Music Associates of Aspen Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ASPEN MUSIC FESTVAL & SCHOOL BRINGS TOGETHER THE FINEST MUSIC STUDENTS, ARTIST FACULTY AND PERFORMERS TO CREATE TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES WITHIN A COMMUNITY OF ARTISTIC INTEGRITY AND INNOVATION.
- Income
- $43.3 million
- Spending
- $25.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 17.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 60%
- Employees
- 165
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $604,140, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2536 of 48 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give 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 September 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 (3)
- $19.7 million spent. THE ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL AND SCHOOL (AMFS) IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE FINEST CLASSICAL MUSIC TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE CENTERS WORLDWIDE. PRESENTING MORE THAN 400 EVENTS DURING ITS 8-WEEK SUMMER SEASON, AMFS DRAWS LEADING CLASSICAL MUSICIANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD FOR A RICH COMBINATION OF PERFORMANCES OF ORCHESTRAL WORKS, OPERA, CHAMBER MUSIC, RECITALS, CONTEMPORARY MUSIC, WORKS BY NEW OR PREVIOUSLY UNRECOGNIZED VOICES, FAMILY EVENTS, AND TALKS, COMPETITIONS, AND CLASSES. IN 2025, MORE THAN 450 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED. STUDENTS COME FROM 40 U.S. STATES AND 40 COUNTRIES TO STUDY AND PERFORM ALONGSIDE MORE THAN 135 ARTIST-FACULTY MEMBERS. AMFS'S DISTINCTION STEMS FROM THIS COMBINATION OF SEASONED PROFESSIONALS AND YOUTH AS COLLEAGUES AND CO-INSPIRING FORCES.
- $544,520 spent. A DEEP COMMITMENT TO ASPEN AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES IS REFLECTED IN THE DOZENS OF EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES THAT AMFS OFFERS THAT ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC DURING THE SUMMER SEASON. A SIGNATURE SUMMER LESSON PROGRAM TAUGHT BY AMFS STUDENTS (PALS), EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSES SUCH AS TUNES AND TALES, AND ANNUAL FAMILY CONCERTS BRING HIGH QUALITY, ENGAGING MUSICAL EXPERIENCES TO FAMILIES AND STUDENTS OF ALL AGES. FROM FALL TO SPRING, AMFS ENGAGES YOUNG AUDIENCES WITH POPULAR IN-SCHOOL AND AFTER-SCHOOL LESSONS, CLASSES, IN-SCHOOL CONCERTS, WORKSHOPS, AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES. IN 2025, SEPTEMBER TO MAY PROGRAMS SERVED MORE THAN 500 CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE ROARING FORK VALLEY.
- OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1955.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.