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Knickerbocker Music Center Inc

EIN 47-1925449 · Westerly, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceFair69 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE, CELEBRATE, CULTIVATE, AND GROW THE UNIQUE STYLE OF BLUES THAT WAS BORN IN WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND, AND EXPAND ACCESS TO MUSIC OF ALL KINDS BY SERVING AS AN EXCITING REGIONAL PERFORMANCE VENUE AND AN EXCEPTIONAL CENTER FOR MUSIC EDUCATION.

Income
$768,604
Spending
$726,169
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 56%
Employees
27
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$95,541, 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

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    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 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 (1)
  1. $589,975 spent. PERFORMANCES & MUSIC EDUCATION: - PRESENTING MUSIC PERFORMANCES BY LEGENDARY BLUES ARTISTS AND SIMILAR CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT MUSIC PERFORMANCES. ARTISTS PERFORMING AT THE CENTER'S HISTORIC MUSIC VENUE ALSO OFFERED MASTER CLASSES, TALK-BACK SESSIONS, LECTURES, AND GROUP JAMS TO KNICKERBOCKER MUSIC CENTER STUDENTS. - THE KNICKERBOCKER MUSIC CENTER, WITH OUR SISTER ORGANIZATION, THE UNITED THEATRE AND UNITED MUSIC SCHOOL, WE OFFER A RANGE OF MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITES TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, INCOMES AND ABILITY LEVELS. MUSIC LESSONS ARE GIVEN THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, AS WELL AS PERFORMANCES ON OUR STAGE ON A REGULAR BASES. WE ALSO SPONSOR A BI-MONTHLY YOUTH ON MIC, ALLOWING THE STUDENTS TO PERFORM IN FRONT OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS.- THE KNICKERBOCKER MUSIC CENTER SUSPENDED PUBLIC PROGRAMMING FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS OF THE YEAR FOR RENOVATIONS AND PREPARATIONS FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITED THEATRE.

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 March 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.