Musicambia Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MUSICAMBIA DEVELOPS MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND PERFORMANCES INSIDE PRISONS AND JAILS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. THROUGH WORKING CLOSELY WITH INCARCERATED PEOPLE ON SONGWRITING, PERFORMING, INSTRUMENT LESSONS, AND MUSIC THEORY, OUR MUSICIANS CULTIVATE ARTISTIC COMMUNITIES THAT NURTURE THE HUMANITY OF ALL INVOLVED.
- Income
- $502,161
- Spending
- $334,528
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 6.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $87,824, executive director
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
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 81% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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
Strong: 97 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $264,662 spent. MUSICAMBIA IS AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM WHICH BRINGS PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS INSIDE PRISONS TO HELP INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS WRITE, PLAY, AND PERFORM MUSIC. OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH BEGAN AT SING SING CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN 2014, MEETS EVERY OTHER SATURDAY FROM SEPTEMBER TO JUNE. 30 INCARCERATED MUSICIANS ATTEND MORNING AND AFTERNOON CLASSES FOR OVER 4 HOURS, AND IN DOING SO, FOSTER TEAMWORK, EMPATHY, AND A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO THEMSELVES AS WELL AS TO THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS.TODAY, WE ALSO OPERATE THE JEPTHA PROGRAM (MENTAL HEALTH UNIT) AND SUMMER SONGWRITING WORKSHOP AT SING SING. IN ADDITION, WE NOW HAVE PROGRAMS AT BEDFORD HILLS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, AND IN KANSAS AND CALIFORNIA. WE ANNUALLY REACH 125 INCARCERATED PARTICIPANTS, AS WELL AS AUDIENCES OF SOME 220 INCARCERATED PEOPLE ATTENDING OUR CONCERTS. SINCE 2014, MUSICAMBIA HAS CREATED PROGRAMS IN 10 DIFFERENT FACILITIES.MUSICAMBIA'S TEACHING ARTISTS ARE AMONG THE FINEST MUSICIANS AND TEACHERS IN THE NATION. THEY HOLD POSITIONS IN THE GRAMMY-WINNING ATTACCA QUARTET AND IMANI WINDS. THEY TEACH AT JUILLIARD, CURTIS, PRINCETON, AND PEABODY. THEY HAVE COLLABORATED WITH PULITZER-PRIZE WINNERS AND POP STARS LIKE PRINCE, AND PERFORMED AT CARNEGIE HALL. THEIR MUSICAL BACKGROUNDS SPAN WESTERN CLASSICAL, JAZZ, MUSICAL THEATER, HIP-HOP, AND POP, AS WELL AS INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC. ONE TEACHING ARTIST, KENYATTA EMMANUEL, IS ALSO AN ALUMNUS. HE PERFORMED A FULL CONCERT AT CARNEGIE HALL THE DAY HE WAS RELEASED.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2015.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.