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Musicares Foundation
Musicares Foundation reported $28.8 million in revenue and $25.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $87.93 went to program services, $6.85 to management and general costs and $5.22 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 102.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $427,813 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (TO 5/25)). 10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 11% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $25MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $29MOther revenue was negative: −$2.4M. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 87.9% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.9% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.2% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.04 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 102.4% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $427,813 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.70% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 10 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 17.7 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 19 of 19 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseFinancial assistance: musicares provides up to $10,000 annually for emergency basic living, medical, or other needs with a lifetime maximum of $20,000. Under extraordinary circumstances, grants may be extended to $25,000 based upon a unique need. Assistance is provided to recording industry personnel, including creative and technical personnel (I.e., musicians, composers, engineers, producers, etc.), music business staff (I.e., record label staff, management companies, entertainment attorneys, music retailers), and other members of the music community who have been employed in the industry…
In response to the extreme fires and unprecedented devastation in january 2025 in los angeles, musicares launched disaster relief efforts to directly assist eligible music professionals in need. Aid includes $1,500 in financial assistance and a $500 grocery card for near-term needs such as necessities and evacuation costs. Musicares also provides additional, more substantial support for individuals with considerable impact, including assistance for damaged equipment, medical needs, and rental assistance
Mental health & addiction recovery (formerly map fund): musicares provides emergency financial assistance to individuals within the music community facing addiction. Assistance limits are $20,000 per year with a lifetime limit of $20,000. The program may provide payment for inpatient treatment, sober living, and/or other expenses related to recovery. The program also provides a support network of recovery resources for music people who are touring throughout the country. In addition, the foundation provides workshops and coordinates meetings of industry professionals to discuss the problems…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (TO 5/25) Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $382,200 | $0 | $45,613 | $427,813 |
| SR. MANAGING DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $177,193 | $0 | $52,284 | $229,477 |
| VP (TO 5/25), EXEC DIR (FROM 5/25) Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $212,532 | $0 | $13,123 | $225,655 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $158,752 | $0 | $49,034 | $207,786 |
| SR. MANAGING DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $164,087 | $0 | $41,694 | $205,781 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $144,074 | $0 | $56,373 | $200,447 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $137,305 | $0 | $18,497 | $155,802 |
10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Musicares Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $724K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b19 · 19 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 541
- Volunteers Part I, line 62,800
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| LEVY RESTAURANTS Catering | $469,406 |
| 1OF1 CUSTOM Hearing clinic provider | $321,149 |
| CUMBERLAND HEIGHTS Addiction recovery treatment provider | $165,655 |
| NEWPORT CENTER DENTAL Dental provider | $160,264 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 10 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
11 private foundations reported grants to Musicares Foundation totaling $345K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Musicares Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Musicares Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Musicares Foundation spent in FY2025, $87.93 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Ayn Rand Institute the Center for the Advancement of ObjectivismSanta Ana, CA · revenue $29M · programs 87.9% · 2025
- Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of ArtNashville, TN · revenue $29M · programs 81.4% · 2025
- Seventh Regiment Armory ConservancyNew York, NY · revenue $29M · programs 84.5% · 2024
- Ubongo InternationalAustin, TX · revenue $29M · programs 92.8% · 2024
- Sealaska Heritage InstituteJuneau, AK · revenue $29M · programs 88.2% · 2024
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Musicares Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, Musicares Foundation reported that 87.9% of its $25.2 million in expenses went to program services, 6.9% to management and general and 5.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Musicares Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Musicares Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 was $427,813, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (TO 5/25) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Musicares Foundation get its money?
Of $28.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, 102.4% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Musicares Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 95-4470909 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, object 202611669349301581 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2024, object 202501679349300205 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2023, object 202421699349300202 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2022, object 202311669349300411 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2021, object 202201609349301000 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2020, object 202111669349300601 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 95-4470909: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.