Save the Music Foundation

“Chris mccarthy, director (outgoing); candice brancazio, director; brianna cayo cotter, director (outgoing); wanda coriano, director; elena diaz, co-chairperson/director; leslie fram, director; tim weatherspoon, director; and henry donahue, executive director/asst secretary have a business relationship for part of the year. Candice brancazio, director and leslie fram, director had a business relationship for the entire year.”

“On february 1, 2024, board of directors approved amendment the bylaws to amend the provisions related to the retention, and rights and obligations of the executive director beginning march 1, 2024.”

“Process used by the foundation to review 990 - irs form 990 is prepared by third-party tax preparer organization. It is sent to executive director, senior director of finance and operations, and acting controller to review and provide feedback to third-party tax preparer organization. If feedback creates correction, updated draft is provided. After updated draft is provided, it is provided to audit committee members. Audit committee meeting is held in which is reviews and approves 990 subject to full board review of 990. After the audit committee aproves draft 990, draft 990 is sent to full board for their review. If there are no corrections from the board, executive director instructs third-party tax preparer organization to electronically file, followed by executive director electronically signing 990.”

“Monitoring and enforcing compliance with conflict of interest policy - conflict of interest policy statements are requested from each member of the board of directors annually. Conflict of interest policy statements are distributed with board packets and at each board meeting. Reminders are sent to board members who have not submitted a completed conflict of interest statement. Statements are reviewed to know and address issues regarding family and business relationships. Save the music foundaion address known conflict of interest issues that needed to be address during the fiscal year ended december 31, 2024.”

“The executive committee of the save the music foundation (the "committee") is responsible for governance and oversight of the compensation and benefits programs for executive level staff (including executive director; chief development officer/deputy executive director; chief program officer; and senior director positions) and ensuring that the compensation policies of the save the music foundation are consistent with and in support of the organization's mission, values, and goals. The intent of the committee is to provide a competitive total compensation program for executives that promotes the organizations's long-term strategic objectives, and is reasonable, appropriate, and fair. The committee includes at least three independent board members that determine the compensation of the key employees and highest compensated. The committee is provided with comparable salary for similar position in similar size and type organizations. The executive director or his designee conducts an ongoing goal-setting and performance management process for key employees and highest compensated. The outcome to this process is shared with the committee. The committee is also provided overall qualifications, skills, experience, overall achievements to the organization, and tenure at the organization for each executive. The committee makes their decisions about compensation and documents its decision in the committee meeting minutes. Key employees compensation is then ratified by the board as part of the organization's annual budget during executive session of a board meeting with quorum present.”

“Audited financial statements are available on foundation's website. The foundation's governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are available to the public by request.”

“Middle school music tech grant in addition to the j dilla music tech grant for high school students, the foundation has created a music technology grant package for middle school students, grades 6 through 8, with similar goals. The instruments and equipment included in each j dilla music tech grant have a total fair market value of approximately $20,000 and includes music creation software, technology, and equipment, along with a one-one-one mentorship with a local music education community partner and foundation program support for 10 years. In fiscal year 2024, the foundation delivered 14 middle school music tech grants, impacting nearly 9,500 students and music educators. Keys + kids grant the keys + kids grant supports any type of music education program, including vocal/choral, general music, musical theater, or instrumental. The instruments and equipment included in each keys + kids grant have a total fair market value of approximately $12,000 and includes a contemporary digital hybrid piano, keyboards, instructional method books, professional development support for music teachers, and foundation program support for 10 years. In fiscal year 2024, the foundation delivered 2 keys + kids grant packages, impacting nearly 2,000 students and music educators. School districts and nonprofits that support music education in public schools receiving sub-grants from the foundation during 2024 include: successful inc is a 501(c)(3) organization that distributes music instruments to music education students and provides accessories to music and band programs in the tennessee and mississippi delta area. Program support a grant of instruments, equipment, and resources provides the impetus for music programs to be restored, but this is only the beginning of the foundation's partnerships with school districts nationwide. Grant recipient principals are provided with hands-on guidance in building an instrumental music program. The foundation's program staff assists principals in developing their music program through workshops, personal meetings, and the foundation's guide to building an instrumental music program. The guide provides information to principals on getting started, next steps on how to grow the school's music program, national music education standards, research attributing music education for positive childhood development, and other resources of additional information. In instances where school programs, initially supported by the foundation, faced the imminent risk of elimination, proactive measures were taken. In each scenario, a letter expressing the foundation's apprehensions about the potential discontinuation was provided to the school's principal, members of the school board, and the superintendent of the school district. The correspondence referenced the initial agreement between the foundation and the school district, serving as a reminder of the mutual commitment to sustaining the program. Subsequently, meetings were orchestrated to engage with senior leadership within the school districts, providing a platform for constructive dialogue. Notably, these concerted efforts proved effective, as most of the programs were successfully preserved and spared from elimination. The conversations that take place while advocating in local communities prove most effective when decision makers, community members, stakeholders, and funders are already familiar with the importance of music education. For this reason, the foundation employs several strategies on a national scale to lay the groundwork for successful local advocacy. In fiscal year 2024, the foundation program staff offered new grant recipients music teachers, school leaders, and district administrators the opportunity to learn more about their grant and how to successfully sustain their music programs in the new school year. The foundation offered two virtual information sessions in august and september. A total of 103 grant recipients from 40 school districts atte”

