Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Music Education Initiative

EIN 85-3377089 · Rogers, AR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak20 out of 100GovernanceFair66 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 22% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

The Music Education Initiative mission isto bring music education and appreciation to the general public and school aged children.

Income
$133,329
Spending
$289,124
Spent on programs
22%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
0
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$135,195, founder

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: 20 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 117% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 62% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    22% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    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.

  • 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. $31,809 spent. The Music Education Initiative sponsored the 2024 Arkansas County Blues & Stringsband Festival which was a weekend event to for general public. This annual event serves as both a cultural celebration & educational opportunity. The festival blends live performances from well known and legendary musical artists with artist led workshops in music, dance, and trandition based crafts. By elevating heritage arts & showcasing cross-cultural exchange, the festival promotes understanding & pride in local traditions while drawing regional attention to Arkansass creative talent. Cultural presentations such as square dancing, community storytelling, & shared creative spaces revive & reinterpret communal traditions, encouraging participation across generations. Additional hands-on engagements have included film screenings, media workshops, quill instrument making, & craft distilling demonstrations. These efforts cultivate appreciation for diverse cultural expressions.
  2. $21,999 spent. The Music Education Initiative offers Production education & Techinal Training Workshops. The workshops offer training to program pareticipant by upskilling them with training & delvelopment for potential career paths such as live music performance technicians, production lighting technicians, & logistics support (crew & stage hands for loading & unloading equipment & cases, ect). Participants are trained by live performance preduction professionals in the region, who are in need of additional trained workforce personnel. Our training allows participants to get hands-on experience & develop relationships with production & technical companies, venue operators, stage & theatre companies with the ability to be hired for entry level employment at an hourly rate higher than the current minimum wage. Since 2022, we have provided 56 workshops.
  3. $8,776 spent. Juke Joint was originally commissioned by the Clinton Library in 2020 as a reproduction of a music joint of the south in early American history. The Clinton Library Foundation donated the Juke Joint to The Music Education Initiative in 2021 for use in music education. The Juke Joint Project, provides year around programming & activiations taht have included live performances, poetry, open mic sessions, Humanities lectures, film screenings, lectures, community engagement events, & cross cultural shows. This initiative honors historical Black music spaces while creating new opportunities for local, regional, & touring artists. This project acts as a living classroom where audiences of all ages engage with the roots of American music and its modern day interpreters, fostering cultural literacy & community cohesion.

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 May 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.