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Renovare Music Inc

EIN 83-3810783 · Shaker Hts, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Sharing music at the highest level of artistry in diverse settings and innovative programs to love our neighbor affirm the value of all people and cultivate reconciled communities.

Income
$363,228
Spending
$256,628
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
12.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
5
Volunteers
48
Highest pay
$45,000, 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.1 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 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 73% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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

    12 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 (3)
  1. $76,525 spent. Performances and worship events: Renovare shares music stories and leads worship in a wide variety of venues. About 75% of our performances take place in marginalized spaces ex. prisons homeless shelters hospitals. The remainder of our performances occur in venues ranging from concert halls to community gardens with an emphasis on connecting communities that are siloed from one another. Renovares fresh creative voice spans artistic genres and invites audiences everywhere into meaningful connection through interactive musical experiences. Renovares focus is on our Northeast Ohio community which is where almost all of the 83 concerts and worship events we performed in 2025 took place. Over 5,000 attendees experienced these events last year where they were offered a taste of the restorative and transformative love of God through the unique and powerful mediums of music and relationship.
  2. $68,866 spent. Strings classes in prisons: Renovare teaches violin viola and cello to residents at two Northeast Ohio prisons. These weekly classes provide an opportunity for participants to learn together build community exercise discipline develop confidence in performing for others and grow in self-esteem and self-expression. Participants also develop music literacy and technical skill in playing their instruments which are provided by Renovare but kept in the care of the inmates for the duration of their participation to allow them to practice daily. Renovare continued teaching Unmuted and Music for the Soul our weekly classes for men at the Grafton Correctional Institution and for women at the Northeast Reintegration Center respectively throughout 2025. Between the two programs Renovare led 104 classes in 2025 with a total of 40 participants. Both programs performed multiple times for other inmates at their prisons as well as for family and outside guests.
  3. $44,236 spent. Creation of original Documentary Songs: Documentary Songwriting is a method of co-writing music that fosters empathy boosts self-confidence and strengthens community. It demystifies creativity and allows someone with no musical background to express themselves through high-quality songs docsong. org. This method was developed over a decade ago by composer Malcolm Brooks PhD. His work can be heard on PBS Nova and the History Channel and has garnered two Emmy nominations and a Peabody Award. Renovare undertakes Documentary Songwriting projects with people whose perspectives have often been marginalized or gone unheard. We believe that all people are worthy of dignity and respect and that in order to better love our neighbors we must listen well to them. We then invite the broader community to listen well with us sharing these songs in thoughtfully curated concerts to increase understanding and inspire action. In 2025 Renovare wrote 8 Documentary Songs with 7 community members many of whom testified to the healing and empowerment that took place for them through the songwriting process.

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 2019.

    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.