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Friends of South Florida Music Inc

EIN 81-4918286 · Miami, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair61 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRIENDS OF SOUTH FLORIDA MUSIC (FSFM) PROMOTES MUSIC EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES IN UNDERSERVED AREAS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

Income
$383,632
Spending
$283,365
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
17.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
2
Volunteers
125
Highest pay
$77,950, executive di

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.9 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 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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

    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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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, 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 (3)
  1. $161,949 spent. THE MUSIC FUNDAMENTALS PROGRAM PROVIDED FREE WEEKLY 30 MINUTE MUSIC CLASSES AT TWELVE MIAMI-DADE SCHOOLS, REACHING OVER 1,400 STUDENTS. ALL SCHOOLS ARE EITHER TITLE 1 OR WITHIN THE TITLE 1 BOUNDARY, AND OVER 90% OF THE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN THE FEDERAL FREE-LUNCH PROGRAM. CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO 18 YEARS OF AGE RECEIVED AGE-APPROPRIATE MUSIC INSTRUCTION, INCLUDING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SINGING, DANCING AND MOVEMENT, MANIPULATING ITEMS SUCH AS SCARVES AND HOOPS, AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS RHYTHM STICKS, JINGLES, EGG SHAKERS, BELL, AND DRUMS. TEACHERS UTILIZE CALL AND RESPONSE, SINGING, RHYTHMIC AND TONAL PATTERNS, MOVING TO MUSIC, AND PLAYING INSTRUMENTS. ACCOMMODATIONS ARE MADE FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES, AND ANY NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS AND/OR ADAPTATIONS ARE DONE SO THAT ALL STUDENTS CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE. CHILDREN DEVELOP SELF-REGULATION AND FOCUS AND DEVELOP THEIR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS THROUGH MUSICAL ACTIVITIES AND CLASS INTERACTIONS, PROVIDING THEM WITH FOUNDATIONS THAT CAN HELP THEM WITH THEIR ACADEMIC AND INTERPERSONAL GROWTH. THE MUSIC FUNDAMENTALS PROGRAM PROVIDED FREE WEEKLY 30 MINUTE MUSIC CLASSES AT TWELVE MIAMI-DADE SCHOOLS, REACHING OVER 1,400 STUDENTS. ALL SCHOOLS ARE EITHER TITLE 1 OR WITHIN THE TITLE 1 BOUNDARY, AND OVER 90% OF THE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN THE FEDERAL FREE-LUNCH PROGRAM. CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO 18 YEARS OF AGE RECEIVED AGE-APPROPRIATE MUSIC INSTRUCTION, INCLUDING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SINGING, DANCING AND MOVEMENT, MANIPULATING ITEMS SUCH AS SCARVES AND HOOPS, AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS RHYTHM STICKS, JINGLES, EGG SHAKERS, BELL, AND DRUMS. TEACHERS UTILIZE CALL AND RESPONSE, SINGING, RHYTHMIC AND TONAL PATTERNS, MOVING TO MUSIC, AND PLAYING INSTRUMENTS. ACCOMMODATIONS ARE MADE FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES, AND ANY NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS AND/OR ADAPTATIONS ARE DONE SO THAT ALL STUDENTS CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE. CHILDREN DEVELOP SELF-REGULATION AND FOCUS AND DEVELOP THEIR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS THROUGH MUSICAL ACTIVITIES AND CLASS INTERACTIONS, PROVIDING THEM WITH FOUNDATIONS THAT CAN HELP THEM WITH THEIR ACADEMIC AND INTERPERSONAL GROWTH.
  2. $8,030 spent. FSFM ORGANIZED BACK-TO-SCHOOL BOOKBAG AND SANTA'S WORKSHOP TOY GIVEAWAY EVENTS AT PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND PARENTS.
  3. $2,000 spent. FSFM PROVIDED NEEDS-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR APPLICANTS TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO MUSIC CLASSES RUN BY OUR TEACHING STAFF.

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 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 December 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 2017.

    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.