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The Music Library Association

EIN 52-6056338 · Albany, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood72 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SUPPORT, PRESERVE, AND ENHANCE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE WORLD'S MUSICAL HERITAGE.

Income
$514,860
Spending
$286,349
Spent on programs
54%
Reserves
94.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 41%
Employees
0
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$1,450, assistant cfo

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. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 94.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 44% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    54% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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 (4)
  1. $46,444 spent. PUBLICATIONS AND ONLINE EDUCATION (MLA JOINT PUBLICATIONS WITH PUBLISHING/PRODUCTION PARTNERS)IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A-R EDITIONS: NOTES: THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE MUSIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, OFFERING THE READERS INTERESTING, INFORMATIVE AND WELL-WRITTEN ARTICLES IN THE AREAS OF MUSIC LIBRARIANSHIP, MUSIC BIBLIOGRAPHY AND DISCOGRAPHY, THE MUSIC TRADE AND ON CERTAIN ASPECTS OF MUSIC HISTORY.THE MUSIC CATALOGING BULLETIN: A MONTHLY PUBLICATION ANNOUNCING INTERNAL POLICY AND OPERATIONAL DECISIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND REPORTING GENERAL CATALOGING NEWS THAT MAY IMPACT MUSIC CATALOGING.THE MLA NEWSLETTER: UPDATES FOR MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION, PUBLISHED ONLINE.BASIC MANUAL SERIES: A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF MANUALS DESIGNED TO ASSIST THE LIBRARIAN IN DEALING WITH VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE ORGANIZATION, ADMINISTRATION, AND USE OF A MUSIC LIBRARY.INDEX & BIBLIOGRAPHY SERIES: A SERIES OF BIBLIOGRAPHIES, INDEXES, DISCOGRAPHIES AND OTHER GUIDES TO MUSIC AND MUSIC LITERATURE, COVERING ALL AREAS OF MUSIC STUDY.TECHNICAL REPORTS: EACH VOLUME PROVIDES A FOCUSED, IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF THE MUSIC LIBRARY PROFESSION. TOPICS INCLUDE CATALOGING, AUDIO TECHNOLOGY, AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS REPORTS OF CURRENT RESEARCH IN LIBRARIANSHIP.IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION (ALA): WEBINARS AND E-COURSES TAUGHT BY EXPERIENCED MUSIC LIBRARIANS COVER A VARIETY OF TOPICS RELATED TO MUSIC LIBRARIANSHIP, TARGETING DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE LEVELS, AND RANGING FROM BASIC MUSIC LIBRARIANSHIP SKILLS TO MORE SPECIALIZED AREAS OF LIBRARIANSHIP. THE FOCUS IS IN GAINING PRACTICAL SKILLS IN A SPECIFIED AREA.
  2. $38,929 spent. PROGRAM EXPENSES SUPPORTING THE WORK OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO REPRESENT MLA IN OTHER ASSOCIATIONS, PRIMARILY ALA, BUT ALSO MLA'S SUPPORT FOR THE US BRANCHES OF THE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC RESEARCH PROGRAMS RISM AND RILM.
  3. $35,301 spent. ADVOCACY - ACTIVITIES RELATED TO SUPPORTING MUSIC LIBRARIANSHIP.
  4. $33,259 spent. ANNUAL MEETING: EACH YEAR MLA HOLDS AN ANNUAL NATIONAL MEETING TO DISCUSS ISSUES, PROMOTE NEW IDEAS, AND SHARE INFORMATION IN THE FIELD OF MUSIC LIBRARIANSHIP.2025 MEETING WAS HELD COMPLETELY ONLINE MARCH 17-21, 2025, WITH COMMITTEE AND INTEREST GROUP MEETINGS HELD MARCH 24-28, 2025.

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

  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 June 2025.

    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 January 1993.

    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.

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