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Muse Sturgeon Bay Inc

EIN 92-3085865 · Sturgeon Bay, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceGood73 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MUSE STURGEON BAY IS A COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL AND PERFORMANCE VENUE COMPRISING FIVE LESSON ROOMS, A CLASSROOM, AND PERFORMANCE HALL THAT WILL SEAT OVER 200 PEOPLE. AND, MUSE IS MOREITS A PLACE FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT PEOPLE, MUSICIANS AND ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES; ITS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER LOCAL TEACHERS AND STUDENTS; ITS A SPACE WHERE IT IS OKAY TO MAKE MISTAKES, AND A SPACE WHERE ITS OKAY TO BE AWESOME. AT THE END OF THE DAY, MUSE IS A HUBA CENTRAL LOCATIONWHERE THOSE WITH DIFFERENT MUSICAL INTERESTS, ABILITIES AND SKILLS CAN MEET, LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER, INSPIRE EACH OTHER, AND FURTHER THE ALREADY INCREDIBLE MUSICAL COMMUNITY THAT EXISTS IN DOOR COUNTY.

Income
$391,263
Spending
$276,200
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
2

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 June 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)
  1. $22,246 spent. MUSIC LESSONS AND CLASSES. MUSE OFFERS ONE-ON-ONE LESSONS AND GROUP CLASSES WITH LOCAL PROFESSIONAL TEACHING MUSICIANS. THIS ACTIVITY SUPPORTS CREATING ACCESS TO MUSIC EDUCATION, OFTEN INSTRUMENTS OR SUBJECTS NOT OFFERED IN PUBLIC SCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAMS, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING ADDITIONAL INCOME TO WORKING MUSICAL ARTISTS AND EDUCATORS.
  2. $146,038 spent. CONCERTS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. MUSE PRESENTS LOW-COST OR FREE CONCERTS AND EVENTS IN A VARIETY OF GENRES AND PRESENTATION TYPES. CONCERTS ARE SUPPORTED BY LOW-COST TICKETING OR DONATION-BASED STRUCTURES AND SUBSIDIZED BY PARTNERING BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS AND CONCESSIONS.
  3. $18,236 spent. COMMUNITY CONCERT RENTAL SPACE. MUSE OFFERS A TURN KEY FACILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO PRESENT THEIR OWN SHOWS. THE SPACE IS OFFERED AT A REDUCED PRICE (140 BASE PRICE) THAT OFFERES ACCESS TO OUR STATE OF THE ART SOUND SYSTEM, STAGE, STAGE EQUIPMENT, AUDIENCE SEATING AND ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 October 13, 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 June 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 April 2024.

    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 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.