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Sweetwater Music Hall Inc

EIN 85-1994102 · Mill Valley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO FURTHER THE APPRECIATION OF VARIOUS FORMS OF TRADITIONAL AND INNOVATIVE MUSIC THROUGH THE PRODUCTION OF PERFORMANCES AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 89%
Employees
5
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$134,000, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 935% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $21,047 spent. THE ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO PRESENTING A VIBRANT AND DIVERSE RANGE OF PERFORMERS TO ADVANCE THE UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF A VARIETY OF MUSIC AND CULTURES. SWEETWATER WAS FORMED DURING AND IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WHEN LIVE PERFORMANCES WERE PROHIBITED. SWEETWATER RESPONDED WITH STREAMING ONLINE MUSICAL PROGRAMS.
  2. $126,383 spent. THE ORGANIZATION IS ALSO DEVOTED TO SUPPORTING THE BAY AREA'S ROBUST GROUP OF NON-PROFIT ARTS AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, HEALTH, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, PERFORMING ARTS AND MUSIC. SWEETWATER HELPS THESE PARTNER NON-PROFITS WITH THEIR FUNDRAISING GOALS THROUGH EVENTS AT THE MUSIC HALL.
  3. $2.4 million spent. SWEETWATER MUSIC HALL'S LIVE PERFORMANCES AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS INFORM AND INSPIRE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT VARIOUS FORMS OF TRADITIONAL MUSIC WITH A FOCUS ON AMERICAN MUSIC OF THE 20TH CENTURY SUCH AS ROOTS, AMERICANA, FOLK, ROCK, BLUEGRASS AND ETHNIC MUSIC TO REFLECT THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF MARIN COUNTY AND THE GREATER SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. SWEETWATER WORKS TO KEEP THESE VARIED TRADITIONAL FORMS OF MUSIC VITAL AND ALIVE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 April 2021.

    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.