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Music Will Inc

EIN 94-3396568 · Covina, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MUSIC WILL, INC. (FORMERLY LITTLE KIDS ROCK) TRANSFORMS LIVES BY RESTORING, EXPANDING, AND INNOVATING MUSIC EDUCATION IN OUR SCHOOLS. OUR NETWORK OF THOUSANDS OF K-12 TEACHERS ACROSS 48 STATES LEAD A NATIONAL MOVEMENT THAT BRINGS INNOVATIVE AND INCLUSIVE MUSIC EDUCATION TO STUDENTS. USING GENRES INCLUDING ROCK, POP, LATIN, AND RAP, OUR PROGRAM EMPOWERS TEACHERS TO BUILD MUSIC PROGRAMS AS DIVERSE AS THE KIDS THEY SERVE. AS A RESULT, STUDENTS SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN THEIR CLASSES, WHICH STRENGTHENS THEIR CONNECTION TO THEIR SCHOOL, THEIR PEERS, AND THEIR COMMUNITY. MUSIC WILL, ALSO DONATES NECESSARY INSTRUMENTS AND CURRICULUM, MEETING A KEY NEED OF MANY SCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAMS. THE WORLD OF MUSIC EXPANDS THROUGH INNOVATION. WE ENSURE THAT MUSIC EDUCATION DOES AS WELL. SINCE 2002, THE ORGANIZATION HAS REACHED MORE THAN 1,800,000 STUDENTS WITH HIGHLY INCLUSIVE AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT MUSIC EDUCATION. TODAY, MORE THAN 900,000 KIDS PARTICIPATE IN MUSIC WILL'S PROGRAMS.

Income
$8.1 million
Spending
$7.7 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
42
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$241,588, cro

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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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 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 (2)
  1. $2.7 million spent. K-12 Music Education Professional Development: By providing professional development, and a connected national community of music educators, Music Will is providing a growing network of thousands of music educators with the skills, support, and confidence to transform their approach to music education and their music classrooms, with a focus on student-centered pedagogy, student-driven curriculum, and space for students to create, connect, and grow through music.Music Education Systems-Transformation: Music Will is also committed to supporting music education at the systems-level by 1) training faculty and partnering with higher ed institutions who are training the next generation of music educators, 2) investing in research and evaluation that strengthen the case for student-centered music education and popular music in music education, and 3) participating in state and national coalitions and conferences to make the case for student-centered music education and popular music in music education.
  2. $2.0 million spent. K-12 Music Program Resources: Music Will donates and provides deeply discounted instruments, technology, classroom materials, subscriptions, and other curricular resources that make the teaching of popular music styles possible in K-12 classrooms that otherwise are not equipped to match the music taught in school with the music students know and love.

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 February 2002.

    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.