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Young Musicians Unite Inc

EIN 46-2610764 · Miami, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

YOUNG MUSICIANS UNITE BELIEVES THAT EVERY STUDENT IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DESERVES ACCESS TO MUSIC EDUCATION REGARDLESS OF THEIR SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND. WE COLLABORATE WITH SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE FREE MUSIC EDUCATION WHICH HAS BEEN PROVEN TO INSPIRE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, FOSTER A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND PREPARE OUR FUTURE LEADERS.

Income
$5.9 million
Spending
$5.7 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
21
Volunteers
45
Highest pay
$316,667, ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 62% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, 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 25

    14 of 14 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 July 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. $4.8 million spent. YOUNG MUSICIANS UNITE 2024-2025 PROGRAM OVERVIEW DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, YOUNG MUSICIANS UNITE (YMU) PROVIDED HIGH-QUALITY MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMMING TO 9,062 STUDENTS IN GRADES 5-12 ACROSS 61 SCHOOLS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. PARTNER SCHOOLS INCLUDED: YOUNG MEN'S PREPARATORY ACADEMY, JOS DE DIEGO MIDDLE SCHOOL, BOOKER T. WASHINGTON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, MIAMI BEACH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, NORTHWESTERN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, MIAMI CENTRAL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, MIAMI EDISON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, MIAMI CAROL CITY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, NAUTILUS MIDDLE SCHOOL, FIENBERG-FISHER K-8 CENTER, NORTH BEACH ELEMENTARY, NORTH GLADE ELEMENTARY, LAKE STEVENS ELEMENTARY, BEACON COLLEGE PREP, SKYWAY ELEMENTARY, BRENTWOOD ELEMENTARY, BARBARA HAWKINS ELEMENTARY, MIAMI GARDENS ELEMENTARY, EARLINGTON HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY, OLINDA ELEMENTARY, KELSEY L. PHARR ELEMENTARY, CITRUS GROVE K-8 CENTER, NORTH COUNTY K-8 CENTER, MYRTLE GROVE K-8 CENTER, WEST LITTLE RIVER K-8 CENTER, LEISURE CITY K-8 CENTER, BROWNSVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE SEED SCHOOL OF MIAMI, SOUTH DADE MIDDLE SCHOOL, LAKE STEVENS MIDDLE SCHOOL, LIBERTY CITY ELEMENTARY, SOUTHRIDGE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, EDISON PARK K-8 CENTER,MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL, CAROL CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL, SOUTH DADE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, SOUTH DADE MIDDLE SCHOOL, HOMESTEAD SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, HOMESTEAD MIDDLE SCHOOL, REDLAND MIDDLE, COCONUT PALM K8, GATEWAY ENVIRONMENTAL K-8, MANDARIN LAKES K-8, RICHMOND HEIGHTS MIDDLE SCHOOL, DR. WILLIAM CHAPMAN ELEMENTARY, FLORIDA CITY ELEMENTARY, REDLAND ELEMENTARY, ALONZO MOURNING SENIOR HIGH, HENRY FILER MIDDLE SCHOOL, NORLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL, NORLAND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, ROBERT RENICK EDUCATIONAL CENTER, HIALEAH MIAMI LAKES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, TREASURE ISLAND ELEMENTARY, DR. HENRY W. MACK/WEST LITTLE RIVER K- 8, MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL, HORACE MANN MIDDLE, MAST ACADEMY, MORNINGSIDE K- 8, AIR BASE K-8, WEST HOMESTEAD K-8, YMU STUDIO. PROGRAM REACH AND OFFERINGS WITH AN EXPANDED PRESENCE ACROSS MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, YMU ENGAGED STUDENTS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE MUSIC EDUCATION EXPERIENCES DESIGNED TO MEET STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE AND SUPPORT THEIR GROWTH OVER TIME. PROGRAMS INCLUDED: -JAZZ BAND -ROCK ENSEMBLES -MUSIC PRODUCTION -MODERN BAND -BEGINNING BAND -ORCHESTRAL STRINGS -DRUMLINE -PITCH & RHYTHM -SOUND ENGINEERING -SONGWRITING AND BEAT MAKING STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN INSTRUMENT INSTRUCTION, ENSEMBLE-BASED LEARNING, PUBLIC PERFORMANCES, AND BOTH IN-SCHOOL AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, BUILDING MUSICAL SKILLS ALONGSIDE