Imani Winds Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IMANI WINDS FOUNDATION, INC'S MISSION IS TO MAKE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS THROUGH MUSIC. IT SUPPORTS THE GRAMMY-NOMINATED IMANI WINDS, A FULL-TIME TOURING CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC ENSEMBLE WHICH HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR OVER 25 YEARS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HELPS FUND THE CREATION OF NEW MUSIC BY COMMISSIONING COMPOSERS, PARTICULARLY FROM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. IT SUPPORTS THE IMANI WINDS CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL, AN 11-DAY INSTITUE IN NYC THAT TEACHES ASPIRING MUSICIANS THE ART OF CHAMBER MUSIC THROUGH PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE, ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $851,631
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 3.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 52%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $96,000, treasurer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 64% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 August 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)
- $171,056 spent. FESTIVALS THAT PROVIDE CHAMBER MUSIC COACHING, SEMINARS ON THE BUSINESS OF MUSIC, COLLABORATION WITH THE STUDENT COMPOSERS, AND PERFORMANCES.
- $513,154 spent. SUPPORT OF FULL-TIME TOURING CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC ENSEMBLE; FUNDING THE CREATION OF NEW MUSIC BY COMMISSIONING COMPOSERS, PARTICULARLY FROM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND MENTORSHIP OF MUSICIANS AND COMPOSERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2019.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.