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Church Studio Music Foundation

EIN 81-5331367 · Tulsa, OK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood89 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH STUDIO MUSIC FOUNDATION IS TO SUPPORT THE UNDERSTANDING, APPRECIATION, ADVANCEMENT OF MUSIC AND OFFER POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN AUDIO ENGINEERING.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 55%
Employees
10
Volunteers
140
Highest pay
$150,000, 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 of 15

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

  • 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 (2)
  1. $1.5 million spent. AS A LEGACY LANDMARK LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, THE BUILDING IS OPEN FOR PUBLIC EVENTS, HISTORIC TOURS, MUSEUM-RELATED PROGRAMMING, PUBLIC SCHOOL TOURS, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING RELATED TO MUSIC AND MUSIC HISTORY. THE ORGANIZATION GRANTS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR RECORDING STUDIO TIME, VENUE USE, GROUP TOURS, LECTURES, AND TICKETS TO VARIOUS PROGRAMS FOR SPECIAL POPULATIONS THAT NEED AND WOULD BENEFIT THE MOST.
  2. $91,311 spent. CARNEY FEST IS A CELEBRATION OF MUSIC, FOOD, ART AND LEON RUSSELL, INTENDED TO PRODUCE, PROMOTE AND PERFORM A FAMILY-FRIENDLY OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE THAT ENRICHES THE COMMUNITY'S CULTURAL LANDSCAPE THROUGH THE POWER OF MUSIC, LEADING TO A MEASURABLE ECONOMIC IMPACT.

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 May 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.