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Community Music Center of Houston

EIN 76-0085877 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

To Preserve Black Music Traditions that the community is seldom exposed to or is in danger of being lost.

Income
$460,001
Spending
$412,833
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
-2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
4
Volunteers
12

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 110% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 64 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (4)
  1. $206,761 spent. Performance Season included the Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Tribute at St. Marys Catholic Church Black History Month Concert at St. Luke the Evangelist Church Philly Soul Concert IV at Miller Outdoor Theatre and Legacy Project Concert and Art Exhibit with Artist Talk Events at the Eldorado Building. CMCH also added a concert by black Houston Orchestra member Flute player; the Color of Sound project which was a collaboration between Visual Artists and Musicians; Rhythm of our Roots African drumming music; and a St. George Chevalier opera small workshop. The goal as always was to showcase Black Music traditions by presenting a representative sample of genres including classical music by black composers spirituals jazz and Rhythm & Blues. The Legacy Project honors artists and music contributors entrepreneurs musicians music teachers who have significantly contributed to Black music traditions aiming to preserve and present their history to present and future generations. Our audience demographics vary with at least 70% being Black totaling about 3,000 attendees. Usually our concerts are free to the public.
  2. $27,367 spent. Music Education Individual Lessons Groups lessons Classes Student Recitals School programs youth community performances and programs etc.
  3. $13,708 spent. Fee-based performances. Gigs include the Scott Joplin Orchestra hired to do a concert by the African American Museum in Dallas plus various smaller ensembles providing music at weddings parks community centers museums etc. Above events present CMCHs musical groups like our predominantly Afro-American chamber orchestra or other smaller ensembles to a paying public or client. This year CMCH did not have any Umbrella Programming to assist other organizations who may not have a 501c3 status with receiving funding for their programming through government and other grant sources.
  4. $21,767 spent. Various archival and inventory projects of music history programs instruments and supplies plus additional minor programming projects.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1984.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.