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Otis Redding Foundation Inc

EIN 58-2435617 · Macon, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO TO EMPOWER, ENRICH, AND MOTIVATE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH PROGRAMS INVOLVING MUSIC, WRITING, AND INSTRUMENTATION.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$729,149
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
-149.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
6
Volunteers
85

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

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 74% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $432,549 spent. FOR OVER 15 YEARS, THE OTIS REDDING FOUNDATION HAS HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING OVER 5,000+ STUDENTS AGES 5-18 WHILE UPHOLDING ITS MISSION TO EMPOWER, ENRICH, AND MOTIVATE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH PROGRAMS INVOLVING MUSIC, WRITING, AND INSTRUMENTATION. WE HAVE PROVIDED BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS ACROSS COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND BEYOND. FROM NEW PROGRAMS LIKE, BEYOND THE NOTES AND OUR MUSIC MAKERS WORKSHOP TO OUR STAPLE PROGRAMS LIKE, OTIS MUSIC CAMP AND CAMP DREAM" WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHED CREATIVITY, BUILT CONFIDENCE AND PROMOTED THE ART OF SELF-EXPRESSION WITHIN OUR STUDENTS. WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW OTIS REDDING CENTER FOR THE ARTS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN THE WINTER OF 2025,WE WILL SERVE MORE STUDENTS AND FACILITATE THEIR NEEDS IN A STATE OF THE ART SPACE THAT IS SAFE AND WELCOMING TO ALL YOUTH REGARDLESS OF RACE, RELIGION, SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS, ABILITY OR GENDER. THE NEW OTIS REDDING CENTER FOR THE ARTS FACILITY WILL BE COMPLETE WITH ARTS-RELATED CREATIVE SPACES, A MUSIC PRODUCTION LAB, MULTIPLE PRACTICE SPACES, A FULL RECORDING STUDIO, AND AN INCREDIBLE AMPHITHEATRE THAT ALLOWS FOR BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES. THE GROWTH IN SERVICE AND SUPPORT HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY IN THE PAST FEW YEARS DUE TO THE FOUNDATION'S PROVEN TRACK RECORD TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE KIDS SERVED. FOR OVER 15 YEARS, THE OTIS REDDING FOUNDATION HAS HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING OVER 5,000+ STUDENTS AGES 5-18 WHILE UPHOLDING ITS MISSION TO EMPOWER, ENRICH, AND MOTIVATE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH PROGRAMS INVOLVING MUSIC, WRITING, AND INSTRUMENTATION. WE HAVE PROVIDED BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS ACROSS COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND BEYOND. FROM NEW PROGRAMS LIKE, BEYOND THE NOTES AND OUR MUSIC MAKERS WORKSHOP TO OUR STAPLE PROGRAMS LIKE, OTIS MUSIC CAMP AND CAMP DREAM" WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHED CREATIVITY, BUILT CONFIDENCE AND PROMOTED THE ART OF SELF-EXPRESSION WITHIN OUR STUDENTS. WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW OTIS REDDING CENTER FOR THE ARTS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN THE WINTER OF 2025,WE WILL SERVE MORE STUDENTS AND FACILITATE THEIR NEEDS IN A STATE OF THE ART SPACE THAT IS SAFE AND WELCOMING TO ALL YOUTH REGARDLESS OF RACE, RELIGION, SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS, ABILITY OR GENDER. THE NEW OTIS REDDING CENTER FOR THE ARTS FACILITY WILL BE COMPLETE WITH ARTS-RELATED CREATIVE SPACES, A MUSIC PRODUCTION LAB, MULTIPLE PRACTICE SPACES, A FULL RECORDING STUDIO, AND AN INCREDIBLE AMPHITHEATRE THAT ALLOWS FOR BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES. THE GROWTH IN SERVICE AND SUPPORT HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY IN THE PAST FEW YEARS DUE TO THE FOUNDATION'S PROVEN TRACK RECORD TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE KIDS SERVED.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2016 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2016.

    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 June 2017.

    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.