Ryuji Ueno Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $196,100 (2023)
• Foundation Assets: $81,579,273
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Varies by programme
• Geographic Focus: Mid-Atlantic region (DC, MD, VA, NJ, NY)

Contact Details

Website: https://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 programmes including the Natelli Woods Concert Series, Potomac Music Lab, and support for various classical music organisations. 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 totalling $1,871,310.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The foundation supports classical music organisations and programmes through discretionary grantmaking. Recent grant activity includes:

• 2023: $196,100 in grants paid
• 2022: $72,600 in grants paid
• 2021: $190,600 in grants paid

Grant recipients have been located across the Mid-Atlantic region, including Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York.

Priority Areas

Supported Programmes and Organisations:

• 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 organisational support
• International Music Academy, Liechtenstein - Washington Semester programme for highly talented musicians aged 10-25
• Place 229 - 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 programmes

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 recognised 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" programme

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 organisations and programmes 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 organisations)
• Direct support for programmes Dr. Ueno has personally developed or is involved with
• Organisations 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 based on recent 990-PF records.

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
• Programmes 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 organisations 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
• Organisations where Dr. Ueno serves on the board (New Orchestra of Washington, Young Concert Artists in DC) receive support

Programme Quality and Innovation:

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

Educational Component:

• Programmes 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 organisations 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 centres 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 - programmes 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 a small number of grants annually, the foundation is well-resourced but highly selective

References

• Ryuji Ueno Foundation Official Website - Accessed December 2025
• Ryuji Ueno Foundation - Cause IQ Profile - Organisation overview and financial data
• Ryuji Ueno Foundation - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - 990 tax form information and grant history
• Ryuji Ueno Foundation - Grantable Profile - Grant statistics and recipient information
• Ryuji Ueno Foundation - Instrumentl 990 Report - Financial and grant award data
• Dr. Ryuji Ueno Biography - Founder background and leadership information
• Ryuji Ueno - Shenandoah University Faculty Profile - Professional background and activities
• S&R Foundation - Sachiko Kuno Founders Page - Context on Dr. Ueno's philanthropic activities in DC arts community
• Embassy of Liechtenstein - International Music Academy Partnership - Information about the Washington Semester programme
• The Georgetowner - "Ueno & Kuno: Scientists' Artistic Formula" - Profile of Dr. Ueno's arts patronage