Fox Valley Music Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 466 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE FOUNDATION'S GOAL IS TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROMOTE THE MUSIC OF THE FOX VALLEY (ILLINOIS) AREA. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE, FREE LECTURES, MUSIC DOCUMENTARIES, LIVESTREAM AND PERFORMACE EVENTS. EVENTS ARE HELD IN THE VENUE OPERATED BY THE MUSIC FOUNDATION, AND IN THE ADJACENT MUNDY PARK IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS BROADER NON-PROFIT GOALS.
- Income
- $775,926
- Spending
- $794,285
- Spent on programs
- 64%
- Reserves
- -3.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 89%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 220
- Highest pay
- $31,754, executive di
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
Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 93% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1564% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 466 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (5)
- $508,249 spent. 2022 WAS OUR FIRST FULL YEAR OF REGULAR SEASON PROGRAMMING SINCE THE OPENING OF THE VENUE IN JUNE 2019. AFTER 16 MONTHS OF FORCED CLOSURE AND REDUCED CAPACITY DURING 2020 AND PART OF 2021 DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC, THE VENUE RETURNED TO PRESENTING A FULL SCHEDULE OF LIVE MUSIC WITH LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL TOURING ARTISTS ON STAGE FROM TWO TO FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK. AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE INCREASED 250% IN 2022, WITH APPROXIMATELY 15% OF THE SHOWS SELLING OUT. INCREASED ATTENDANCE HAS TRANSLATED INTO ADDITIONAL FOOT TRAFFIC AND HAS SERVED AS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS IN THE DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT. IN ADDITION TO THE INCREASED ATTENDANCE, 2022 SAW AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF SHOWS PRESENTED, FROM 132 SHOWS IN 2021 TO 181 SHOWS IN 2022. THE VENUE HAS BECOME A DESTINATION FOR MUSIC LOVERS OF ALL GENRES AND FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND HAS RECEIVED HIGH PRAISE FROM TOURING MUSICIANS. 2022 WAS OUR FIRST FULL YEAR OF REGULAR SEASON PROGRAMMING SINCE THE OPENING OF THE VENUE IN JUNE 2019. AFTER 16 MONTHS OF FORCED CLOSURE AND REDUCED CAPACITY DURING 2020 AND PART OF 2021 DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC, THE VENUE RETURNED TO PRESENTING A FULL SCHEDULE OF LIVE MUSIC WITH LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL TOURING ARTISTS ON STAGE FROM TWO TO FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK. AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE INCREASED 250% IN 2022, WITH APPROXIMATELY 15% OF THE SHOWS SELLING OUT. INCREASED ATTENDANCE HAS TRANSLATED INTO ADDITIONAL FOOT TRAFFIC AND HAS SERVED AS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS IN THE DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT. IN ADDITION TO THE INCREASED ATTENDANCE, 2022 SAW AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF SHOWS PRESENTED, FROM 132 SHOWS IN 2021 TO 181 SHOWS IN 2022. THE VENUE HAS BECOME A DESTINATION FOR MUSIC LOVERS OF ALL GENRES AND FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND HAS RECEIVED HIGH PRAISE FROM TOURING MUSICIANS.
- RESIDENCY PROGRAMS IN 2022 THE MUSIC FOUNDATION, IN COOPERATION WITH THE PETE ELLMAN JAZZ BIG BAND NFP, BEGAN A WEEKLY RESIDENCY PROGRAM, PRESENTING 38 JAZZ BIG BAND CONCERTS THAT INCLUDED 45 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BANDS AS "OPENERS" PRIOR TO THE PROFESSIONAL BIG BAND CONCERTS. THIS PROGRAM SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO OUR MISSION TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE MUSIC PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATION TO ALL. THIS PROGRAM IS A WAY TO GET BUDDING MUSICIANS INTO A REAL-WORLD ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN PLAY IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE AS WELL AS PARENTS AND CLASSMATES. THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SERIES TAKES PLACE FROM MID- OCTOBER THRU JUNE AND SELLS OUT ON A REGULAR BASIS. IN ADDITION TO THE JAZZ RESIDENCY, THE VENUE IS PLEASED TO HAVE TERRAPIN FLYER AS A MONTHLY RESIDENCY. THE GRATEFUL DEAD TRIBUTE BAND PERFORMS ON THE SECOND THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH TO PACKED AUDIENCES. WHAT IS AT THE CORE OF THE RESIDENCY IS THE IDEA THAT THE GRATEFUL DEAD AND JERRY GARCIA'S MUSIC STILL HAS PLENTY OF LIFE IN IT AND THAT THE MUSIC BEING SO IMPROVISATIONAL IN NATURE CAN AND DOES GO TO NEW PLACES IN EACH PERFORMANCE. NO TWO TERRAPIN FLYER SHOWS ARE EVER THE SAME AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHO MIGHT SHOW UP TO JAM AT A SHOW. RESIDENCY PROGRAMS IN 2022 THE MUSIC FOUNDATION, IN COOPERATION WITH THE PETE ELLMAN JAZZ BIG BAND NFP, BEGAN A WEEKLY RESIDENCY PROGRAM, PRESENTING 38 JAZZ BIG BAND CONCERTS THAT INCLUDED 45 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BANDS AS "OPENERS" PRIOR TO THE PROFESSIONAL BIG BAND CONCERTS. THIS PROGRAM SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO OUR MISSION TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE MUSIC PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATION TO ALL. THIS PROGRAM IS A WAY TO GET BUDDING MUSICIANS INTO A REAL-WORLD ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN PLAY IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE AS WELL AS PARENTS AND CLASSMATES. THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SERIES TAKES PLACE FROM MID- OCTOBER THRU JUNE AND SELLS OUT ON A REGULAR BASIS. IN ADDITION TO THE JAZZ RESIDENCY, THE VENUE IS PLEASED TO HAVE TERRAPIN FLYER AS A MONTHLY RESIDENCY. THE GRATEFUL DEAD TRIBUTE BAND PERFORMS ON THE SECOND THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH TO PACKED AUDIENCES. WHAT IS AT THE CORE OF THE RESIDENCY IS THE IDEA THAT THE GRATEFUL DEAD AND JERRY GARCIA'S MUSIC STILL HAS PLENTY OF LIFE IN IT AND THAT THE MUSIC BEING SO IMPROVISATIONAL IN NATURE CAN AND DOES GO TO NEW PLACES IN EACH PERFORMANCE. NO TWO TERRAPIN FLYER SHOWS ARE EVER THE SAME AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHO MIGHT SHOW UP TO JAM AT A SHOW.
