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Music & Arts Education Project Inc

EIN 93-4098913 · Maplewood, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MUSIC & ARTS EDUCATION PROJECT, INC.'S MISSION IS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE INCLUSION AND BROADENING OF A COMPREHENSIVE ARTS AND MUSIC CURRICULUM IN ALL SCHOOLS, IN ALL GRADES AND FOR ALL STUDENTS. OUR GOAL IS TO DEMONSTRATE 1) COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF PARTICIPATORY ARTS AND MUSIC PROGRAMS, 2) POSITIVE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF PERFORMING ARTS AND MUSIC PROGRAMS, 3) THE INHERENT DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION THAT IS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE ARTS, AND 4) THE POSITIVE COMMUNITY IMPACT OF PUBLIC ART DISPLAYS, MUSIC PERFORMANCES, AND LITERARY PERFORMANCES. MUSIC & ARTS EDUCATION PROJECT, INC.'S (MAEP) BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOCUSED ON TWO PRIMARY PROGRAMS IN 2024. FIRST, MAEP PRODUCED MAPLEWOODSTOCK, A 2-DAY FREE MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL WHERE OVER 14,000 ATTENDEES ENJOYED TWO FULL DAYS OF MUSICAL PERFORMERS ALONGSIDE A DIVERSE SET OF ART DEMONSTRATIONS. THIS EVENT BROADENED THE COMMUNITY'S EXPOSURE TO THE ARTS WHILE BUILDING COMMUNITY RELATIONS ACROSS DEMOGRAPHICS. SECONDLY, MAEP'S BOARD

Income
$209,345
Spending
$155,136
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 67%
Employees
0
Volunteers
50

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 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 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7588% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • 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

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $143,553 spent. 14,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED MAPLEWOODSTOCK 2024, ONE OF THE FESTIVAL'S LARGEST GATHERINGS TO-DATE. ADDITIONALLY, EVERY ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER IN THE SOUTH ORANGE MAPLEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT RECEIVED 100% OF THEIR REQUESTED ART SUPPLIES AFTER BUDGETS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY CUT; THIS WAS FUNDED SOLELY BY MAEP'S FUNDRAISING EFFORTS.

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 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 2024.

    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 December 2023.

    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.