We Are Moving the Needle Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

We Are Moving The Needles work spans four core pillars, all aimed at providing comprehensive supports with tangible impacts on education and career development.EDUCATEEmpowering women and non-binary creators in the studio starts in the classroom. We Are Moving The Needle opens access for these traditionally underrepresented groups to pursue music technical education across their career. Scholarships and Grants Program: The cornerstone of We Are Moving The Needles educational work, this program provides opportunities for women and non-binary creators to attend prestigious musical technical and recording programs at academies, colleges, and universities around the world. College and University Chapters: We Are Moving The Needles College and University Chapter Program connects students across the country with resources to pursue their future in audio. Our campus partnerships provide supportive environments for students to connect, learn, and grow. EQUIPIn alignment with our commitment to inclusivity in the industry, We Are Moving The Needle works to ensure that cost isnt a barrier for our students and early-career professionals. We Are Moving The Needle works with gear partners to provide cutting edge-recording equipment and software for those in need and ensure that women and non-binary creators are quite literally equipped to unleash their creative potential. ENERGIZEBreaking down educational barriers gets women into the field, but mentorship and networks keeps them there. We Are Moving The Needles soundBoard is a network of mentors and career advocates dedicated to nurturing the next generation of recording professionals. EQUALIZEClosing the gender gap in the recording industry requires a two-pronged approach: we must provide direct supports to creators to grow their potential in the here and now AND shift industry culture through advocacy and partnerships. Unity Gain Sessions: A touring series of think tanks aimed at bringing together top artists, producers, engineers, and industry leaders for their perspectives on the future of the industry. These roundtable discussions bring together creators from across the music industry to pause, reflect, and dive into the essence of their craft.Fix The Mix Report: Launched in 2023, this annual report provides a temperature check for gender equity in the industry. Our inaugural report highlighted that across the top-played (top-grossing) tracks of 2022, cis men outnumbered women and non-binary audio professionals 49:1. Fix The Mix was the first report of its kind to include non-binary and trans professionals in our numbers, and critically untangled metrics for producers and engineers to look at each role separately. Resonator Awards: A kick-off to GRAMMYs week, the Resonator Awards are an opportunity to showcase the top echelon of producers and engineers and uplift the power of technical creators during the most prestigious week in music. Our inaugural awards, held January 2024, honored powerful women behind the board including Alanis Morissette, Caroline Polachek, Laura Sisk, Catherine Marks, Jennifer Decilveo, and Corinne Bailey Rae, as well as leaders who have transformed equity in the industry Michael Goldstone (Mom+Pop) and Christine Thomas (Dolby). Advocacy: We Are Moving The Needle joined the NAMM Foundation in November 2023 as part of their annual Fly-In to advocate for increased federal funding for music education.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 63.8%; rating input score 64
• Program expense ratio: 81%; rating input score 81
• Fundraising efficiency: $64.47 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.3%; rating input score 92; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 50%; rating input score 50; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 21.3%; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.73; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.06; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 38.4%; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 116.5% per year; rating input score 100; 99th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 63.5% per year; rating input score 100; 98th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 40.9% per year; rating input score 100; 95th percentile among comparable filings