Save the Music Foundation

What it reported doing in 2025

Save the music foundation ("foundation") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating systemic change in the american public school system by restoring instrumental music programs and by raising public awareness about the importance of music education. The foundation was created to address the inequity in availability of music education for students in many of the most challenged communities in the u.s. Since its creation, save the music foundation, working with local school districts, has restored music education programs in more than 2,992 schools in 369 school districts around the country impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of students. During that time, the foundation has donated more than $68 million worth of new musical instruments, equipment, and technology to school districts across the country.the foundation values music as a critical learning tool that keeps students engaged in school, helps develop well-rounded individuals, and encourages skills that are vital for success in the 21st century. Program staff members from the foundation work closely with superintendents, school board members, principals, arts coordinators, and music educators in each school district to identify schools that are eligible to participate. The foundation works with local policymakers and advocates to help ensure schools that are not currently eligible to participate in the foundation's restoration of music education programs take the steps needed to become eligible. The foundation works to enable every school within the district to have access to music education. The foundation expands its reach in serving all public-school students pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.the foundation has developed a unique model to foster equitable access to comprehensive music education for all children. Through strategic partnerships with school districts, the foundation provides brand-new musical instruments, equipment, technology, method books, professional development, and program support to public elementary, middle, and high schools, jump-starting dormant music programs across the country. To make certain that music programs remain a core part of the curriculum in public schools, and that the programs live on in perpetuity, the foundation works with schools that have agreed to implement a sequential instrumental music program based on local, state, and national standards for music education.grant offerings and schools servedthe foundation offers six different types of grant packages to public schools based on grade level, need, and the school's music program goals. The grant packages are decided upon with the input of district administrators, school leaders, and the foundation's program staff. A school must make the commitment to conduct their instrumental music program as part of the regular school day, provide a designated space for music instruction and instrument storage, and commit to hiring a full-time, certified music educator. By guaranteeing that each grant recipient school fulfills the schedule, space, and staff requirements, the foundation fosters a sustainable music program. In the 2025 fiscal year, the foundation delivered grant packages (core, intro to music, j dilla music tech, middle schoolmusic tech, and hometown music tech) to 99 schools, totaling more than 22,000 musical instruments and pieces of musical equipment, in 44 school districts (listed below) across 16 states. These grants impacted more than 72,000 students and music educators by increasing their access to quality musical instruments, instructional books, equipment, technology, and resources. More information about each grant package follows. 44 school districts that received grant packages in fiscal year 2025 (please see schedule i for list of 44 school districts that received grants in 2025).core grantthe core grant in the form of band, string, mariachi, or sonidos latinos has been the cornerstone grant that the foundation provides to school gran

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 79.3%; rating input score 79
• Program expense ratio: 76.5%; rating input score 76
• Fundraising efficiency: $4.84 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -3%; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.03; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.2; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 14.2%; rating input score 24; 24th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 11.6% per year; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 10.7% per year; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 13.7% per year; rating input score 100; 71st percentile among comparable filings