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Richards Institute of Education Through Music

EIN 94-1714519 · Napa, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak36 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OFFERING A REFRESHINGLY DIFFERENT WAY TO APPROACH LEARNING, EDUCATION THROUGH MUSIC (ETM) FREES ADULTS TO TEACH AND PARENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE JOYFUL NATURE OF CHILDREN. THROUGH SONG AND PLAY, ETM PROVIDES A GATEWAY FOR CONTEMPORARY UNDERSTANDING OF LEARNING, MOTIVATION, CHILD THEORY AND COGNATIVE DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$191,414
Spending
$213,368
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 82%
Employees
10
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$44,000, executive di

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

Weak: 36 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 89% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, 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

    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.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $117,016 spent. THE RICHARDS INSTITUTE CONDUCTS COURSES FOR TEACHERS, MUSIC EDUCATORS, PARENTS, SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, PEDIATRICANS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS IN EDUCATION IN SEVERAL STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THESE WINTER AND SUMMER COURSES REACH APPROXIMATELY 550 ADULTS EVERY YEAR, AFFECTING THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN IN THE AREAS OF EMOTIONAL STABILIZATION, COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING, ENHANCED LANGUAGE SKILLS, AND INCREASED MOVEMENT AND SENSORY-MOTOR AWARENESS. THESE ARE ACHIEVED THROUGH PLAY AND AESTHETIC EXPERIENCE IN THE EDUCATION THROUGH MUSIC SONG EXPERIENCES.
  2. $33,233 spent. THE RICHARDS INSTITUTE CONDUCTS WEEK-LONG SUMMER INTEGRATED ARTS DAY CAMP (SONG/PLAY, VISUAL ART, STORYTELLING AND CREATION) AIMED AT SPONSORING THE EMERGENT IMAGINATION - AND THUS THE INTELLIGENCE, ACCORDING TO NARCOSYNTHESIS - WHICH INCLUDE ANY NUMBER OF AT-RISK AND SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATIONS DRAWN FROM VARIOUS GEOGRAPHIC LOCALES (CALIFORNIA), DIVERSE NORTHERN/CENTRAL EUROPEAN IMMIGRANT), DIVERSE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SETTINGS FOR UP TO 400 PERSONS PER SUMMER. GRANT MONIES FOR PARTICIPANTS ARE APPLIED DIRECTLY TO THE PARTICIPANTS THROUGH NO THIRD-PARTY INTERMEDIARY.

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 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 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 October 1971.

    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.