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Sounds Academy

EIN 46-3932746 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR VISION IS TO PROVIDE MUSIC EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES TO A WIDE VARIETY OF CHILDREN WHILE REMOVING ANY BARRIERS THAT CHILDREN MAY HAVE IN RECEIVING QUALITY MUSIC EDUCATION.

Income
$882,117
Spending
$899,536
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
14
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$80,997, founder/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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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

    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 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 (2)
  1. $682,957 spent. SOUNDS ACADEMY IS A NON-PROFIT MUSIC EDUCATION ORGANIZATION THAT TEACHES, MENTORS, AND PROVIDES MUSICAL EXPERIENCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH. STUDENTS RECEIVE INDIVIDUAL LESSONS AND GROUP CLASSES ON ALL INSTRUMENTS AND VOICE. INSTRUMENTS ARE PROVIDED TO THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD ONE. SOUNDS ACADEMY STUDENTS LEARN THE CHARACTER VALUES OF CREATIVITY, LEADERSHIP, PERSEVERANCE, RESILIENCE, AND TEAMWORK THROUGH MUSIC EDUCATION. WE TEACH THESE VALUES IN OUR MUSICAL ACCESS PROGRAM, WHICH CONNECTS STUDENTS TO LIVE MUSIC AND INSTRUMENTS THROUGH OUR INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOOS, OUR SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR LOWER INCOME SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS, OUR SOLO PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES ONE-ON-ONE INSTRUCTION, AND THE COLLECTIVE ENSEMBLES THAT TEACH MUSIC THEORY AND ENSEMBLE PLAYING TECHNIQUES.
  2. SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2014, WE HAVE GIVEN OVER 73,000 LESSONS AND CLASSES. OVER 25,000 STUDENTS HAVEBEEN EXPOSED TO LIVE MUSIC AND INSTRUMENTS THROUGH OUR MUSICAL ACCESS PROGRAM. WE HAVE GIVEN OVER$500,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS, CAMPS, ANDCOLLEGE. TODAY WE HAVE OVER 400 STUDENTS IN OUR SOLO AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT RECEIVE INSTRUMENTSAND WEEKLY INSTRUCTION.

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 September 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.