Project Music Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROJECT MUSIC ADVANCES THE CRITICAL LIFE SKILLS OF STAMFORD YOUTH THROUGH FREE MUSIC EDUCATION, FREE INSTRUMENTS, MENTORING AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES. THE PROGRAM IS PROVIDED AT NO COST TO STUDENTS MOST IN NEED OF ACCESS, INSPIRATION AND OPPORTUNITY. PROJECT MUSIC IS AN AFTER-SCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAM DESIGNED TO CREATE SOCIAL CHANGE AND NURTURE PROMISING FUTURES FOR YOUTH IN STAMFORD, CT CITY NEIGHBORHOODS, WHERE 90%+ OF STUDENT PARTICIPANTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE LUNCH IN SCHOOL. INSPIRED BY THE EL SISTEMA MOVEMENT, PROJECT MUSIC SERVES STUDENTS FOUR AFTERNOONS EACH WEEK, PROVIDING AN INTENSIVE AFTER-SCHOOL MUSICAL ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM AS WELL AS DEEP RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR MUSICAL ENSEMBLE AND TEACHERS.
- Income
- $480,088
- Spending
- $383,069
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 6.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 0
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
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 40% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
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 (1)
- $321,281 spent. PROJECT MUSIC HAS MAINTAINED A STEADY ANNUAL GROWTH AT OUR KING SITE, OFFERING OVER 10,000 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FINALIZING A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF STAMFORD WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO ADDRESS OUR GROWING WAITLIST AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO 50+ MORE STUDENTS. OUR STUDENTS CONTINUE TO PERFORM IN OUR PROGRAM AND IN THE STAMFORD COMMUNITY, RAISING AWARENESS FOR OUR PROGRAM AND RECEIVING VALUABLE PUBLIC-FACING PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES. OUR ORGANIZATION PARTNERED WITH THE MAYOR'S YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM AND WELCOMED A SUMMER INTERN IN ADDITION TO OUR INTERNAL LEARN & EARN PROGRAM.AS A PART OF OUR WHOLE-CHILD MODEL, WE'VE MAINTAINED OUR PROVISION OF TRANSPORTATION TO OUR KING SITE, CONTINUED TO OFFER MEAL-REPLACEMENT SNACKS, AND OFFERED ACADEMIC TUTORING. OUR ADVANCED STUDENTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND INTENSIVE MUSIC CAMPS ACROSS NEW YORK, CONNECTICUT, MAIN, COSTA RICA, BALTIMORE, AND MORE!WE'VE EXPANDED OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, NOW TOTALING OVER 30 THAT ENABLE OUR WORK AND HELP US SERVE THE COMMUNITY. STUDENTS ENROLLED IN OUR PROGRAM HAIL FROM 26 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS ACROSS FAIRFIELD COUNTY.
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 December 2016.
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.