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Ryuji Ueno Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$0.1M

Ryuji Ueno Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $72,600 (2022)
  • Foundation Assets: $81,579,273
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: Varies by program
  • Geographic Focus: Mid-Atlantic region (DC, MD, VA, NJ, NY)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.rueno.org

Email: info@rueno.org

Address: 1623 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

EIN: 47-3532204

Overview

Founded in 2015 by Dr. Ryuji Ueno, the Ryuji Ueno Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to supporting excellence in classical music, broadening its relevance to new audiences, and furthering innovation in the arts. With substantial assets of over $81 million, the foundation focuses on supporting musical education and the development of young musicians in the greater Washington, DC area and beyond. The foundation produces more than 14 performances a year featuring world-renowned artists and operates innovative programs including the Natelli Woods Concert Series, Potomac Music Lab, and support for various classical music organizations. Dr. Ueno himself is a dedicated amateur flutist and major supporter of classical music who routinely offers private coaching for musicians. Since 2016, the foundation has awarded 86 individual grants totaling $1,871,310.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation supports classical music organizations and programs through discretionary grantmaking. Recent grant activity includes:

  • 2022: 3 grants totaling $72,600
  • 2021: 5 grants
  • 2020: 10 grants

Grant recipients have been located across the Mid-Atlantic region, including Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York, with supported projects in cities including Closter, Falls Church, Irvington, New York, Rockville, and Washington.

Priority Areas

Supported Programs and Organizations:

  • Natelli Woods Concert Series - Supporting individual artists to develop and explore their talent
  • Potomac Music Lab - An incubator for classical music where world-class musicians can experiment with their craft, including lecture/instruction workshops for musicians
  • The 6821 Quintet - Named for the distance in miles between Washington, DC and Tokyo; performed world debut at the National Cherry Blossom Festival in 2016
  • New Orchestra of Washington - Ongoing organizational support
  • International Music Academy, Liechtenstein - Washington Semester program for highly talented musicians aged 10-25
  • The Place 229 Concert Series - Performance venue support
  • Young Concert Artists in DC - Board involvement and support

Focus Areas:

  • Musical education and development of young musicians
  • Support for rising classical artists
  • Chamber music and orchestral performances
  • Innovation in classical music presentation
  • International classical music exchange programs

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly available. Based on their established giving pattern, the foundation focuses exclusively on classical music and does not appear to support other art forms or causes outside this scope.

Governance and Leadership

Dr. Ryuji Ueno, President (15 hours/week, uncompensated)

  • Founder and Executive Producer of the Ryuji Ueno Foundation
  • M.D., Ph.D. and Ph.D., internationally recognized scientist, innovator, entrepreneur, and philanthropist
  • Trained and certified as a Medical Doctor at Keio University School of Medicine in Japan
  • Academic career in pharmacology, physiology, and biochemistry at Columbia University, Kyoto University, Osaka University, and Stanford University
  • Major supporter of classical music in the greater Washington, DC area
  • Dedicated amateur flutist
  • Routinely offers private coaching for pianists, violinists, violists, singers, guitarists, composers, and conductors
  • Coaches trios, quartets, quintets, and chamber orchestras
  • Board member of the New Orchestra of Washington, Young Concert Artists in DC, and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra
  • Former president of the Evermay Chamber Orchestra
  • Sponsor and Chief Lecturer of the International Music Academy Liechtenstein's "Washington Semester" program

Kei S. Tolliver, Secretary and Treasurer (1 hour/week, uncompensated)

Dr. Ueno's approach to music support is deeply personal and hands-on. According to biographical information, he has stated that his father "was crazy about music, especially chamber [and classical] music" and "was a collector of musical instruments," indicating a family legacy of musical passion that drives the foundation's work.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Ryuji Ueno Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates as a private foundation with discretionary grantmaking, primarily supporting organizations and programs through direct invitation and the founder's board involvement and personal connections in the classical music community.

Grants appear to be awarded based on:

  • Trustee discretion and strategic priorities
  • Board relationships (Dr. Ueno serves on boards of several recipient organizations)
  • Direct support for programs Dr. Ueno has personally developed or is involved with
  • Organizations operating in the Washington, DC classical music ecosystem

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. Grants appear to be awarded on a discretionary basis throughout the year rather than through fixed funding cycles.

Success Rates

Success rate information is not publicly available. The foundation awards a relatively small number of grants annually (3-10 grants per year based on recent activity).

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly available due to the lack of a formal application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's private nature and discretionary grantmaking approach, success in receiving support from the Ryuji Ueno Foundation appears to depend on:

Alignment with Foundation Mission:

  • Strong focus on classical music excellence
  • Programs that broaden classical music's relevance to new audiences
  • Innovation in arts presentation and performance
  • Support for young musicians and their development

Geographic Connection:

  • Presence or programming in the Washington, DC metropolitan area appears important, though the foundation has supported organizations in the broader Mid-Atlantic region

Relationship Building:

  • Dr. Ueno's personal involvement and board memberships suggest that relationship building within the DC classical music community is key
  • Organizations where Dr. Ueno serves on the board (New Orchestra of Washington, Young Concert Artists in DC) receive support

Program Quality and Innovation:

  • The foundation's own programs (Potomac Music Lab, The 6821 Quintet) emphasize experimentation and innovation
  • Support for "rising artists" and "world-class musicians" indicates a focus on exceptional talent

Educational Component:

  • Programs that include musical education and development of young musicians align with stated priorities
  • Coaching, mentorship, and skill development opportunities appear valued

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - this is a private foundation with discretionary grantmaking primarily supporting organizations through direct invitation and board relationships
  • Relationship-driven grantmaking - Dr. Ueno's board memberships and personal involvement in the DC classical music community appear to be the primary pathway to support
  • Geographic focus on Washington, DC area - while grants have been made throughout the Mid-Atlantic, the foundation's programming and support centers on the DC region
  • Classical music exclusivity - the foundation has a very narrow focus on classical music excellence and does not appear to support other art forms
  • Innovation valued - programs like Potomac Music Lab demonstrate interest in experimentation and new approaches to classical music
  • Young artist development - supporting rising talent and educational programming for musicians aged 10-25 is a clear priority
  • Substantial but selective - with over $81 million in assets but only 3-10 grants annually, the foundation is well-resourced but highly selective

References

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