Is it real?
Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Aug 1974.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
61 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.
Something off? Claim to add context
Who runs it and what they're paid
10 people listed on the 990; $101K paid to officers and key staff.
Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII
| Name | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Martin | $58,257 | $78,510 | $81,091 | $65,075 | $43,250 |
| Karl Berger | — | $7,150 | $21,000 | $20,700 | $21,000 |
| Ingrid Sertso | $11,650 | $15,350 | — | — | — |
Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.
See Creative Music Foundation INC executive salaries →Questions the 990 asks
The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.
- Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
- Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes
Programs and updates
Offers music workshops, residencies, coaching, concerts, and recordings globally.
Questions for Creative Music Foundation INC
Your first name shows with your question. Creative Music Foundation INC answers here, for everyone.
The vast legacy of CMSs founders is celebrated through its monthly Creative Improvisers Orchester (CIO) performances. Each CIO performance brings together 15-25 diverse musicians who have a one-hour open rehearsal open to the public in which conductors work with the group on themes, melodies from the worlds folk traditions, and…
CMS Workshops offer educational opportunities to professional and amateur musicians, adults interested in lifelong learning, and even to fans of the music who dont play an instrument. Each workshop typically features a Guiding Artist or multiple Guiding Artists and 18-25 participants.
The CMS improvisers Ensemble (CIE) lifts up diverse up-and-coming artists, giving them a chance to lead and shape the future of improvised music. CIE is currently conducted by a queer and trans BIPOC multi instrumentalist, who selects musicians of similarly diverse demographics to play in concert programs presented New York City.
Funders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
By the numbers
The FY2023 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY23 | End FY23 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $4K | $17K |
| InvestmentsLn 11–13 | $102 | $106 |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $6K | $18K |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $1K | $12K |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $5K | $7K |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5 | $92K | $49K | $16K | $27K |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $22K | $22K | $0 | $0 |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $9K | $6K | $771 | $1K |
| Legal feesLn 11b | $513 | $0 | $513 | $0 |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $7K | $0 | $7K | $0 |
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $62K | $43K | $11K | $8K |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $30 | $30 | $0 | $0 |
| Office expensesLn 13 | $5K | $1K | $4K | $0 |
| TravelLn 17 | $6K | $3K | $1K | $2K |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $81 | $0 | $81 | $0 |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $205K | $125K | $41K | $39K |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 LatestFiled with the IRS May 13, 2026 | $161K | $187K | −$26K | $37K | 990 PDF |
| FY2024Filed with the IRS Oct 29, 2025 | $247K | $190K | $57K | $63K | 990 PDF |
| FY2023 ViewingFiled with the IRS Sep 16, 2024 | $207K | $205K | $2K | $7K | 990 PDF |
| FY2022Filed with the IRS May 7, 2023 | $168K | $5K | 990 PDF | ||
| FY2021Filed with the IRS May 25, 2022 | $155K | $28K | 990 PDF | ||
| FY2020Filed with the IRS Jun 21, 2021 | $129K | $27K | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $206,869 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 9 of 9 board members independent, no flags
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $206,869 across 6 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $204,776 across 10 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $18,314 assets, 9 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $6,742 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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