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Colorado Music Festival

EIN 84-0735716 · Boulder, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE AND CONNECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE BEST OF THE WORLD'S MUSIC THROUGH EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
174
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$157,351, 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

Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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 (2)
  1. $2.6 million spent. THE COLORADO MUSIC FESTIVAL HELD AN IN-PERSON FESTIVAL AT CHAUTAUQUA AUDITORIUM. ARTISTICALLY, THE FESTIVAL WAS A MAJOR SUCCESS, RECEIVING YET ANOTHER GLOWING REVIEW IN SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL AS WELL AS A COVER ARTICLE IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARTS MANAGER MAGAZINE. OTHER PRESS INCLUDED MORE THAN 68 UNIQUE MENTIONS AND STORIES IN PUBLICATIONS AND TELEVISED SPOTS ACROSS THE WORLD.TICKET SALES FOR THE FESTIVAL WERE POSITIVE AND THE ORGANIZATION EXCEEDED ATTENDANCE GOALS. POPULAR CONCERTS INCLUDED THE ALL-MOZART TRADITIONAL FAVORITE AND THE BELOVED BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY NO.9. THE FESTIVAL FEATURED A WORLD PREMIERE COMPOSITIONS BY JOAN TOWER AND CO-COMMISSIONS BY ERIC WHITACRE AND MICHAEL ABELS. THE FESTIVAL GALA WAS THE MOST-SUCCESSFUL EVER, FEATURING SAXOPHONIST STEVEN BANKS. OTHER PRESS INCLUDED MORE THAN 68 UNIQUE MENTIONS AND STORIES IN PUBLICATIONS AND TELEVISED SPOTS ACROSS THE WORLD.
  2. $652,782 spent. THE CENTER FOR MUSICAL ARTS HAD ITS MOST SUCCESSFUL YEAR EVER AS IT CONTINUED TO SEE GROWTH IN LESSON ENROLLMENT. FACULTY MEMBER JESSICA DANIELS WAS NAMED THE WINNER OF THE FACULTY INSPIRATION AWARD BY THE 2024 WINNER ALEX SIERRA. THE TINY STAGE WAS FEATURED IN MANY LOCAL FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS, BOASTING THE PRESENTATION OF MUSICAL PERFORMANCES TO AN ESTIMATED 60,000 INDIVIDUALS IN THE REGION. THE BUILDING EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FLOOD DURING SPRING RAINSTORMS DUE TO THE POROUS CINDERBLOCK FOUNDATION AND SOME OVERFLOW FROM WINDOW WELLS. THE DAMAGE WAS NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE AND REQUIRED ASBESTOS REMOVAL AND MITIGATION, DRYWALL REPLACEMENT, CARPET REPLACEMENT, BATHROOM TILE AND FLOOR REPLACEMENT FOR MUCH OF THE BASEMENT SPACE. FORTUNATELY, STAFF WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DELIVER MUSIC LESSONS IN OTHER BUILDING SPACES DURING MUCH OF THE RENOVATION IN LARGE PART DUE TO THE SUMMER TIMING WHEN OUR STUDENT NUMBERS DECREASE SIGNIFICANTLY.THE ORGANIZATION HIRED A DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY, REPLACED A MARKETING MANAGER WITH INCREASED HOURS, AND ADDED A PART TIME BUILDING MANAGER. OTHERWISE STAFFING REMAINED CONSISTENT.

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 November 6, 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 July 1976.

    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 November 4, 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.