Mike Curb Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $1.1M - $2.7M (varies by year; $200M+ lifetime giving)
Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
Grant Range: $500,000 - $58,000,000 (major institutional gifts)
Geographic Focus: Nashville, TN and Los Angeles, CA primarily; national for music education
EIN: 95-4686920

Contact Details

Website: www.mikecurbfoundation.com
Phone: 615-321-5180
Address: 48 Music Square East, Nashville, TN 37203-4323

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited inquiries or applications.

Overview

Founded in 1998 by music industry executive Mike Curb (founder of Curb Records and former Lieutenant Governor of California), the Mike Curb Foundation is a private corporate foundation that has distributed over $200 million in grants and gifts since inception. Based in Nashville with strong ties to Los Angeles, the foundation maintains approximately $29.6 million in assets and distributes between $1-2.7 million annually in grants. The foundation's mission centers on music education, historic music site preservation, and supporting underserved populations including the homeless. The foundation is supported by contributions and earnings from Curb Records and operates with a distinctive philosophy of giving back "50% of our profit every year," according to Mike Curb. The foundation supports over 200 active projects and partners with government, community leaders, and other nonprofit organizations for music-related projects and serving the needs of marginalized people.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate traditional grant programs with application cycles. Instead, it makes strategic gifts through an invitation-only process. Recent major grants include:

Belmont University (2024): $58 million lead gift for expansion of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business on Music Row - the largest gift in Belmont's history
UCLA (2025): Major funding for full renovation of the Mike Curb Student Recording Facility at the Evelyn and Mo Ostin Music Center
Occidental College (2024): $500,000 endowment gift for music program
California State University, Northridge (2006): $10 million pledge to endow arts college and support performing arts center

The foundation made 26 grants in 2023, with total charitable disbursements of $2.7 million that year. In 2024, the foundation made 6 awards totaling $1.1 million (not including multi-year pledges).

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

Music Education: Creating and endowing music colleges, programs, and facilities at universities nationwide. Particular emphasis on comprehensive music history education and career development
Historic Music Site Preservation: Supporting institutions like Country Music Hall of Fame, Grammy Museum, Historic RCA Studios, Elvis Presley Home in Memphis, and National Museum of African American Music
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): Establishing music business and entertainment programs at institutions like Bethune-Cookman University

Secondary Focus:

Homelessness Services: Long-term commitment to organizations like Nashville Rescue Mission, Second Harvest Food Bank, Room In The Inn, and Safe Haven
Arts and Culture: Supporting performing arts organizations, museums, and cultural heritage sites
Community Health: Pediatric care, mental health services, and medical education

Geographic Priorities:

Nashville, Tennessee
Los Angeles, California
Communities associated with Curb music enterprises

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and operates exclusively on an invitation-only basis. They focus on established nonprofit organizations and universities rather than grassroots or startup organizations.

Governance and Leadership

Michael C. Curb - President and Director
Music industry executive, founder of Curb Records, and former Lieutenant Governor of California (1979-1983). Curb's philanthropic approach is deeply influenced by his grandmother, Eloisa Salazar, who "was Hispanic and born on the border of Mexico and Texas, lost family during the Spanish Flu pandemic, put herself through college with no money, became a translator and spent her life helping oppressed and struggling people."

Linda Curb - Director
Co-leads foundation strategy with Mike Curb. Together, Mike and Linda Curb are recognized as among the nation's foremost supporters of higher education music programs.

Tracy Moore - Director and Secretary

All directors serve without compensation.

On Philanthropic Philosophy:
Mike Curb states: "She [my grandmother] always said, what are you doing to help people? What are you doing to educate people?" When asked about his legacy, Curb explained his "simple goal being to continue to create programs so that as many students as possible get the opportunity and choice to complete their four-year degrees" - an opportunity he himself missed and regrets.

On the Foundation's Future:
"We have wonderful directors who really have the same passion that my wife and I have. We hope that this can go on forever."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Mike Curb Foundation does not have a public application process. According to their official website: "All grant inquiries and applications for funding are 'by invitation only.' We regret that the Foundation is unable to respond to unsolicited requests."

The foundation proactively identifies organizations and institutions aligned with their mission and invites them to apply for funding. This approach allows the foundation to maintain strategic focus on their priority areas while building deep, long-term partnerships with a select group of organizations.

Getting on Their Radar

Mike Curb's Personal Connections: The foundation's giving patterns show strong support for institutions where Mike Curb has personal connections, including his alma mater California State University, Northridge, and universities in communities where Curb Records operates.

