Mortimer And Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2.9 million (2023)
• Success Rate: Approximately 10-15% (100+ advance to voting from 300+ applications, final ~15-30 selected)
• Decision Time: 5-6 months (May application to November announcement)
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $480,000
• Geographic Focus: National (United States and territories)

Contact Details

Address: 1910 W. Sunset Boulevard, Suite 600, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Phone: 213.201.6100
Email: info@levitt.org
Website: levitt.org

Overview

Founded by Mortimer and Mimi Levitt, the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation (EIN: 13-6204678) is a national funder with assets of $174.8 million that strengthens communities through free, live music in underused public spaces. On November 30, 2023, the Foundation announced it will spend down its $150 million in assets over the next two decades, closing in 2041. This strategic shift means the Foundation will dramatically increase its impact—from $20 million given between 2002-2021 to $150 million from 2022-2041. Currently supporting over 50 nonprofits across 30+ states presenting 650+ free concerts annually, the Foundation operates under the leadership of President & CEO Sharon Yazowski and Board Co-Chairs Peter Levitt and Kathy Eberly Ovitt.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Levitt Music Series Grants (AMP, VIBE, BLOC): $40,000 per year for 3 years (up to $120,000 total)
Multi-year matching grants to U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits to present 7-10 free outdoor concerts annually. Applications open in May with public voting in September and awards announced in November. Next application cycle for 2029-2031 will open in 2028.

Levitt Festival Grants: Up to $5,000
Annual grants for nonprofits presenting free outdoor music festivals in 2026. Rolling application process with deadline typically in late January.

Permanent Levitt Venues: $500,000+ seed funding plus multi-year operating support
Catalytic funding to build or renovate permanent outdoor venues (Levitt Pavilions or Levitt Shells) in cities with populations over 400,000. Partners present 40-50+ free concerts annually. This is invitation-only based on strategic discussions with community leaders.

Tennessee/Mississippi Special Partnership: Up to $40,000 per year for 3 years
Special partnership programs with state entertainment commissions offering enhanced support for qualifying nonprofits in these states.

Priority Areas

• Geographic equity: Small to mid-sized towns/cities (population up to 250,000, metro areas up to 1 million) for Music Series Grants; larger cities (400,000+) for permanent venues
• Creative placemaking: Activating neglected or underused outdoor public spaces
• Community inclusion: Free programming with no tickets, reservations, donations, or registration required
• Music diversity: Diverse programming featuring professional, compensated musicians across all genres
• Social fabric building: Programs that cultivate belonging, foster human connections, and strengthen community pride
• Arts access: Neighborhoods and communities with limited access to arts and culture
• Economic vitality: Projects demonstrating potential for dynamic social and economic impact

What They Don't Fund

• Indoor concerts or private venues
• Ticketed events or programs requiring registration/RSVP
• Events with suggested donations or pay-what-you-can models
• Programs outside the United States
• Organizations within 50 miles of existing Levitt Music Series (75 miles from Levitt venues), with exceptions for Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia
• Communities already hosting a Levitt Music Series (exceptions for Chicago and Los Angeles)
• Large cities for Music Series Grants (population over 250,000 or metro areas over 1 million)
• Non-music arts programming
• General operating support unrelated to free outdoor concerts
• Capital campaigns unrelated to Levitt venue development

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

• Peter Levitt, Board Co-Chair (family foundation member)
• Kathy Eberly Ovitt, Board Co-Chair
• Pasy Wang, Board Treasurer
• Sharon Yazowski, Board Secretary and President & CEO
• Larry Chaifetz
• Helen Johnson
• John McNamara
• Liz Levitt Hirsch (daughter of founders)

Quote from Liz Levitt Hirsch: "When my father handed me the reins of the Foundation, we knew free concerts would make a difference in communities."

Executive Leadership

• Sharon Yazowski, President & CEO: Provides visionary leadership in fulfilling the Foundation's mission. On the spend-down decision, she stated: "Recognizing positive interventions can have greater value today, than if delayed to when issues are compounded, we decided to become a spend down foundation. A seed that is not planted cannot grow, so the Levitt Foundation will multiply our resources as a catalytic funder."
• Vanessa Silberman, Executive Vice President: Leads the Foundation's creative vision and communications strategy
• Mark Arteaga, Vice President of Operations: Manages office operations, HR, financial reporting, and IT
• Victoria Bridenstine, Vice President of Programs: Oversees grant programs and grantee support

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Music Series Grants (Next cycle: 2028 for 2029-2031 grants)

1. Applications open in May via online portal at levitt.org
2. Submission deadline in late June
3. All applicants advancing to public voting receive $1,500 mini-grant to support voting campaign
4. Public voting period in September (voters can select up to 5 proposals)
5. Top 50 finalists reviewed by Levitt Foundation
6. Final grant recipients announced in mid-November
7. First concert season begins following spring

Festival Grants

• Online application via levitt.org/festivals/application
• Deadline typically late January (e.g., January 30, 2026, for 2026 festivals)
• Decision notifications sent within 6-8 weeks

Permanent Venues

• No public application process
• Foundation identifies potential partners through strategic conversations with city and community leaders
• Interested communities should contact the Foundation directly to discuss possibilities

Decision Timeline

• Music Series Grants: 6 months from application (May) to announcement (November)
• Festival Grants: 6-8 weeks from deadline
• Notification is typically via email and public announcement on the Foundation's website and social media

Success Rates

Music Series Grants receive approximately 300+ applications, with 100+ advancing to the public voting phase. From the public voting, approximately 50 finalists are selected for Foundation review, with final awards going to 15-30 organizations depending on the cycle. This represents an overall success rate of approximately 10-15%.