CONFIDENCE, COLLABORATION, AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION. YMU PROGRAM MODEL: THREE CORE PILLARS YMU DELIVERED PROGRAMMING AND INSTRUMENTS AT NO COST TO STUDENTS, THROUGH THREE INTEGRATED PILLARS: 1. IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS YMU'S IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO EXPAND ACCESS TO MUSIC EDUCATION WHERE IT WOULD OTHERWISE NOT EXIST, EMBEDDING INSTRUCTION DIRECTLY INTO THE SCHOOL DAY. PROGRAMS ARE ALIGNED WITH SCHOOL CURRICULA AND STRUCTURED TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE CONTINUOUS ACCESS TO MUSIC EDUCATION FROM GRADES 5 THROUGH 12, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ATTEND SCHOOL. DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN 87 CLASSES (90 MINUTES EACH), MEETING 2-3 TIMES PER WEEK, PROVIDING CONSISTENT AND SUSTAINED ENGAGEMENT. STEAM INTEGRATION: YMU INTEGRATES MUSIC WITH SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATH (STEAM) THROUGH ITS "5.0" LESSON MODEL, DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THESE LESSONS: -REINFORCE ACADEMIC CONCEPTS THROUGH HANDS-ON CREATIVE APPLICATION -ENGAGE MULTIPLE LEARNING STYLES -OCCUR APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES PER YEAR FOR GRADES 6-8 EXAMPLE: STUDENTS EXPLORE SOUND WAVES BY DESIGNING, BUILDING, AND TESTING ACOUSTIC AMPLIFIERS WHILE COLLECTING AND ANALYZING DATA. 2. AFTER-SCHOOL ENSEMBLES AND MEDIA ARTS YMU'S AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS PROVIDE ADVANCED AND CAREER-CONNECTED OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS SEEKING DEEPER ENGAGEMENT. HOUSED AT PARTNER SCHOOLS AND THE YMU STUDIO IN ALLAPATTAH, THESE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON BOTH ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES. STUDENTS GAIN EXPERIENCE IN: -ADVANCED PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLES -MUSIC PRODUCTION AND RECORDING -GRAPHIC DESIGN AND MEDIA -LIVE SOUND, LIGHTING, AND STAGE PRODUCTION -BAND MANAGEMENT AND BOOKING -PHOTOGRAPHY AND CONTENT CREATION THESE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN A CORE PART OF YMU'S MODEL FOR OVER A DECADE, OFFERING INTENSIVE PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS TO DEVELOP REAL-WORLD SKILLS AND CAREER READINESS. IN 2024-2025, STUDENTS CONTRIBUTED TO AND SUPPORTED OVER 175 PERFORMANCES, GAINING HANDS-ON PRODUCTION AND PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE. 3. PERFORMANCES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PERFORMANCE IS A CENTRAL COMPONENT OF THE YMU EXPERIENCE. STUDENTS-PARTICULARLY THOSE IN ADVANCED ENSEMBLES-PARTICIPATED IN AT LEAST THREE LIVE PERFORMANCES ANNUALLY, SHARING THEIR WORK WITH PEERS, FAMILIES, AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY. PERFORMANCES INCLUDED: -SCHOOL-BASED CONCERTS -COMMUNITY EVENTS -CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS SUCH AS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH THESE EXPERIENCES: -REINFORCE STUDENT LEARNING -BUILD CONFIDENCE AND STAGE PRESENCE -STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND OUTCOMES THROUGH YMU PROGRAMS, STUDENTS LEARN TO: -PLAY INSTRUMENTS AND READ MUSIC -COLLABORATE WITHIN ENSEMBLES -EXPRESS THEMSELVES CREATIVELY -APPLY DISCIPLINE AND PERSISTENCE IN SKILL-BUILDING YMU'S IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOCUS ON ACCESS AND FOUNDATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WHILE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS PROVIDE ADVANCED TRAINING AND VOCATIONAL PATHWAYS-ENSURING STUDENTS ARE PREPARED FOR COLLEGE OPPORTUNITIES, CAREERS IN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, OR LIFELONG ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ARTS. YOUNG MUSICIANS UNITE 2024-2025 PROGRAM OVERVIEW DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, YOUNG MUSICIANS UNITE (YMU) PROVIDED HIGH-QUALITY MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMMING TO 9,062 STUDENTS IN GRADES 5-12 ACROSS 61 SCHOOLS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. PARTNER SCHOOLS INCLUDED: YOUNG MEN'S PREPARATORY ACADEMY, JOS DE DIEGO MIDDLE SCHOOL, BOOKER T. WASHINGTON SEN

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 July 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 July 2014.

    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.

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.