“The foundation partnered with 5 organizations to sponsor 67 total scholarships for music educators in grantee school districts to attend an educational conference. Scholarships may include conference registrations, stipends for travel and meal costs, and hotel stays, depending on the ease of traveling to the event. Conferences provide opportunities to learn proven practices for the music classroom and connect with fellow educators. Partner, conference school district(s) or community, state number of scholarships namm foundation, the 2024 namm show los angeles unified school district, compton unified school district, san gabriel unified school district, ca 17 minnesota music educators association, midwinter convention - saint paul public schools and minneapolis public schools, mn - 9 new jersey music educators association. Annual state conference - elizabeth public schools, jersey city public schools, paterson public schools, newark public schools, and new brunswick public schools, nj - 23 conn-selmer, conn-selmer institute greenwood leflore consolidated school district, ms 1 the midwest clinic, the international band and orchestra conference west virginia county schools, cincinnati public schools, oh, dearborn public schools, mi 17 the foundation partnered with 17 grassroots organizations and educators in active grantee communities with a high level of expertise to provide mentorship, guidance, and individualized content support to 91 grantee music teachers. Hands-on professional development has high potential to empower teachers and teach them new skills and techniques to then pass on to their students. For music technology grantee teachers, the local music tech support partner is engaged to ensure the grant is implemented successfully in their classrooms. Mentorships with organizations are active for the duration of the school year. Partner (type of mentorship) school district(s) or community, state number of mentees music education group (music tech) atlanta public schools, fulton county public schools, and cobb county public schools, ga 14 community music school-detroit, michigan state university (music tech) detroit public schools community district, woodhaven-brownstown school district, and whitmore lake public schools, mi 4 memphis music initiative (music tech) memphis-shelby county schools, tn 2 southern word (music tech) metro nashville public schools, tn 6 blue bear school of music (music tech) san diego unified school district and oakland unified school district, ca 4 young musicians unite (music tech) miami-dade county public schools, fl 6 record high (music tech) east orange school district, elizabeth public schools, jersey city board of education, newark board of education, and new brunswick public schools, nj 7 we make noise los angeles (music tech) anaheim union high school district, los angeles unified school district, compton unified school district, and san gabriel unified school district, ca 13 we make noise new york city (music tech) - new york city department of education, ny - 9 we make noise phoenix (music tech) - phoenix unified school district and mesa public schools, az - 3 tri-c creative arts academy, cuyahoga community college (music tech) cleveland metropolitan school district, oh 1 ryan easter of drawingboard inc. (music tech) cleveland metropolitan school district, oh 1 dr. Mike bogle of dallas college (music tech) dallas independent school district, tx 2 darren saunders (music tech) baltimore city public schools, md 3 southwestern college (music tech) - sweetwater unified school district, ca - 3 4 learning (music tech) - minneapolis public schools, mn - 3 mindfulness through music (band and elementary music) greenville public schools, greenwood leflore consolidated school district, meridian public schools, newton municipal school district, claiborne county public schools, ms 10 virtual gatherings in fiscal year 2024, save the music program and policy staff members hosted 13 virtual gatherings,”

“The foundation honors in front of thousands of school district leaders and administrators from across the country school district leaders who have been supportive of music education at aasa's annual national conference. In the 2024 fiscal year, the save the music's national award for distinguished support of music education was presented to dr. Amy j. Carter, the superintendent of meridian public school district in meridian, mississippi. In total, the foundation has delivered a total of 6 grants since 2022 to the school district where music education remains a priority. Conference workshops the foundation often provides workshops on the benefits of music education at national and regional conferences. Topics for these workshops included building and expanding community music education ecosystems. In fiscal year 2024, the foundation partnered with the namm foundation and the namm show (april 2024 anaheim, california) to produce workshops and panel discussions. Convenings a convening is an event over the course of one to three days where stakeholders, speakers, and special guests are gathered to discuss the future of music education in their community. Stakeholders include public school educators, local community music programs, foundations and national funders, city leaders, cultural institutions, arts service organizations, universities, and local musicians. Stakeholders build relationships and networks, sharing resources and committing to a shared vision of strengthening music education in their community. In fiscal year 2024, the foundation co-produced remixing the industry, a two-day event for students and stakeholders in atlanta, georgia, to discuss the state of music education and its connections to career pathways in the music industry. Approximately 150 students and 13 teachers and school staff were in attendance on the first day for student-focused content and approximately 40 stakeholders attended the second day for community-focused discussion. Social communications the foundation shares grant recipient updates and stories of impact on its social media platforms and in email communications with foundation stakeholders. Stories include interviews with students, teachers, and principals, pictures and videos of students playing instruments in school or in performance, and events that occur around the foundation's investment of instruments at a school. In these communications, funders and partners are often acknowledged, as well as the district's continued support of music education in their community. Sharing stories of impact shows the foundation's constant relationship with its grant recipient schools and its advocacy for continued music education in public schools. Social communications also include research on how music education and support from musical artists, community leaders, and local or state lawmakers positively impacts children. Hundreds of posts are made each year to thousands of users and followers. The foundation sends 11 emails per year to the program and grant recipient network for grantee-specific news and opportunities.”

“The process has not changed from the prior year.”