2026-03-20T09:14:20-07:00 2025-08-31 990 2024-09-01 363028768 MERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC MERI 3127869428 38 South Peoria Street Chicago IL 60607 Amy Johnson VP for Finance & Administration 3122674474 2026-03-20 1 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Merit School of Music 38 South Peoria Street Chicago IL 60607 13136249 0 X meritmusic.org X 1979 IL Merit School of Music transforms the lives of Chicago-area youth through removing barriers to high-quality music education so that Chicago's driven young musicians can experience the transformative power of mentorship, community, and song. 27 27 224 80 283189 0 9308296 6939164 2822223 3410035 3628161 2003258 199448 1496901 15958128 13849358 820545 882685 0 0 6302225 6772805 0 0 694907 2048193 2122714 9170963 9778204 6787165 4071154 42968720 46948653 1437636 1346415 41531084 45602238 Merit School of Music is dedicated to helping young people transform their lives by removing barriers to high-quality music education, with the majority of students benefitting from need-based financial aid, scholarship support, or low-cost instrument rental. Merit enables motivated students, regardless of economic circumstance, to develop their talent and to use music as a springboard for achieving their full personal potential, with 100% of Merit graduates going on to college. The community music school's programming continuum consists of five major areas: Early Childhood, Instrumental & Vocal Music Program(Group classes), Private Lessons, Merit Music in Communities, and the Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory. 0 0 2172831 0 512853 The Merit Music in Communities (MMiC) program was founded in response to a request from Chicago Public Schools to create an in-school music education program. MMiC provides provides high-quality music education to students at dozens of schools throughout the city through group instruction in strings, band, choir, piano, guitar, early childhood, and general music. In addition to leading year-long courses, Merit faculty also participate in multi-week general music residencies where they collaborate with students and CPS teachers to creatively enhance reading, language, and critical thinking skills through music. 2604505 360098 1793751 Merit School of Music has a robust private lesson program for jazz and classical students of all ages and levels of musical ability. Over 900 students take private lessons at Merit, working one-on-one with celebrated music faculty to explore individual talents and interests, develop skills and technique, and overcome challenges. Most all of students enrolled in private lessons at Merit receive financial aid. 1060244 290312 428164 Merit's Instrumental & Vocal Music program provides beginning and intermediate K-9 musicians with small group after-school programming for string, band, piano, guitar, and voice. As students move through the program's sequential curriculum by achieving set goals, the program becomes deeper and more rigorous, preparing students for entry into Merit's prestigious Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory. 1015506 0 57005 Merit's Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory accepts approximately 300 students annually, by competitive audition. Each Saturday, students receive a full day of pre-collegiate classes including technique, music theory, chamber music, large ensembles, masterclasses, and more-all TUITION-FREE. 100 percent of Conservatory students graduate high school and many are accepted to the most prestigious university and conservatory programs, often achieving successful careers in music performance or education. 734921 181280 0 In addition to Merit's programming continuum, the music school is also a lead partner for Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative, a multi-organization collaborative effort with a mission to identify and develop gifted and motivated orchestral students from underrepresented backgrounds for acceptance into top-tier conservatory, college or university classical music programs in preparation for careers as professional musicians. 247539 0 163455 Early Childhood, Summer, other music instruction programming, and student support. Early Childhood Programs offer weekly day-time music exploration classes for newborns to age 7. Merit's Instrumental and Ensemble camps offer a wide variety of worthwhile and fun summer musical experiences for intermediate, high intermediate, and advanced students. Merit's program administration and Student Support Services provide support for students and program pedagogy. 1997966 181280 220460 7835546 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 82 0 1 224 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 27 27 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 IL X X Amy Johnson 3127869428 38 South Peoria Street Chicago IL 60607 Charles Grode President and Executive Director 37.5 0 X 194006 0 6687 Meredith Barber Vice President for Development & Marketing 37.5 0 X 133546 0 4698 Kurtis C Gildow Vice President for Programming 37.5 0 X 119556 0 3919 Amy Johnson Vice President for Finance & Administration 37.5 0 X 106527 0 3919 Julie Green Baumeister Board Chair 3 0 X 0 0 0 Thomas Linguanti Vice Chair 3 0 X 0 0 0 Jennifer Montague Vice Chair 2 0 X 0 0 0 Michael Andrews Treasurer 2 0 X 0 0 0 Marisela Rosales Lawson Secretary 2 0 X 0 0 0 Kamila Muhammed Associate Board Representative 2 0 X 0 0 0 Charles K Huebner Immediate Past Board Chair 2 0 X 0 0 0 JeNyce Boolton Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 Ryan DeVore Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 Jeffrey Breslow Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 Binta Brown Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 Carol Clavadetscher Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 Matt Gruseck Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 Dr Derrick Gay Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 Cynthia Mufarreh Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 Joe Musselman Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 Nishad Parmar Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 Micheal Powers Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 Abiman Rajadurai Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 David Schulz Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 Susie Sultan Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 David P Thomas Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 Dr Jennifer Turner Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 Jennifer Vianello Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 John F