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Juneau Alaska Music Matters

EIN 46-2843219 · Juneau, AK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Juneau Alaska Music Matters (JAMM) is in 2 Title 1 elementary schools and 1 other elementary school providing in classrooms and afterschool programs. In the middle school and high school we provide teacher assistant training and private lessons at no cost to the students or their families.

Income
$322,884
Spending
$304,447
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
5.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
28
Volunteers
52

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 65% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 8 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

    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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 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 (3)
  1. $179,134 spent. Elementary School Programs in the classroom and after school programs are the backbone of JAMM. Programs include string instruments lessons with Lingit language experiences during all classes. JAMM has 2 indigenous culture bearers who work to translate or create words for all the string instruments, write and create school songs and translate other works of music into the Lingit language. JAMM serves over 500 students and their families in the 24-25 school year. Grants received include Play USA, Carnegie Hall, Alaska State Council on the Arts, Lewis Prize for Music, City and Borough of Juneau Major Arts, Juneau Community Foundation, Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, Douglas Doran Foundation and Sealaska Heritage Foundation.
  2. $17,076 spent. JAMM provided a tuition free summer Bluegrass Music half-day camp for students entering 4-8th grade. Students were introduced or learned different instruments and styles during the camp. Teaching artists were bought to Juneau to work with both the students and JAMM teachers in the Juneau area. The camp spends part of the day focusing on individual improvements on various instruments and the other part of the day on ensembles, learning to listen to each other and play and sing as an ensemble. The camp received grants, individual donations and sponsorships to offset the cost including Artful Teaching from Margaret A Cargill Philanthropy, Alaska State Council on the arts Artist in School grant, City and Borough of Juneau Major grant and the youth and education fund through the Juneau Community Foundation.
  3. $12,666 spent. Private Lessons for middle school and high school students, JAMM provided over 220 hours of private lessons to 21 students at no cost to their families. JAMM receives matching funds from several grants, individual donations and fundraising activities to cover the cost of the lessons. The fundraising activities included a public concert with Austin Soundwaves, a Mariachi band from Texas, string concerts performed by students in conjunction with Juneau Jazz and Classics Festival, and bake sales during a Juneau Symphony concert weekend.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on November 15, 2021 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on November 15, 2021.

    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 July 2022.

    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.