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Music Academy of the West

EIN 95-1525814 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE MUSIC ACADEMY OF THE WEST IS TO PROVIDE CLASSICALLY TRAINED MUSICIANS AND DIVERSE AUDIENCES WITH TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATIONAL AND PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCES.

Income
$8.3 million
Spending
$12.6 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
50.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
89
Volunteers
270
Highest pay
$432,734, president & ceo

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 50.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 52% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 34 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

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

    22 of 22 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 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 (2)
  1. $7.6 million spent. MUSIC ACADEMY PRESENTS AN ANNUAL FULL-SCHOLARSHIP SUMMER SCHOOL AND FESTIVAL FOR 150 CLASSICALLY TRAINED FELLOWS AGES 18 TO 34. IN 2024, FOR EIGHT INTENSIVE WEEKS, OUR FELLOWS STUDIED WITH OVER 50 EXCEPTIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS, PERFORMED IN MORE THAN 100 CONCERTS AND MASTERCLASSES, AND FORGED CLOSE CONNECTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR UNIQUE COMPEER PROGRAM. MUSIC ACADEMY ALSO SEEKS TO ENGAGE DIVERSE AUDIENCES BY OFFERING $10 COMMUNITY ACCESS TICKETS, FREE TICKETS TO YOUTH AGED 7-17, WELCOMING EVERYONE FROM ACROSS ALL GENERATIONS, CULTURES, AND BACKGROUNDS TO EXPERIENCE THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF MUSIC.
  2. $1.0 million spent. YEAR-ROUND, THE MUSIC ACADEMY CONTINUES ITS COMMITMENT TO MUSIC EDUCATION. THE SING! PROGRAM IS A FREE, AFTER-SCHOOL CHORAL PROGRAM FOR LOCAL ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WHICH AIMS TO INSPIRE PERSONAL GROWTH AND EXPRESSION THROUGH MUSIC. SING! HAD OVER 220 PARTICIPANTS AND HELD PROGRAMS IN 6 LOCAL SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND ON THE MUSIC ACADEMY'S MONTECITO CAMPUS, AND PERFORMED CONCERTS IN SANTA BARBARA THEATERS. MUSIC ACADEMY SUPPORTED ALUMNI PROJECTS AND PERFORMANCES VIA THE ALUMNI ENTERPRISE AND PERFORMANCE AWARDS AND FEATURING ALUMNI IN THE FALL MARIPOSA CONCERT SERIES. MUSIC ACADEMY ALSO ENGAGED THE SANTA BARBARA COMMUNITY BY OFFERING ITS CAMPUS SPACES TO LOCAL MUSIC TEACHERS AND PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS.

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 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 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 September 1948.

    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.