W O SMITH NASHVILLE COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL
Mission Statement
W.O. Smith Music School makes affordable, quality music instruction available to children from low-income families. We transform lives through music. Quick facts -The school was founded in 1984 by William Oscar Smith -We serve children (aged 8-18) living in the Metropolitan Nashville area -Students must meet income guidelines for the USDA Free and Reduced Lunch Program - Classes and lessons are fifty cents each per week - Students are provided with an instrument of their choosing, a volunteer teaching artist, and any necessary musical materials for their studies - Volunteer teaching artists are community members, local performers, studio artists, and university students with a passion for sharing their musical gifts
Financial Overview — FY 2025
Compared with Peers
FY 2025| Ratio | This org | Peer median | Position (P10 → P90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Program expense ratio
Program expenses / total expenses
· higher is better
|
60.6% | 77.7% |
P10P90
|
Bottom quarter |
|
Admin expense ratio
Management and general / total expenses
· lower is better
|
32.3% | 14.2% |
P10P90
|
Bottom quarter |
|
Fundraising expense ratio
Fundraising expenses / total expenses
· lower is better
|
7.2% | 5.9% |
P10P90
|
Below median |
|
Fundraising efficiency
Fundraising expenses / gross fundraising income
· lower is better
|
37.5% | 302.5% |
P10P90
|
Top quarter |
|
Operating reserve
Months of expenses covered by net assets
· higher is better
|
59.7 mo | 15.8 mo |
P10P90
|
Top quarter |
|
Liabilities to assets
Total liabilities / total assets
· lower is better
|
0.6% | 11.4% |
P10P90
|
Top quarter |
|
Revenue concentration
Share of revenue from the largest source
· lower is better
|
87.2% | 70.6% |
P10P90
|
Bottom quarter |
|
Revenue growth
Year over year revenue growth
|
64.3% | 7.9% |
P10P90
|
|
|
Expense growth
Year over year expense growth
|
12.9% | 5.4% |
P10P90
|
|
|
Surplus margin
Surplus as a share of revenue
|
13.2% | 0.9% |
P10P90
|
Impact
1 program| Outcome / Program | People Served | Cost / Service | # Completed | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Improve their musicianship, develop time management skills, safe environment | 388 | $1.00 | — | Per Week |
Financial History
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Net Assets | Program % | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1.4M | $1.2M | $6.0M | 60.6% | 6 |
| 2024 | $851K | $1.1M | $5.8M | 66.1% | 6 |
| 2023 | $989K | $876K | $6.0M | 71.0% | 5 |
| 2022 | $597K | $846K | N/A | — | 5 |
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