Young Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 Cathy Wloch Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 Dr Huan J Chang Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 Sandy Rusnak Trustee 1 0 X 0 0 0 553635 0 19223 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 1181512 0 112190 5645462 78897 6939164 Student Tuition and Fees 611600 2897182 2897182 0 0 School contracts 611600 512853 512853 0 0 0 0 0 0 3410035 1006960 0 0 1006960 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 196483 0 0 0 196483 0 196483 196483 0 0 283189 0 -713109 0 996298 0 996298 713109 283189 0 1181512 Employee Retention Credit funds received (Misc) 611600 1300418 1300418 0 0 0 0 0 0 1300418 13849358 5620045 283189 1006960 0 0 882685 882685 0 0 0 0 553635 119556 300533 133546 0 0 0 0 5091531 4531855 251474 308202 121830 0 121830 598745 816486 -302383 84642 407064 0 407064 0 0 0 0 0 4510 3967 448 95 24250 0 24250 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 91106 0 91106 0 194045 83708 45337 65000 90245 67787 22458 0 84699 42607 37349 4743 306456 177993 79872 48591 0 0 0 0 350413 316620 25135 8658 95131 84950 9439 742 0 0 0 0 17552 15643 1909 0 10638 2474 8164 0 0 0 0 0 380395 343120 25416 11859 76790 0 76790 0 Instrument Purchase, maintenance and rentals 153273 153273 0 0 Auditions and Competitions 111552 103638 46 7868 131659 89184 21514 20961 9778204 7835546 1247751 694907 236290 236569 5029788 9544670 4949558 2767894 812824 696131 0 0 0 0 0 0 13435 10488 66097 86473 14876269 6399939 8308409 8476330 23552319 25130098 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 42968720 46948653 386436 379330 0 0 1041867 942038 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9333 25047 1437636 1346415 X 27183030 31149223 14348054 14453015 41531084 45602238 42968720 46948653 4071154 0 0 0 0 0 X 1 1 1 0 X 4323364 6110515 7414559 9306688 6982117 34137243 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4323364 6110515 7414559 9306688 6982117 34137243 0 34137243 3488315 -2584007 1512183 3557628 1922162 7896281 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2267 13881 8937 1078 26163 42059687 0.81164 0.81326 X Schedule A, Part II, Line 10 Competition entrance fees, advertising support, unclassified income. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 30119031 3115073 1710383 614384 782900 61253 33485950 24282073 3947955 3302826 584730 763800 65293 30119031 17833515 5850440 1379148 521640 223560 35830 24282073 20634219 220000 -2260678 483558 206443 70025 17833515 17553551 275018 3527529 457322 202178 62379 20634219 0.71 0.29 0 0 0 4450000 0 4450000 6640759 0 3240509 3400250 0 0 0 0 3450583 0 3147830 302753 334927 0 11600 323327 8476330 Lease liability 25047 25047 X 13062358 0 0 0 -706910 -706910 13769268 80090 0 80090 13849358 8914204 0 0 0 -706910 -706910 9621114 157090 0 157090 9778204 Schedule D, Part V, Line 4 The endowment is primarily used to provide financial aid to our students and support general operations. Schedule D, Part X, Line 2 Merit is exempt from income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and applicable state law, except for net income derived from unrelated business activities. In addition, Merit qualifies for charitable contribution deduction under Section 170(b)(1)(A) and has been classified as an organization other than a private foundation under IRC Section 509(a).Merit's income tax filings are subject to audit by various taxing authorities. In evaluating Merit's activities, management believes its position of tax-exempt status is based on current facts and circumstances, and there have been no uncertain positions taken related to recording income taxes. In the option of management, there are no activities unrelated to the purpose of the organization and, therefore, no tax is to be recognized. It is the policy of Merit to include in administration expenses penalties and interest assessed by income taxing authorities. Schedule D, Part XI, Line 2d Financial Aid is a contra-revenue item and reduces revenues on the audited financial statement. They are included as expenses in the Form 990 Filing. Schedule D, Part XII, Line 2d Financial Aid is a contra-revenue item and reduces revenues on the audited financial statement. They are included as expenses in the Form 990 Filing. Annual Gala 1405609 0 1405609 0 0 0 91711 28538 123763 0 0 1405609 0 1405609 0 0 0 91711 28538 123763 244012 1161597 1 Grants are overwhelmingly used to study music at Merit. A few grants are made to underwrite summer camp attendance and as college scholarships. We verify attendence/enrollment in the camps and colleges. 918 Schedule I, Part I, Line 2 Grants are overwhelmingly used to study music at Merit. A few grants are made to underwrite summer camp attendance and as college scholarships. We verify attendance/enrollment in the camps and colleges. X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Charles Grode President and Executive Director 194006 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6687 0 200693 0 0 0 Schedule J, Part I, Line 3 The Executive Committee reviews the compensation of the Executive Director using performance versus goals and compensation levels of other similar organizations based on filed Form 990s X 5 71734 Revenue from same-day sale 0 0 1 1 Schedule M, Part I, Line 32b Merit engages a registered broker / dealer to sell all stock contributions received as gifts. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 2 Several members of Merit's Board of Life Trustees are related family. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b Prior to filing, the 990 is electronically distributed to the Board of Trustees. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c The Executive and Board Relations Assistant reviews the disclosed and potential conflicts of interest forms completed. Any concerns are brought to the attention of the Executive Director and the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15 The Chair of Trustees and Executive Committee reviews the performance and compensation of the President & Executive Director. The President & Executive Director reviews and determines the compensation of the Vice President for Development & Marketing, the Dean & Vice President for Programming, and the Vice President for Finance & Administration Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 Copies of the requested documents (Audited Financial Statements, Form 990, Policies and Procedures) are provided upon email, verbal or written request. Audited Financial Statements and the Form 990 are publicly posted on Merit's website. Awaiting final audit information and then distribution of Form 990 to our Board of Trustees per our governance procedures.