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Sweet Relief Musicians Fund

EIN 95-4443269 · Brea, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND CASE MANAGEMENT FOR QUALIFIED MUSICIANS WHO ARE ELDERLY AND RETIRED OR SEMI-RETIRED, OR FOR ANY QUALIFIED MUSICIAN WHO HAS MEDICAL OR MEDICALLY RELATED EXPENSES THEY CANNOT PAY.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Highest pay
$151,625, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 53% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 9 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

    0 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 December 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. $3.4 million spent. SWEET RELIEF PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND CASE MANAGEMENT FOR QUALIFIED MUSICIANS WHO ARE IN NEED OF MEDICAL CARE AND/OR ARE ELDERLY AND MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS. GRANTS ARE DECIDED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS BY A COMMITTEE OF MUSICIANS ACCORDING TO THE APPLICANT'S NEEDS, OTHER RESOURCES THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE, AND OTHER FACTORS, SUCH AS THE APPLICANT'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO MUSIC. NON-MEASUREABLE ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE: DIRECTING INQUIRIES AND GRANT RECEIPIENTS TO OTHER PRIVATE CHARITIES AS WELL AS PUBLIC PROGRAMS THEY MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF, AND INTERVENING WITH AND ADVOCATING FOR OTHERS ON THEIR BEHALF INCLUDING MEDICAL PROVIDERS AND OTHER VENDORS.IN THE PAST SWEET RELIEF HAS PROVIDED SERVICES, GUIDANCE, AND COST SAVINGS TO OVER 1,000 ARTISTS AND MUSIC INDUSTRY WORKERS. ONE MILLION DOLLARS IN AID FROM OTHER PARTNER CHARITIES, LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS WERE AWARDED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF SWEET RELIEF FUND STAFF MEMBERS. SWEET RELIEF ALSO ACCOUNTED FOR OVER ONE MILLION DOLLARS IN SAVINGS BY HELPING TO NEGOTIATE MEDICAL BILLS AND INSURANCE COSTS TO OUR CONSTITUENCY.OUR PRIMARY SOURCES OF INFORMATION ARE OUR WEBSITE, AND OUR MYSPACE AND FACEBOOK SITES, WHICH REACH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DAILY AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF OUR SERVICES OF SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUES THAT FACE MUSICIANS, AND OF WHAT OTHER OPTIONS EXIST FOR MUSICIANS IN NEED. SWEET RELIEF HAS FOCUSED OUR EFFORTS IN AN AREA NOT MANAGED BY ANY OTHER CHARITY CURRENTLY ASSISTING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. THE DIRECTED INDIVIDUALS FUND HAS HELPED SEVERLY ILL AND DISABLED APPLICANTS FACING OVERWHELMING FINANCIAL DISTRESS. PATIENTS AFFLICTED WITH STAGE 4 CANCER, ALS, SPINAL INJURIES AMONG OTHERS HAVE BENEFITTED FROM SWEET RELIEF PAYING FOR MEDICAL TREATMENTS SOMETIMES EXCEEDING $10,000. OUR GOAL HAS BEEN TO NOT ONLY HELP, BUT SOMETIMES FIX, A SITUATION COMPLETELY. THIS IS A MISSION WE ARE WORKING, IN EARNEST, ON A DAILY AND YEARLY BASIS. WE ALSO SEEK TO REMIND FANS AND OTHERS OF THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT MUSIC AND MUSICIANS PLAY IN OUR LIVES.
  2. WE RECEIVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES. MUCH OF OUR LABOR IS DONATED, THUS KEEPING OVERHEAD AND SALARIES VERY LOW AND TO MAKE GRANTS AS GENEROUS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.ADDITIONALY: SOMETIMES PEOPLE EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY, JUST NEED A SYMPATHETIC EAR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2017 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2017.

    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 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Worth knowing.

    Recognized by the IRS in January 2026. It is too new to have a track record.

    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.