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Teton Music School

EIN 83-3967435 · Jackson, WY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To educate and inspire people of all ages to create and share music.

Income
$855,559
Spending
$759,379
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 68%
Employees
3
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$124,104, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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 June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $632,673 spent. Teton Music School (TMS) provides year-round music education in Teton County, Wyoming. Founded in 2019, TMS now serves more than 300 students each year with 16 faculty as a Resident Organization of The Center for the Arts. In our sixth year, we strengthened private instruction, ensembles, summer programs, and community partnerships that connect music with learning and well-being. Highlights included expanded student performance opportunities, a sold-out Taylor Swift Tribute, and TMS Fest 2025, our all-school annual student showcase. Scholarships and financial aid broadened access for families across the valley. See Schedule O for program detail. Private InstructionOne-on-one lessons are the foundation of TMS learning for youth and adults. Professional musicians teach guitar, bass, piano, ukulele, drums, voice, woodwinds, violin, viola, cello, songwriting, music production, and more, meeting students at every stage. In 2024-25 TMS delivered 5,847 individual lessons to 232 students. Youth Group Learning and EnsemblesStudents build skills, confidence, and teamwork in our group offerings, which include rock bands for grades 4-12, Rock Band Prep, Youth Choir, After-School Strings, Bucket Band, production labs, and Music Together for ages 0-5 with caregivers. In 2024-25, 154 students participated in ten group programs, accounting for 2,580 class visits.Summer CampsWe offered five week-long day camps for 90 students in grades K-12. Each camp was project-based and concluded with a performance or showcase. Collaborations with Grand Teton Music Festival, Art Association of Jackson Hole, Off Square Theatre, and Dancers' Workshop exposed students to multiple disciplines, from Junkestra instrument - making to chamber performances alongside professionals.Community Partnerships and Creative AgingPartnerships extended our reach in schools, health, and senior-living settings. A board-certified music therapist and teaching artists delivered 728 sessions for 72 unique participants across music therapy and creative aging programs with Teton County School District, Community Entry Services, Sage Living and our Uke55 and Jam55 groups.Events and PerformancesPublic performance is core to our mission of learning and sharing music:1. Teen Takeover, co-presented with The Center for the Arts and JHHS Arts, offered a youth-led evening of live music and art. 2. Taylor Swift Tribute, a sold-out intergenerational concert, featured students and faculty together on stage.3. Mardi Gras Second Line brought a joyful parade to St. John's Health with our music therapy partners.4. TMS Fest is our annual student showcase, a two-day celebration of performances by learners of all ages.5. Jam55, graduates of Uke55, represented TMS at community events. Scholarships and AccessThrough partnerships with One22 and other local service organizations, and through TMS-funded aid, we provided need-based tuition support so that financial barriers do not block participation. TMS also supports families who do not qualify for partner programs or who have aged out of their support, ensuring continuity of study.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 November 2019.

    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.