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Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans Nonprofit Corporation

EIN 46-2889310 · New Orleans, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

We collaborate with organize and build the civic capacity of the New Orleans music and cultural community to preserve and nurture the citys culture to translate community vision into policy change and to create a more just and equitable city and region.

Income
$366,517
Spending
$375,465
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
3.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
4
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$72,618, executive director

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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $173,236 spent. Cultural Assistance: In 2025 we continued our work with other individuals and small cultural organizations to provide grant writing assistance and also serve as a fiscal sponsor to allow them additional access to fincial support. Projects and groups supported include; the Original Creole Wild West Black Masking Indians; New Orleans Society of Dance Baby Doll Ladies; Montralize a program dedicated to providing opportunities for young people in music production; the Association for Better Communities Old and Nu Style Fellas Socal Aid and Pleasure Club; the Crown Legacy Project; Louisiana Cultures Camp the Free Agents Brass Band Box Studios and several others.
  2. $35,691 spent. Develop and Advocate for Culture Friendly Policies and Procedures: In 2025 our advocacy work had several aspects all continuations of our work in previous years. We maintained our support street musicians which included ensuring their voices were included in any decisions made regarding changes to the French Quarter after the January 1 terrorist attacks. In particular there was a proposal that would have eliminated pedestrian only areas that are famous for street performance-we succesfully pushed for those plans to be reconsidered and dropped. We also continued our monthly column in ANTIGRAVITY magazine and advocacy for the expansion of fair musician pay using the city ordiance from 2024 as a baseline.
  3. $30,611 spent. Research and Direct Assistance: Our ongoing work on the Frenchmen Notes website continued this year and we continued our direct work with street performers hosting several meetings that attracted over 100 performers and artists. We also worked directly with cultural community members to connect them with other support systems assistance and funding mechanisims. Notably we also launced our Makin Gardens program which works with neighborhood elders and young people to establish backyard edible gardens using culturaly appropriate methods and produce. Towards the end of the year we began development of our Mobile University which uses small group settings to develop skills related to grant writing financial mangement leadership and civic engagement.

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 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 2025.

    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 August 2015.

    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.