The Spirit of Harmony Foundation, Inc
Advocating for the moral imperative of music education.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Spirit of Harmony Foundation advocates for early institutional music education. We support music programs by assisting them with obtaining the resources they need to succeed. Based on what we consider to be the most compelling research in the fields of neurobiology and youth development, we endorse the following Best Practices: Instrument-based music education for children,beginning at as young an age as possible, ideally for a minimum 4 hours per week, for a minimum of 2 years. The Foundation strongly encourages programs in need of assistance or individuals interested in helping a local program to visit our Music Education Advocacy Toolkit, which contains valuable resources for long-term systemic support.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Support Music Education
The Foundation is an organization that advocates for broad access to Music Education in the United States. We provide informational resources to support the Moral Imperative of Music Education, assist music programs with financial and non-financial support, and we raise awareness about the imperative of Music and Music Education for all.
Based on what we consider to be the most compelling research in the fields of neurobiology and youth development, we endorse the following Best Practices:
1. Instrument-based music education for children,
2. Beginning at as young an age as possible,
3. Ideally for a minimum 4 hours per week,
4. For a minimum of 2 years.
We believe in providing opportunities for personal development and self-expression through the support of music and music education for young people regardless of socioeconomic status, geographic location, or ability.
Awareness of the Importance of Music
Championing the Cause
• Youth. Through programs and activities, the Foundation believes that engaging kids in the importance and fun of music will motivate them to rehearse and learn. We would like to see children as excited and passionate about their music as they are about participating in sports or other forms of entertainment.
• Parents/Families. There is no doubt that parents play a critical role in encouraging children to commit to their lessons. Parents and families that fully understand the benefits of Music Education for the future of their children will be more likely to support at-home practice as well as enthusiastically attend recitals and events.
• Educators/Administrators. The social, neurological, academic, and economic benefits of Music Education make every dollar spent on Music Education an excellent investment in the success of children. When budgetary decisions are made, widespread knowledge of the benefits of Music Education should take those expenses off the “chopping block.”
• General Public. Anyone who loves music should support the concept of Music Education as being an essential part of every child’s formative years for the developmental benefits Music Education brings each child, as well as for the social good of music in every person’s life.
• Everyone. We always take the time to listen with an open mind to anyone who approaches the Foundation with an idea, concern, or opportunity, with the knowledge that inspiration can never be fully planned.
Grassroots Advocacy
Within their own communities, our supporters are encouraged to utilize our Advocacy Toolkit to promote music education programs in local schools. Also, our supporters engage in musical instrument collections for music programs in need.
Where we work
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total number of volunteer hours contributed to the organization
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, At-risk youth, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Support Music Education
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Spirit of Harmony supporters staff information tables at Todd Rundgren concerts around the country, providing information about Music Education and local music programs.
Number of websites and organizations (outside of our organization) that share our resources and information
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Awareness of the Importance of Music
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our website includes a Music Education Advocacy Toolkit, which is continually updated with the freshest and most helpful information about resources and data to support our mission.
Number of groups/individuals benefiting from tools/resources/education materials provided
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Awareness of the Importance of Music
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Based on the SOHF's most active social media participants. The foundation's social media presence is many times higher than these numbers, as these numbers represent the most active.
Number of organizations accessing technical assistance offerings
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Grassroots Advocacy
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In varying degrees, SOHF provides local music programs across the United States with consultation and direct assistance to enhance sustainability and effectiveness.
Number of advisory councils the organization is a part of
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Grassroots Advocacy
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Includes staff participation on Boards of Directors related to music education advocacy.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We at the Spirit of Harmony Foundation believe that every student deserves access to high quality music instruction and we are dedicated to helping educators, districts, administrators, parents, and engaged communities create and nurture sustainable music education programs in the schools and organizations in their community. Music education programs are fundamental to ensure the optimal social, neurological, economic, and academic development of America’s students.
The purpose of our advocacy work is to give individuals the research and tools necessary not simply to make the case for music education, but to help bring high quality music education programming to their schools and communities.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Absolutely EVERY ONE of us can do the advocacy work of the Spirit of Harmony Foundation whenever the opportunity arises! This work is grassroots level, and you don’t have to be an expert or a lobbyist to help us spread the important message that Music Education is so good for kids, it is a moral imperative.
Here are some ideas on Grassroots Involvement in your own community: Build a relationship with a local music program. Very likely they need volunteers at a variety of different levels, everything from school council representative or organizational board member, to volunteers, to fundraising help, to people who will buy tickets and fill the seats for the kids’ recitals. If you discover that your local school does not have a music program, consider visiting our Advocacy Toolkit and arming yourself with all of the reasons why the school should have one! Nearly all music programs need instruments. Consider organizing a community instrument drive.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The organization has two staff members, but a network of hundreds of supporters who are encouraged to reach out to music programs in their local communities. Staff coordinates efforts and provides resources, matching the needs of music programs with the material and human assets they need to be the best they can be. At a national level, through social media and public relations efforts, the Spirit of Harmony takes every opportunity to make a case for the importance of music education for children.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Todd Rundgren’s Spirit of Harmony advocates for the moral imperative of music education and music performance for youth, beginning at the earliest age possible, offered in schools or as after-school programs. We forge meaningful partnerships among music programs, corporations, and other music education non-profits, engaging supporters and music fans to become involved in working with music education programs nationally and in their communities.
The Foundation weaves together the social, biological, economic, and academic benefits accrued by students who are involved in consistent instrument-based music education. We believe in providing opportunities for personal development and self-expression through music, regardless of socioeconomic status, geographic location, or ability.
Working in harmony with our partners and stake holders, our goal is to develop and nurture strategic relationships that enhance the success of all.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
The Spirit of Harmony Foundation, Inc
Board of directorsas of 06/07/2023
Mr. Ed Vigdor
Spirit of Harmony Foundation
Term: 2013 -
Todd Rundgren
Spirit of Harmony Foundation
Michele Rundgren
Spirit of Harmony Foundation
Ed Vigdor
Spirit of Harmony Foundation
James F Lachowicz
Chicago Transit Authority
Jean D Lachowicz
Spirit of Harmony Foundation
Bill Chapman
c3digital
Kevin Ellman
Wealth Preservation Specialists
John Siegler
Up the River Music
Mark Woodin
Private Practice
Michael Baird
Stotis-Baird Chartered
Joel Owens
Community Building Partnership, Retired
Mary Parent
University of Notre Dame
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 06/14/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.