Reapplication Policy

Past grantees are eligible and encouraged to reapply for Levitt AMP grants. Current grantees may reapply annually. The Foundation does not publish explicit waiting periods for unsuccessful applicants, and organizations are welcome to reapply in subsequent cycles. Many successful grantees have applied multiple times before receiving funding.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Looks For

From Foundation materials, compelling applications demonstrate:

• Accessibility: "The festival is accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds"
• Impact: "Helps drive dynamic social impact and/or economic impact"
• Uniqueness: "Is a unique offering in the community"
• Inclusivity: "Programming that features music and performance that is welcoming to all"
• Track record: "A proven track record of producing festivals or community events"

Key Strategic Priorities

The Foundation emphasizes projects that:

• Engage diverse stakeholders: Partnerships with public and private sector organizations
• Reflect community character: Locally-driven projects that honor the unique identity of the place
• Activate underused spaces: Transform neglected public areas into vibrant community destinations
• Foster belonging: Create spaces where people from different backgrounds connect through shared musical experiences
• Build community pride: Inspire residents' sense of ownership and pride in their public spaces
• Strengthen social fabric: Use music as a tool for building social capital and human connections

Application Tips

1. Study current grantees: The Foundation recommends reviewing successful projects at levitt.org/festivals and levitt.org/amp
2. Demonstrate true accessibility: Emphasize that events are free with "no reserved ticket, suggested donation, online registration, or RSVP required"—the Foundation views these barriers as limiting inclusivity
3. Show community engagement: Evidence of partnerships across sectors and grassroots support
4. Articulate unique value: Explain how the project fills a gap or meets an unmet need in your community
5. Public voting strategy: Applicants advancing to voting receive support and should be prepared to mobilize community members
6. Narrative depth: While character counts are suggested for application questions, the Foundation values thorough answers that may exceed suggestions
7. Professional programming: Emphasize commitment to compensating musicians fairly
8. Matching funds: Demonstrate capacity to raise matching funds (grants are matching grants requiring local fundraising)

Recent Successful Grantees

Examples of 2024-2025 Levitt VIBE recipients include:

• International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago (Riis Park)
• Big Car Collaborative of Indianapolis (Max Bahr Park)
• Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation of Oakland (Liberation Park and Arroyo Viejo Park)
• Pasadena Recreation and Parks Foundation (Pasadena)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Plan ahead for timing: Music Series Grant cycles are multi-year and infrequent; next application window for 2029-2031 grants opens in 2028. Festival grants offer annual opportunities with smaller amounts.
• Embrace the matching requirement: All Music Series Grants require matching funds—demonstrate strong fundraising capacity and community financial support.
• Prepare for public voting: Advancing to the voting phase (100+ applicants) is already a significant achievement. Be ready to mobilize your community if selected for this phase.
• Focus on true accessibility: The Foundation is strict about free access—no tickets, suggested donations, registration, or RSVP. Anything that creates barriers will weaken your application.
• Geographic restrictions matter: Carefully check distance requirements from existing Levitt programs. If you're too close to an existing site, your application will be ineligible.
• Leverage the spend-down momentum: The Foundation is significantly increasing its grantmaking through 2041, creating more opportunities for communities to benefit from this strategic expansion.
• Emphasize social impact over arts excellence: While quality programming matters, the Foundation prioritizes community-building, inclusion, and placemaking outcomes over artistic prestige.

References

1. Levitt Foundation Official Website. "What We Fund." Accessed January 8, 2026. https://levitt.org/what-we-fund/
2. Levitt Foundation. "Music Series Grants - Apply." Accessed January 8, 2026. https://levitt.org/music-series-grants/apply/
3. Levitt Foundation. "About Music Series Grants." Accessed January 8, 2026. https://levitt.org/music-series-grants/about/
4. Levitt Foundation. "Press Release: Levitt Foundation Announces Spend Down of $150 Million." November 30, 2023. https://levitt.org/spend-down-press-release/
5. Levitt Foundation. "Our Team." Accessed January 8, 2026. https://levitt.org/our-team/
6. Levitt Foundation. "2026 Festival Grant Application." Accessed January 8, 2026. https://levitt.org/festivals/application/
7. GuideStar Profile. "Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc." Accessed January 8, 2026. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/13-6204678
8. PR Newswire. "Levitt Foundation Launches Multi-Year, $120K Matching Grants to Strengthen Communities through Free Outdoor Concerts." 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/levitt-foundation-launches-multi-year-120k-matching-grants-to-strengthen-communities-through-free-outdoor-concerts-302443415.html
9. Levitt Foundation. "What We Fund: A Look Inside the Levitt Foundation's Evolving Funding Strategies." Accessed January 8, 2026. https://levitt.org/what-we-fund-a-look-inside-the-levitt-foundations-evolving-funding-strategies/
10. Offbeat Magazine. "Levitt Foundation Opens Grant Applications for 2026–28 Music Series." 2025. https://www.offbeat.com/news/levitt-foundation-opens-grant-applications-for-2026-28-music-series/