Music on the Strait
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Music on the Strait aims to share chamber music, both its traditions and its emerging voices, through community programing and educational outreach in beautiful Port Angeles, Washington. The festival celebrates classical music in the singularly beautiful environment of Olympic National Park and the Salish Sea.
- Income
- $818,452
- Spending
- $228,123
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 41.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 10
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 41.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 72% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 502% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $158,360 spent. CONCERT PERFORMANCES - In 2025, Music on the Strait held it's annual summer music festival featuring musicians like MacArthur Genius, Jeremy Denk, violinist Kristin Lee, cellist Efe Baltacigil, and composer in residence Gabriella Lena Frank who was named by the Washington Post as one of the 30 most influential women composers in music history. Outside of the summer season, Music on the Strait also presented Bach's complete Goldbert Variations, recorded for commercial release Lembit Beecher's The Happiness of Two Salmon Returning Home, collaborated with Port Angeles City Ballet and the Port Angeles Symphony, and performed at Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts. Through our Fiddleheads educational outreach programs, Music on the Strait works in local public schools to encourage and foster a love of the arts in our young people. Music on the Strait hosted workshops at Port Angeles High School and invited students to perform at Field Hall before mainstage programming.
- $35,980 spent. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM - In 2025, the annual Dick and Alice Rapasky Community Music Scholarship Program awarded $20,000, in scholarships to 40 local students. These $500 scholarships are paid directly to the student's teachers who are working music professionals in the community. With its focus on education and mentorship, the program supports students-in-need as well as music teachers and the local arts economy.
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
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 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.