGAIN BE PERFORMING AT THIS YEAR'S BUKU MUSIC + ARTS PROJECT IN NEW ORLEANS. UPBEAT ACADEMY HAS RECENTLY EXPANDED OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE MUSIC ENRICHMENT FOR INCARCERATED YOUTH IN ORLEANS PARISH PRISON'S JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER AND BEGINNING IN THE SUMMER OF 2018, UPBEAT WILL PARTNER WITH COVENANT HOUSE, A SHELTER FOR RUNAWAY YOUTH, TO PROVIDE WEEKLY MUSIC PRODUCTION WORKSHOPS AT THEIR ORLEANS FACILITY. FOR INQUIRIES OR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PROGRAM PLEASE CONTACT: MATTHEW@UPBEATACADEMY.ORG SINCE 2012, UPBEAT ACADEMY FOUNDATION HAS PROVIDED FREE MUSIC PRODUCTION PROGRAMMING TO OVER ONE HUNDRED UNDERSERVED MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM OVER TEN DIFFERENT SCHOOLS IN THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS AREA. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED UPBEAT ACADEMY'S PROGRAM HAVE ALSO ATTAINED ALL NECESSARY CREDITS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. TO DATE, FIVE UPBEAT ACADEMY GRADUATES HAVE GONE ON TO PURSUE MUSIC PRODUCTION DEGREES AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL, WITH TWO OF THESE GRADUATES RETURNING TO UPBEAT AS PAID INSTRUCTORS. STUDENTS WILL AGAIN BE PERFORMING AT THIS YEAR'S BUKU MUSIC + ARTS PROJECT IN NEW ORLEANS. UPBEAT ACADEMY HAS RECENTLY EXPANDED OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE MUSIC ENRICHMENT FOR INCARCERATED YOUTH IN ORLEANS PARISH PRISON'S JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER AND BEGINNING IN THE SUMMER OF 2018, UPBEAT WILL PARTNER WITH COVENANT HOUSE, A SHELTER FOR RUNAWAY YOUTH, TO PROVIDE WEEKLY MUSIC PRODUCTION WORKSHOPS AT THEIR ORLEANS FACILITY. FOR INQUIRIES OR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PROGRAM PLEASE CONTACT: MATTHEW@UPBEATACADEMY.ORG

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 January 2015.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Academy Foundation (Beverly Hills, CA), EIN 95-2243698. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.