IFI Music Defined:
Institute
1. To establish, organize, and set in operation.

Independent
1. Free from the influence, guidance, or control of a larger entity; self-reliant.

Music
1. The art of arranging sounds in time so as to produce a continuous, unified, and evocative composition, as through melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre.

IFI Music Defined
To establish, organize, and set in operation an organization to promote and support music that is free from the influence, guidance, or control of a larger entity; being self-reliant to create the art of arranging sounds in time so as to produce a continuous, unified, and evocative composition, as through melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre.

What is a Non-Profit?
It has come to our attention that many do not understand the operations of a non-profit organization. A nonprofit organization (also known as a "NPO", or "non-profit" or "not-for-profit") is an organization whose primary objective is to support some issue or matter of private interest or public concern for non-commercial purposes. Nonprofits may be involved in an innumerable range of areas relating to the arts, charities, education, politics, religion, research, sports or other endeavor.

It is the legal and ethical restrictions on the distribution of profits to owners or shareholders which fundamentally distinguishes nonprofits from commercial enterprises. Nonprofits generally do not operate to generate profit as you normally associate the word profit, a characteristic widely considered to be the defining characteristic of such organizations. However, a nonprofit organization may accept, hold and disburse money and other things of value. It may also legally and ethically trade at a profit. The extent to which it can generate income is constrained and the use of those profits is restricted to its mission. Nonprofits therefore are typically funded by donations from the private or public sector, and often have tax exempt status. Private donations to a 501c3 non-profit are tax deductible. Nonprofit organizations typically have members as opposed to shareholders.

Nonprofit organizations often are charities or service organizations; they may be organized as a not-for-profit corporation or as a trust, a cooperative, or they may be purely informal. A nonprofit may be a very loosely organized group, such as a block association or a trade union, or it may be a complex structure such as a university, hospital, documentary film production company or educational book publisher.

Examples of some recognized non-profits are the American Red Cross, the United Way, the American Cancer Society, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the March of Dimes and Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital. These are all non-profits that were established to focus on the awareness and support of a specific need in the world community. IFI Music has been established to focus on the awareness and support of the Indie Music community AND take it to the next level of being the unifying link of the community. As established, none of the board of directors will profit off of any of the monies donated to or raised for the mission of IFI Music. All funds will go back into the organization to continue its mission of promoting, supporting and uniting the Indie Music community.

Who Are the People Behind IFI Music?
The Institute for Independent Music is made up of a group of musicians and music lovers that have come together to form a non-profit organization that promotes and supports independent music. Our purpose and some of our objectives are noted inside. If you are interested in being a part of this project from literally the ground level or have any suggestions concerning the web site or purpose of the Institute for Independent Music, feel free to contact us, we are eager to hear from you.

IFI Music is comprised of seven Board Members with the combined experience of twenty-six years in non-profit work and involvement, ninety-two years in novice and professional musicianship, forty-one years in music business, entertainment and promotion, forty-seven years in professional management and business, forty-four years in music retail, eighteen years in computer web design and engineering and nineteen years in law practice.

As a Board determined to obtain the trust of the Indie music community and supporters, our Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws declare that no member of the Board of Directors will receive compensation for their work with IFI Music. Also, as required by law, our financial books are open to the public, but to insure integrity of the work of IFI Music, our financial books will be viewable to all supporters and members of IFI Music in a designated area of the permanent web site that is being developed.

IFI Music Motto:
music that's made to be heard TM

The motto of the Institute for Indepedent Music, music that's made to be heard, proclaims what we believe. We believe that independent music is created for and should be given the chance to be heard by ALL of the listening public. IFI Music supports and promotes the increase of the publics awareness of independent music.

IFI Music Logo:
The logo for the Institute for Independent Music says it all. Our logo is centered around the musical symbol "forte". This symbol notates to the musician to "play loudly". The Institute for Independent Music encourages, supports and promotes the growth of independent music.