Music Education Excellence: Organizations should have demonstrated excellence in music education, particularly programs that emphasize:

Comprehensive music history education (Curb notes: "Music history not only gives them a love for music, but an understanding of it")
Career development opportunities for students
Diverse educational experiences
Integration of technology and traditional music education

Community Impact: The foundation values organizations serving underserved populations. Mike Curb stated about Nashville Rescue Mission: "You can't make a better investment than in Nashville Rescue Mission. It is a well-run organization." This suggests the foundation respects well-managed nonprofits with measurable community impact.

Music Industry Ties: Organizations connected to the music industry or located in music industry hubs (Nashville, Los Angeles) may have better visibility with the foundation.

Long-Term Partnership Approach: The foundation supports over 200 active projects, suggesting they prefer ongoing relationships rather than one-time grants. Organizations should be positioned for sustained partnership.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - invitation only process with no published timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application strategies do not apply. However, research reveals specific characteristics the foundation values:

Educational Mission Alignment: The foundation heavily favors higher education institutions with strong music and entertainment programs. Mike Curb's goal is to "create programs so that as many students as possible get the opportunity and choice to complete their four-year degrees."

Naming Rights and Legacy: The foundation typically provides gifts with naming rights, creating lasting institutional presence (e.g., Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont, Mike Curb College of Arts, Media & Communication at CSUN).

Comprehensive Programs: Rather than funding individual projects, the foundation prefers comprehensive initiatives. The $58 million Belmont gift, for example, funds a two-phase expansion including songwriting rooms, listening spaces, live-sound classrooms, and student lounges.

Historic Preservation: Organizations preserving music history and cultural heritage align with the foundation's mission. Funded sites include Elvis Presley's home, Historic RCA Studios, and multiple music museums.

Serving Underserved Populations: The foundation supports organizations addressing discrimination and serving marginalized communities, including HBCUs and homelessness services.

Well-Run Organizations: Mike Curb's praise of Nashville Rescue Mission as "well-run" suggests operational excellence matters. The foundation values organizations that can demonstrate effective management and measurable outcomes.

Spiritual and Values-Based Approach: The foundation supports Christian, Protestant, and Baptist causes, and Curb appreciates organizations like Nashville Rescue Mission that can include worship services and prayer in their programs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications. All funding is by invitation only.
Focus on Music Education: Universities and colleges with music, entertainment, or media programs are the foundation's primary beneficiaries, particularly those offering comprehensive music history and career development.
Major Gift Strategy: Recent grants range from $500,000 to $58 million, indicating the foundation makes significant institutional gifts rather than small project grants.
Geographic Concentration: Strong preference for Nashville and Los Angeles organizations, plus institutions in communities connected to Curb Records operations.
Long-Term Partnerships: With 200+ active projects, the foundation maintains ongoing relationships rather than making one-time grants.
Personal Connection Matters: Mike Curb's personal ties, whether through his music industry work, political career, or educational background, often connect to funded organizations.
HBCU Support: The foundation has demonstrated commitment to historically Black colleges and universities, particularly for music business and entertainment programs.

References

Mike Curb Foundation Official Website - www.mikecurbfoundation.com - Accessed January 2026
Cause IQ: Mike Curb Foundation Profile - https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/mike-curb-family-foundation,954686920/ - Accessed January 2026
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Mike Curb Foundation 990 Forms - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954686920 - Accessed January 2026
Inside Philanthropy: "Mike Curb's Long Commitment to Music Education" - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/hitting-the-right-notes-record-executive-mike-curbs-long-commitment-to-music-education - Accessed January 2026
Inside Philanthropy: "Mike and Linda Curb" Major Donors Profile - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/major-donors/mike-curb-html - Accessed January 2026
Belmont University: "$58M Curb Gift Belmont Music Row Expansion" - https://www.belmont.edu/stories/articles/2024/58m-curb-gift-music-row-expansion.html - Accessed January 2026
MusicRow: "Mike Curb Donates Funding For New Student Recording Facility At UCLA" - https://musicrow.com/2025/02/mike-curb-donates-funding-for-new-student-recording-facility-at-ucla/ - Accessed January 2026
Nashville Rescue Mission: "Supporter Spotlight: Mike Curb" - https://nashvillerescuemission.org/supporter-spotlight-mike-curb/ - Accessed January 2026
MusicRow: "My Music Row Story: Curb Records' Mike Curb" - https://musicrow.com/2024/06/my-music-row-story-curb-records-mike-curb/ - Accessed January 2026
Curb Records: "Curb Records and The Mike Curb Foundation Provide over 20,000 Meals to the Homeless and the Coronavirus Victims" - https://www.curb.com/2020/04/curb-records-and-the-mike-curb-foundation-provide-over-20000-meals-to-the-homeless-and-the-coronavirus-victims/ - Accessed January 2026