The Les Paul Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 13-3911396 · since 1997les-paul.com·United States·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$418k
Annual giving, 2024 tax year
From the Form 990-PF filing
$1,500 to $25,000
Grant range
From grants in the 990-PF filings
$2,500
Typical grant (median)
63 grants in the latest filing
Open to applications
A mix of rolling and fixed deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

  • If your work centres on music education, music recording, STEM or STEAM programmes for students in challenging situations, Les Paul exhibits or hearing research, the foundation's stated focus fits, and it funds only public charities and schools operating programmes in the United States.
  • A modest request suits it: the stated range for first-time grants is $1,500 to $2,000, and half of its 188 grants to organisations across its last three filings were $2,500 or less, though about 8 in 10 grants fall between $1,500 and $25,000 and the largest was $100,000.
  • Its own guidance is to show how you will share Les Paul's story, to demonstrate support from other sources, and to make a realistic funding request, because the foundation says a name on a programme or plaque is not enough.
  • Send the saved current form as an attachment to info@lespaulfoundation.org by 15 January or 15 September, answering every question, since missing information stops consideration.
  • Because 81% of its grant dollars to organisations in its latest filing went to groups it had already funded, the foundation seems to reward a continuing relationship, so a first request should be framed as a start; individuals, and religious, political, labor or business organisations, should not apply.

Overview

The Les Paul Foundation is a US private foundation based in Syosset, NY.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Les Paul Foundation supports programmes and projects that encourage innovation in music education, recording, exhibits about Les Paul, and innovative STEM or STEAM programmes for students and others in challenging situations. It also considers medical research proposals related to curing tinnitus and other hearing impairment issues. Its grants are for projects and programmes that serve groups, rather than individuals. Eligible applicants are public charities and schools located and operating programmes in the United States. The kinds of organisations it funds include music education organisations and schools, music recording and music-industry education programmes, innovative STEM/STEAM programmes, aligned after-school science and music programmes, and museum exhibits about Les Paul developed in collaboration with the Foundation. Applicants should explain how they will share Les Paul’s story; the Foundation also asks them to demonstrate support from other sources and make a realistic funding request.

Themes

  • Music education
  • Music recording
  • STEM/STEAM education
  • Hearing research
  • Les Paul exhibits

Geographic Focus

United States.

What They Don't Fund

  • Religious, political, labor or business organizations
  • Individuals

How to apply

For grant applications, complete and save the current form, then attach it to an email and send it to info@lespaulfoundation.org.

Deadlines: Grant applications have two recurring deadlines: 15 January and 15 September.

Application success factors

  • Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 81% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
  • Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 188 grants to organisations were $2,500 or less.

What the foundation says:

  • Applicants should explain how they will share Les Paul’s story; the Foundation says its name on a programme or plaque is not sufficient.
  • Applicants should demonstrate funding from sources beyond the Les Paul Foundation.
  • The Foundation asks applicants to begin a relationship with a realistic funding request.
  • Personnel, timeline and budget should be consistent with the project or programme.
  • The Foundation requires all form questions to be answered; missing information precludes consideration.
  • Funded organisations must provide a final report of project activities.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Wisconsin25%
Tennessee19%
New York17%
New Jersey12%
Massachusetts6%
Pennsylvania3%

6 other states: 8%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 10%

  • The largest single recipient received 15% of grant dollars to organisations.
  • In tax year 2024, 81% of grant dollars went to organisations The Les Paul Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
  • No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.

Grants

63 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $2,500

How much do they typically give?

Share of 63 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$1k–$2.5k44%
$2.5k–$5k30%
$5k–$10k14%
$10k–$25k3%
$25k–$50k5%
$50k–$100k3%

Median $2,500 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

  • Discovery World · Stem programs and exhibits
    $75,0002024 tax year
  • Hearing Health Foundation · Medical research
    $50,0002024 tax year
  • Notes for Notes · Fund recording studios in boys and girls clubs
    $35,0002024 tax year
  • Soulsville Foundation · Music programs
    $30,0002024 tax year
  • Musicians On Call · Virtual bedside performance program
    $25,0002024 tax year
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute · Music education
    $24,9002024 tax year
  • Rowan University Foundation · Music programs
    $20,0002024 tax year
  • Mahwah Museum Society · Les paul exhibit
    $8,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

  • Arlene Palmer — Trustee
  • Jeff Salmon — Trustee
  • Michael K Braunstein — Executive Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

YearTotal expensesGrants paidAssetsFiling document
2022 tax year$2,045,168$565,540$38,433,899Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year$2,266,810$525,320$40,720,533Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year$2,737,003$418,042$42,289,748Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.

Sources

Other sources

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