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American Music Therapy Association

EIN 48-6107868 · Silver Spring, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADVANCE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE BENEFITS OF MUSIC THERAPY AND INCREASE ACCESS TO QUALITY MUSIC THERAPY SERVICES IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$724,936
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 70%
Employees
2
Volunteers
325
Highest pay
$100,654, director of government relations

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

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    0 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, 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 (3)
  1. $136,984 spent. ADVOCACY & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS: ADVOCACY FULFILLS THE MISSION OF AMTA BY "INCREASING ACCESS TO QUALITY MUSIC THERAPY SERVICES." AMTA EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE THERAPEUTIC VALUE OF MUSIC AND THE WAYS IN WHICH MUSIC THERAPY INTERVENTIONS AMELIORATE SYMPTOMS AND HELP TO MANAGE ILLNESS AND DISABILITIES. SELECT INFORMATION AND PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO THE PUBLIC, CONSUMERS, PARENTS, HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION OFFICIALS AND OTHERS.
  2. $108,982 spent. THE MEMBER SERVICES PROGRAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING ALL INTERACTIONS WITH MEMBERS TO ENSURE HIGH SATISFACTION, MAXIMIZE RETENTION, AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE FULL VALUE AND BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP AND IS THE CENTRAL POINT OF CONTACT, SUPPORTING THE ASSOCIATION'S OVERALL MISSION AND GROWTH.
  3. $80,665 spent. THE AMERICAN MUSIC THERAPY ASSOCIATION SELLS A VARIETY OF BOOKS ON MUSIC THERAPY FROM THEIR COLLECTION TO THE PUBLIC, STUDENTS, AND UNIVERSITIES.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 2000.

    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.