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Keys of Change USA

EIN 82-0614802 · Chapel Hill, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Providing music education, skills and musical instruments for disadvantaged youth.

Income
$124,099
Spending
$83,609
Reserves
14.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%

Source: Form 990EZ 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 85% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.7 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 33% of income.

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

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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. $23,747 spent. Ghana, Africa - Provides music education and performance opportunities for approximately 50 youth coming from harsh and deprived backgrounds. Provided two on-site musical instructors traveling to Ghana to provide face-to-face instruction for six month teaching periods each. Launched and provided ongoing support for the Accra Youth Sinfonietta.
  2. $21,317 spent. Quito, Ecuador - Keys USA supports the musical education of 20 children from deprived backgrounds who live in the Quito area. There is also an additional program in the Andes mountains which provides both musical instruction and musical instruments involving an additional 20 disadvantaged youth. The Andes mountain students performed a concert in the capital city of Quito.
  3. $23,808 spent. Similar projects with approximately 80 students are located in India $11,187.08; Fukushima, Japan $9,434.29; General Global Program expenses, broadly applicable to all projects $3,187.17.
  4. $14,736 spent. Vicente Guerro, next to a landfill on the outskirts of Oaxaca, Mexico - What started with the Banda de la Musica which was composed of young people facing incredible difficulties has evolved into a youth symphony orchestra, the Orquesta Sinfonica Juvenil Santa Cecilla supporting the musical education of 50 young students.

Source: Form 990EZ 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.