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Ellsworth Community Music Institute

EIN 46-1827637 · Ellsworth, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ECMI PROVIDES MUSIC INSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, MUSICAL ABILITIES, AND BACKGROUNDS. WE GIVE THE PUBLIC ACCESS TO HEAR, SEE, ENJOY AND CELEBRATE AS MEMBERS OF A CREATIVE COMMUNITY.

Income
$222,622
Spending
$184,984
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
10.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
16
Highest pay
$6,792, artistic dir

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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $16,019 spent. OUR MIDDAY CONCERT @ 1 SERIES CONTINUES TO BE A COMMUNITY FAVORITE WITH AN INTERGENERATIONAL AUDIENCE OF APPROXIMATELY 1,000 ATTENDEES IN 2024. ALL CONCERTS ARE PERFORMED BY PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS AND ARE COMPLETELY FREE FOR ALL ATTENDEES. FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF ELLSWORTH ALLOWED US TO KEEP THESE CONCERTS FREE OF CHARGE, AS WE HAVE DONE CONTINUALLY SINCE OUR FOUNDING.
  2. $94,163 spent. ECMI STANDS OUT FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AND INCLUSIVITY IN MUSIC EDUCATION. LESSONS ARE TAUGHT BY HIGHLY SKILLED PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS DEVOTED TO FOSTERING MUSICAL DISCIPLINE FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES AND EXPERIENCE. A BOARD-CERTIFIED MUSIC THERAPIST PROVIDES PERSONALIZED ADAPTIVE LESSONS TO STUDENTS WITH DIVERSE NEEDS. OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH IS EXPANDING WITH OUR BELOVED INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO PROGRAM. WE OFFER THIS PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL LIBRARIES AND IT GIVES CHILDREN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE, TOUCH AND HEAR INSTRUMENTS BEING PLAYED BY OUR FACULTY MEMBERS AND STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM IS EXPANDING AWARENESS OF OUR INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING TO NEW DEMOGRAPHICS AND ALSO BUILDING NEW RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.
  3. $7,217 spent. WITH A GOAL OF SUSTAINING ECMI FOR THE NEXT DECADE AND BEYOND, WE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED THE CRESCENDO CAMPAIGN. IN 2023 WE RAISED THE FUNDS NEEDED TO HIRE A PAID EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHO WAS HIRED IN JUNE OF 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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2013.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.