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Youth Music Monterey

EIN 94-2863607 · Monterey, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceGood79 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

INSPIRE EXCELLENCE IN INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS AND ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN, AND GAIN GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF MUSIC AND ITS PERFORMANCE.

Income
$563,299
Spending
$578,126
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
10.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
28
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$62,083, executive director

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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 79 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 6 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $272,071 spent. JUNIOR YOUTH AND HONORS ORCHESTRA: 100 STUDENTS FROM OVER 30 MONTEREY COUNTY SCHOOLS AUDITION FOR YMMC'S ORCHESTRAS, REHEARSE WEEKLY DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND PRESENT 3 FULL LENGTH SYMPHONIC CONCERTS AT THE SUNSET CENTER EACH SEASON. MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN TWO WEEKEND RETREATS A YEAR.
  2. $82,445 spent. SOUTH COUNTY STRINGS: YMM PROVIDES INSTRUMENTS AND FREE GROUP VIOLIN, VIOLA, AND CELLO LESSONS FOR UP TO 200 STUDENTS AGES 8-13 DURING THE SCHOOL DAY IN SOUTH MONTEREY COUNTY. STUDENTS PERFORM FOR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. UP TO 24 STRING STUDENTS PLAY ALONGSIDE YMM'S JUNIOR YOUTH ORCHESTRA MUSICIANS IN OUR MAY SEASON FINALE. COMBINED, THE 300 STUDENTS OF YMMC'S PROGRAMS PRESENT 30 CONCERTS EACH YEAR TO AN AUDIENCE OF OVER 7500 DISTINCT INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT MONTEREY COUNTY.
  3. $108,618 spent. ORCHESTRA IN THE SCHOOLS: YMM PROVIDES BEGINNING MUSIC INSTRUCTION, INSTRUMENTS AND ORCHESTRA ENSEMBLE EXPERIENCES FOR UP TO 100 YOUTH AGES 7-13. STUDENTS PRESENT 2 CONCERTS EACH YEAR, PLAY ALONGSIDE OUR JUNIOR YOUTH ORCHESTRA, AND PARTICIPATE IN RETREATS WITH TEACHING ARTISTS. THIS CAN BE A CHILD'S FIRST MUSICAL EXPERIENCE.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 1987.

    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.