Nonprofit · EIN 27-2981666
MUSIC FOR LIFE
Also known as GUITARS NOT GUNS
Tax-exempt · SPRINGFIELD, VA 22151
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $212,527 | $178,244 | $34,283 | $357,811 | $4,166 | $353,645 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $191,681 | $210,115 | -$18,434 | $326,048 | $6,685 | $319,363 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $179,438 | $212,988 | -$33,550 | $357,858 | $20,061 | $337,797 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $212,527
- of which government grants
- $17,770
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $0
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Other salaries and wages
- $46,481
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $57,021
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $1,110
- Occupancy
- $5,915
- Program services (functional)
- $172,433
- Management and general (functional)
- $2,409
- Fundraising (functional)
- $3,402
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $326,048
- Total assets, end of year
- $357,811
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $4,166
- Net assets, end of year
- $353,645
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $336,761
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $16,884
- Gross receipts
- $212,527
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 100
- Year formed
- 2010
- State of legal domicile
- VA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skip Chaples | President Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $0 |
| Rick Weinberg | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 |
| Cheri Stronach | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 |
| Jim Basara | Board Member Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Vince Blessing | Board Member Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Diane Ditzler | Board Member Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Glen McCarthy | Board Member Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Curtis Schehr | Board Member Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Betsy Stone | Board Member Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 9 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skip Chaples | President Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $0 |
| Rick Weinberg | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 |
| Cheri Brown | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 |
| Jim Basara | Board Member Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Vince Blessing | Board Member Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Diane Ditzler | Board Member Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Glen McCarthy | Board Member Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Curtis Schehr | Board Member Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Betsy Stone | Board Member Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 9 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skip Chaples | President Trustee or director, Institutional trustee | 40 | $0 |
| Rick Weinberg | Treasurer Trustee or director, Institutional trustee | 4 | $0 |
| Cheri Brown | Secretary Trustee or director, Institutional trustee | 4 | $0 |
| Jim Basara | Board Member Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Vince Blessing | Board Member Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Diane Ditzler | Board Member Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Glen McCarthy | Board Member Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Curtis Schehr | Board Member Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Betsy Stone | Board Member Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 7453 LONG PINE DR, SPRINGFIELD, VA 22151-2816
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- Francis Chaples, 7453 Long Pine Drive, Springfield, VA 22151
- Signed the 990
- Francis Chaples, President
- Phone
- (703) 283-8547
- Website
- www.musicforlife.org
Mission
Turning youthful dreams into reality by providing youth living in adverse circumstances opportunities that are otherwise either not attainable or too difficult to access due to their family's financial situation. We help them improve their academics, social skills, emotional well-being and connectivity to school and community, traits necessary for success. We provide them an educational and fun alternative to risky behaviors like gangs, truancy and substance abuse.
Program accomplishments
- After-School Guitar Program - There are too few age appropriate after school programs for middle and high school age at-promise youth; the focus continues to be on early childhood education. While early childhood programs are essential, the lessons taught will not be retained if a comparable level of support is not provided through their difficult teen years. We provide free guitar lessons and mentoring to these youth in their neighborhoods and schools thus removing two of their greatest barriers; cost and transportation.Expenses $4,146
- Band & Orchestra Program - Fees and participation requirements are making school band and orchestra programs increasingly more expensive; students have to pay for instruments, uniforms, travel and competitions; schools recommend students take private lessons to become proficient on their instrument because they don't have adequate teaching resources to provide them adequate individual lessons. The result is that at-promise youth are being priced out of participation and/or unable to keep pace with those students whose families can afford private lessons. We bridge this gap by helping these students with fees they cannot afford as well as providing them free individual lessons on any instrument. At-promise youth are those who lack the resources and support necessary to reach their potential.Expenses $103,171
- STEAM Guitar Program - Traditional STEM programs focus on college preparedness and are not technologically diverse; there is a need for diversity in what's offered and the addition of a vocational component. This program diversifies the academic offerings by teaching students the STEM principles behind the design and operation of a guitar and then adds a vocational component by having them build their own instrument. An electric guitar is used for high school students; cigar box guitar for middle school students. The program is offered as a Career & Technical Education (CTE) elective during regular school hours. At-promise students can participate for free; other students can participate for a fee. We provide the teacher training, the unique tools requuired to assemble and test a guitar, course syllabus, and luthier support.Expenses $40,830
- Ukulele Program - This program originated as part of our After-School Guitar Program but has since grown to sufficient size to be a seperate program. Under this program we establish a ukulele program in Title I elementary schools and schools for youth with disabilities. We train the school's music teachers to run a ukulele program, provide them a curriculum and teaching materials, conduct a joint class at their school with them and our ukulele instructor, and donate a compliment of 30 ukuleles to the school. Follow-on teacher and instrument maintenance support is provided as needed.Expenses $5,270
- In 2025 we added a Piano Program for youth in Title I Elementary Schools. Using keyboards, students participate in a 6-week introductory class; group lessons for up to 25 youth. Students who complete the classes and demonstrate the maturity, discipline, and interest are then awarded scholarships to a local piano studio for private piano lessons.Expenses $19,016
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 27-2981666
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2010
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Youth development (O50)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $357,811
- Income (IRS master file)
- $212,527
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $212,527 | $178,244 | $357,811 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $191,681 | $210,115 | $326,048 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $179,438 | $212,988 | $357,858 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $172,214 | $156,606 | $389,520 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 27-2981666).
Questions about MUSIC FOR LIFE
- What is the EIN of MUSIC FOR LIFE?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of MUSIC FOR LIFE is 27-2981666.
- Is MUSIC FOR LIFE tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2010.
- Are donations to MUSIC FOR LIFE tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does MUSIC FOR LIFE file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of MUSIC FOR LIFE due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did MUSIC FOR LIFE last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of MUSIC FOR LIFE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Francis Chaples.
- Who are the officers and directors of MUSIC FOR LIFE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 9 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.
- How much revenue does MUSIC FOR LIFE have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $212,527, expenses of $178,244 and total assets of $357,811 at year end.
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- NORTHERN VIRGINIA GIRLS SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION CHARITABLE TR EIN 54-2062298 · last filed 990-EZ for 2024
- ADOPT-A-GYM EIN 82-5428280 · last filed 990-N for 2024
- BALTIMORE LACROSSE INC EIN 92-3840832 · last filed 990-N for 2025
- BEAPROUD FOUNDATION INCORPORATED EIN 85-4205871 · last filed 990-N for 2023
- UNITED STATES ARMY BLACK AVIATION ASSOCIATION INC EIN 54-1764116 · last filed 990-N for 2025
- M&M FAMILY FOUNDATION EIN 86-1578095 · last filed 990-PF for 2024
- NORTHERN VIRGINIA YOUTH CLUB INC EIN 45-0624693 · last filed 990-N for 2025
All nonprofits in SPRINGFIELD · Virginia · Youth development