The Music Man Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Music Man Foundation funds work that uses music to drive systemic change, arts advocacy, or Meredith Willson's legacy, with a geographic focus on Kern, Los Angeles County, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, California, and the United States of America, so a strong fit will show clearly how music is central to the change being sought.
- Typical grants to organisations run from $2,500 to $250,000, with a median of $80,000, so a modest request in that range is realistic for most applicants; its named programmes have their own ranges, with Meredith Willson Awards from $50,000 to $500,000 and Strengthening the Sector grants from $20,000 to $250,000.
- The application method varies by programme: for Strengthening the Sector grants, organisations first check eligibility and submit a Letter of Inquiry through the online portal, and may then be invited to a Leadership Meeting before being asked for a full application.
- A sizeable share, 72%, of its grant dollars went to organisations it had already funded in the two prior filings, so this looks like a relationship-led funder where previously supported organisations take a large part of the money, and new applicants should be aware of this.
- The Meredith Willson Awards are not for organisations whose application focuses on developing new programs, and Strengthening the Sector grants are not for initiatives focused on a single California county other than Los Angeles County, or on a state other than California, so organisations whose proposal falls into those categories should not apply to those specific programmes.
Overview
The Music Man Foundation is a US private foundation based in Los Angeles, CA.
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 Music Man Foundation empowers organisations using music to catalyse enduring change and to amplify its founders’ musical legacy. It funds programmes that leverage music to catalyse systemic change, advocate for increased public funding to music and the arts, pro-arts and pro-artist policies, and increased public will in support of the arts, or further Meredith Willson’s legacy. Its awards support vibrant organisations using music to achieve systemic change, while advocacy grants back organisations catalysing policy change. It partners with organisations whose work is sustained and can grow beyond an initial award, and values collaboration, diverse communities and perspectives, and intentional diversity, equity and inclusion practices. Its approach draws on research, practice and advocacy to advance music as a way to enhance and enrich the human experience, including in schools, health care and communities.
Themes
- Music-led systemic change
- Arts advocacy
- Meredith Willson legacy
Geographic Focus
Kern; Los Angeles County; Orange; Riverside; San Bernardino; Ventura; California; United States of America.
What They Don't Fund
- Meredith Willson Awards only: organizations whose applications focus on developing new programs
- Strengthening the Sector grants only: initiatives focused on a single California county other than Los Angeles County, or on a state other than California
How to apply
For Strengthening the Sector grants, organisations first verify eligibility and submit a Letter of Inquiry through the online portal. If the initiative aligns, they may be invited to a Leadership Meeting; selected organisations are then invited to submit a full application.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 72% 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 107 grants to organisations were $80,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Applications should clearly identify the system being changed, explain why music is central to that change, and show why the organisation is well positioned to advance it.
- The organisation should demonstrate a thorough understanding of the system it seeks to shift and its ability to drive that change.
- It values evident commitment to diversity and inclusion across the organisation.
- Partnerships should show intentional systems leadership and an understanding of the system’s complexity.
- It gives funding priority to advocacy organisations whose full programming is focused on pro-arts advocacy.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 11%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 7% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 72% of grant dollars went to organisations The Music Man Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 3% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 41 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $100k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- John F Kennedy Center For Performing Arts · General operating support$300,0002024 tax year
- Aspen Institute · Neuroarts blueprint initiative$300,0002024 tax year
- Regents of the University of California · School of nursing/sound health$250,0002024 tax year
- Save the Music Foundation · General operating support$250,0002024 tax year
- American Music Therapy Association · Website & technology infrastructure$200,0002024 tax year
- Etm-La Inc · General operating support$175,0002024 tax year
- Arts for Healing and Justice Network · General operating support$175,0002024 tax year
- Heart of Los Angeles Youth · General operating support$150,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Leticia Rhi Buckley — Director
- Larry W Swanson — Director
- Laura Zucker — Secretary / Director
- Al Pivo — VP & CFO / Director
- Tom Camp — President / Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $5,220,366 | $2,909,148 | $72,032,333 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $5,760,216 | $4,303,866 | $91,089,832 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $6,103,078 | $4,238,030 | $80,604,443 | Filing 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Music Man Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (310) 274-5854
- inquiries@musicmanfoundation.org
- INQUIRIES@MUSICMANFOUNDATION.ORG
- Los Angeles, CA
- musicmanfoundation.org
Applying to The Music Man Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (310) 274-5854
- inquiries@musicmanfoundation.org
- INQUIRIES@MUSICMANFOUNDATION.ORG
- Los Angeles, CA
- musicmanfoundation.org