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Etm-La Inc

EIN 87-0776958 · Burbank, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 2006, ETM-LA'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE AND PROMOTE THE INTEGRATION OF MUSIC INTO THE CURRICULA OF UNDER-RESOURCED SCHOOLS IN ORDER TO ENHANCE STUDENTS' ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND CREATIVE AND GENERAL DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$5.2 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
16.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
63
Volunteers
33
Highest pay
$153,000, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 86% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 23 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

    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 August 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 (1)
  1. $2.6 million spent. IN THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, ETM-LA REACHED APPROXIMATELY 18,000 CHILDREN IN 41 LOS ANGELES PARTNER AND CONSULTING SCHOOLS WITH WEEKLY COMPREHENSIVE MUSIC INSTRUCTION AS A CORE SUBJECT THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR - DISCIPLINES INCLUDE: GENERAL MUSIC, CHOIR, BAND, ROCK BAND, ORFF, AND MUSIC TECHNOLOGY - TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONAL MUSIC TEACHERS WHO USE A SEQUENTIAL, SKILLS-BASED CURRICULUM THAT MEETS NATIONAL AND STATE CONTENT STANDARDS.ETM-LA'S PARTNER SCHOOLS IN 2024-2025 WERE: ALDAMA ELEMENTARY, ARAGON ELEMENTARY, ASCOT ELEMENTARY, ASPIRE GATEWAY, ASPIRE JCA, ASPIRE TITAN, BURSCH ELEMENTARY, CANTARA ELEMENTARY, CARLOS SANTANA ARTS ACADEMY, CARVER ELEMENTARY, CASTELAR ELEMENTARY, CENTINELA ELEMENTARY, CRAIG WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY, DICKISON ELEMENTARY, DOLORES MISSION SCHOOL, DORRIS PLACE ELEMENTARY, EL DORADO ELEMENTARY, ERNIE PYLE ELEMENTARY, FENTON PRIMARY CENTER, GIL GARCETTI LEARNING ACADEMY, HAZELTINE ELEMENTARY, HOOPER AVENUE ELEMENTARY, KELSO ELEMENTARY, LA LEADERSHIP ACADEMY MIDDLE SCHOOL, LA LEADERSHIP ACADEMY PRIMARY, MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY (BURBANK), MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY (COMPTON), OAK ST. ELEMENTARY, PAYNE P-8 STEAM ACADEMY, PROVIDENCIA ELEMENTARY, RAMONA ELEMENTARY, TOLUCA LAKE ELEMENTARY, WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY (BELLFLOWER), WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY (COMPTON), WOODRUFF ELEMENTARY, AND WOODWORTH-MONROE TK-8 ACADEMY. FIVE (5) SCHOOLS RECEIVED CONSULTANT SERVICES: FENTON AVENUE CHARTER SCHOOL, NEW HORIZON SCHOOL, RIO VISTA ELEMENTARY, ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY, AND VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY. MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY (BURBANK) AND VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY GRADUATED AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.ETM-LA EMPLOYED 34 MUSIC TEACHERS AND 6 MUSIC TEACHER INTERNS, 1 DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS, 1 DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND PARTNERSHIPS, AND 3.3 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT INSTRUCTIONAL SUPERVISORS AT FY END.ETM-LA PROVIDED ONGOING MENTORING AND EXTENSIVE TRAINING WITH MONTHLYOBSERVATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR MUSIC TEACHERS AND INTERNS. WE ALIGN WITH STATE AND REGIONAL EFFORTS TO SUPPORT TEACHER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND INTERNALLY GRADUATED 4 MUSIC TEACHER INTERNS TO OUR MUSIC TEACHING STAFF.WORKING CLOSELY WITH EACH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, ETM-LA DESIGNED A MUSIC PROGRAM THAT ADDRESSES EACH INDIVIDUAL PARTNER SCHOOL'S NEEDS IN UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES. ETM-LA CONTINUES TO BUILD COLLABORATION BETWEEN MUSIC TEACHERS AND ACADEMIC TEACHERS, TO ENGAGE THE PARENTS AND OVERALL COMMUNITY, AND TO GUIDE SCHOOL LEADERS TO CREATE STRATEGIES FOR LONG-TERM PROGRAMMING AND SELF-SUSTAINABILITY.ETM-LA CONTINUED TO PARTNER WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS LOS ANGELES COUNTY, PROVIDING WEEKLY MUSIC INSTRUCTION, ENSEMBLE PROGRAMS, TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (FOR EMERGING, MID-CAREER, AND VETERAN), AND ACCESS TO INSTRUMENTAL MATERIALS. ETM-LA REMAINS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE LIVES OF STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN RECOVERY EFFORTS TO RESTORE QUALITY MUSIC EDUCATION TO STUDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 January 2007.

    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.