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Songbirds Foundation Inc

EIN 81-4791124 · Chattanooga, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SONGBIRDS STRIVES TO SHARE THE TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE OF MUSIC ACROSS THE SOUTH BY DELIVERING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, PERSERVING MUSIC HISTORY, HOSTING ENRICHING EVENTS, AND PROVIDING CONCRETE RESOURCES TO EMERGING ARTISTS.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
33
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$95,633, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 219% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 December 31, 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. $4,650 spent. SONGBIRDS GUITARS FOR KIDS PROGRAM FURTHERS THE PHILOSOPHY THAT MUSIC IS ONE OF THE MOST TRANSFORMATIVE FORMS OF COMMUNICATION - TRANSCENDING BARRIERS AND CREATING COMMON GROUND THROUGH ITS ABILITY TO BIND US TOGETHER AND STRENGTHEN US AS INDIVIDUALS. NO MATTER HOW DIFFERENT OR DISTANT A CULTURE WE CAN ALWAYS GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THAT CULTURE THROUGH MUSIC. GUITAR FOR KIDS PROVIDES GUITAR LESSONS, MUSIC THERAPY, AND OTHER MUSICAL EXPERIENCES TO HUNDREDS OF YOUTH ACROSS CHATTANOOGA THROUGH CLASSES THAT FOCUS ON GUITAR BASICS AND PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE FUNDAMENTALS BY EXPOSING THEM TO A WIDE VARIETY OF PLAYING STYLES AND TECHNIQUES.
  2. $30,806 spent. FACILITY DONATION AND FOOD, BEVERAGE & MERCHANDISE SALES - GUESTS ARE SURROUNDED BY MUSIC MEMORABILIA, VINTAGE GUITARS, A CUSTOM-BUILT OAK AND ASH STAGE, AND INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS. RADIO HOUR- LIVE RADIO SHOW FEATURING CELEBRATED MUSICIANS INCLUDING PERFORMANCES, INTERVIEWS, AND AUDIENCE Q&A.
  3. N/A
  4. $982,949 spent. THE PROGRAM INTEGRATES REGIONAL AND NATIONAL ARTISTS AND STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO ATTEND FREE SHOWS AND PERFORM, COLLABORATE, AND RECORD WITH THESE ARTISTS. CLASSES ALSO OFFER STUDENTS A FORUM TO DISCUSS SOCIAL, HEALTH, AND LIFE ISSUES. CERTIFIED MUSIC THERAPISTS USE MUSIC TO HELP STUDENTS WORK THROUGH THESE ISSUES. STUDENTS ALSO WORK IN GROUPS THAT ALLOW THEM TO CREATE FRIENDSHIPS AND ESTABLISH MUSIC BONDS WITH OTHER PLAYERS. THIS TYPE OF GROUP INTERACTION IS ESSENTIAL FOR KIDS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED BULLYING, OR HAVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS SUCH AS AUTISM OR ASPERGER'S. THE PROGRAM WAS MODIFIED TO SERVE STUDENTS WHEREVER THEY WERE WORKING FROM HOME OR IN PERSON AT SCHOOL. WE KNOW THAT MUSIC HELPS KIDS COPE WITH THE DEVASTATING DEMANDS THAT THE PANDEMIC PLACED ON FAMILIES. THE PROGRAM ALLOWED OVER 4,500 KIDS TO HAVE INTERACTIVE MUSICAL EXPERIENCES WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S TEACHERS AND OTHER STUDENTS. WE WORKED WITH 102 SCHOOLS AND 22 PARTNER PROGRAMS TO TRAIN THEIR CHORUS TEACHERS HOW TO TEACH OUR CURRICULUM TO THEIR STUDENTS. WE THEN PROVIDED EACH TEACHER WITH A DONATED SET OF 25-50 GUITARS, CURRICULUM BOOKS, EQUIPMENT (PICKS, STRINGS, BAGS, TUNERS), AND ONGOING SUPPORT. MORE THAN 832 GUITARS WERE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE STATE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 April 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.