- MUSIC EDUCATION ROCK TALK FREE LECTURE SERIES WITH PROFESSOR MARK PLUMMER THE MUSIC FOUNDATION IN COLLABORATION WITH PROFESSOR MARK PLUMMER OF AURORA UNIVERSITY PRESENTED A 4-PART, FREE LECTURE SERIES CALLED ROCK TALK. THE INFORMATIVE, EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING SERIES TOOK PLACE ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS, GIVING PATRONS OF ALL AGES, AN IN DEPTH LOOK AT IMPORTANT, HISTORICAL MUSIC EVENTS, INCLUDING THE MONTEREY INTERNATIONAL POP FESTIVAL, THE RISE AND FALL OF STAX RECORDS, THE ALTAMONT MUSIC FESTIVAL OF 1969 AND THE MAGNUM OPUS. FILLED WITH FACTS, PHOTOS, MUSIC VIDEO CLIPS, INTERVIEWS AND MORE, THE SUCCESSFUL SERIES WILL BE BACK AGAIN NEXT YEAR TO EXPLORE MORE MUSIC HISTORY.
- IN ADDITION TO ITEMS LISTED ABOVE, FVMF IS PROUD TO CONTINUE THEIR SINGER/SONGWRITER PROGRAMMING WHICH PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR ASPIRING MUSICIANS TO PRESENT THEIR MUSIC, LEARN THEIR CRAFT AND SHARE MUSIC WITH OTHERS. THE MUSIC IN MUNDY OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES EVOLVED INTO A SUMMER FESTIVAL SERIES: JUNE/BLUES, JULY/JAZZ AND AUGUST/AMERICANA. 2022 SAW INCREASED COLLABORATION WITH OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH RENTALS, ASSISTING IN FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR THEIR ORGANIZATIONS, SOME OF WHICH INCLUDED UNITED WAY, THE NEIGHBOR PROJECT, ROUSE 3.0 AND THE KANE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION. THE VENUE HAS ALSO HOSTED MANY WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS FOR THE CITY OF AURORA AND FOX VALLEY BUSINESSES IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE REVENUE TO COVER PROGRAMMING COSTS. THE VENUE HAS BECOME A TRUE COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE WHERE BOTH MUSICIANS, PATRONS AND VOLUNTEERS CAN GATHER WITH A COMMON PURPOSE. OUR HARDWORKING VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE THEIR TIME AND TALENTS TO ENSURE THAT THE FVMF AND THE VENUE WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE SUCCESSFULLY IN THE COMING YEARS.
- IN ADDITION TO ITEMS LISTED ABOVE, FVMF IS PROUD TO CONTINUE THEIR SINGER/SONGWRITER PROGRAMMING WHICH PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR ASPIRING MUSICIANS TO PRESENT THEIR MUSIC, LEARN THEIR CRAFT AND SHARE MUSIC WITH OTHERS. THE MUSIC IN MUNDY OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES EVOLVED INTO A SUMMER FESTIVAL SERIES: JUNE/BLUES, JULY/JAZZ AND AUGUST/AMERICANA. 2022 SAW INCREASED COLLABORATION WITH OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH RENTALS, ASSISTING IN FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR THEIR ORGANIZATIONS, SOME OF WHICH INCLUDED UNITED WAY, THE NEIGHBOR PROJECT, ROUSE 3.0 AND THE KANE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION. THE VENUE HAS ALSO HOSTED MANY WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS FOR THE CITY OF AURORA AND FOX VALLEY BUSINESSES IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE REVENUE TO COVER PROGRAMMING COSTS. THE VENUE HAS BECOME A TRUE COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE WHERE BOTH MUSICIANS, PATRONS AND VOLUNTEERS CAN GATHER WITH A COMMON PURPOSE. OUR HARDWORKING VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE THEIR TIME AND TALENTS TO ENSURE THAT THE FVMF AND THE VENUE WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE SUCCESSFULLY IN THE COMING YEARS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2015.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.