National Association for Music Education
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
NAfME is a collaborative community that supports music educators and advocates for equitable access to music education.
- Income
- $6.9 million
- Spending
- $6.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 60%
- Reserves
- 11 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 75%
- Employees
- 28
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $253,793, 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
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 30% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1560% 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 23 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
9 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 (8)
- $687,591 spent. Membership growth and development: Activites undertaken to promote membership in the Association includes print and digital marketing campaigns targeting active, retired, and prospective music educators.These campaigns highlight membership opportunities as well as programs available to members, members, such as professional development, events, publications, digital community engagement and voting, special offers, and state affiliations. Efforts also includes development and promotion of new member benefits.
- $645,538 spent. Member and student experiences: The Association provides in-person and virtual performance and educational opportunties for middle school, high school, and collegiate students, supported by print and digital marketing campaigns to members and non-members. Programs include the International Tri-M Music Honor Society, competitions, Music In Our Schools Month, and research assistance programs.
- $1.1 million spent. Capacity Building: Ensure data-driven fiscal practices and decision-making to advance the Association and the profession it serves. Build and maintain relationships and technological capacity that enable the Association, state affiliates, and individual members to achieve differentiated goals within a unified national structure, -Increase membership across existing and new categories. - Develop national and state leadership, - Maintain a fiscally sound Assocciation. - Secure funding to support NAFME initiatives and projects - Exemplify the Associations mission, vision, an values.
- $576,226 spent. Publications
- $300,270 spent. Governance
- $133,198 spent. Strategic Relationship Development
- $559,831 spent. Other programs
- Strategic Relationship Development 133198. 0. 135141.
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 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 June 2025.
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 July 1938.
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.