The D'Addario Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation and 501(c)(3) public charity based in Farmingdale, New York. Established in 1983, the foundation has supported musicians and music education for over 40 years. The organization operates as a corporate foundation that focuses on expanding access to music education, particularly within underserved communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.5M
+109.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$518K
+22.5% YoY
Grant Count
202
+3.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
+18.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, D'addario Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $51K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The D'Addario Foundation believes in the power of music to build community and transform lives. The foundation's mission centers on making music instruction accessible and providing scholarships to those with financial need and those who would not otherwise have access to music education.
Primary focus areas include:
- Supporting nonprofit organizations that provide free or affordable music instruction to communities with limited access
- Awarding college scholarships
- Conducting research and implementation studies on the impacts of immersive music instruction on academic performance and social-emotional wellbeing of children from low-income families
- Supporting grassroots, community-based organizations serving marginalized and impoverished children through immersive music education
The foundation emphasizes that music education is an essential component of holistic education, not merely an elective. The organization views immersive, ensemble-based music instruction as particularly impactful for literacy development and sound processing in students' brains.
Grantmaking
The D'Addario Foundation annually supports approximately 200 community music programs across the globe. Recent grantmaking activity demonstrates consistent support for music education initiatives:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The D'Addario Foundation supports music programs globally, with particular emphasis on community-based organizations serving high-needs communities throughout the world. The foundation maintains a Long Island Lesson Program, indicating regional engagement in its home area of New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total assets: $1,503,625
- Total revenues: $1,784,174
- Total expenses: $1,004,829
- Number of employees: 4
Previous Year Data (2023):
- Total assets: $718,735
- Total giving: $422,459
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,503,625 | $718,735 | $666,968 |
| Revenue | $1,784,174 | $852,124 | $628,567 |
| Expenses | $1,004,829 | $913,387 | $812,177 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $517,564 | $422,459 | $375,325 |
| Net Investment Income | $33,740 | $9,883 | $7,462 |
| Distributable Amount | $51,065 | $23,781 | $30,402 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from D'addario Foundation Inc
Community Music Grants
D'ADDARIO FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
D'Addario Foundation Grant
D'ADDARIO FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
D'Addario Foundation: In-Kind Grants
D'ADDARIO FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Unspecified amount in in-kind support
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Accent Pontiac ($20,000), Baltimore Symphony Orchestra ($5,077), Austin Classical Guitar ($4,735).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 18 DEGREES PITTSFIELD, MA | TO SUPPORT GROWTH AND APPRECIATION OF MUSIC | $3,000 |
| 53TH ESTATE MUSICALE FRENTANA - 12TH LANCIANO INTERNATIONAL GUITAR SEMINAR ASTORIA, NY | TO SUPPORT GROWTH AND APPRECIATION OF MUSIC | $2,364 |
| A PLACE CALLED HOME LOS ANGELES, CA | TO SUPPORT GROWTH AND APPRECIATION OF MUSIC | $2,500 |
| ACCENT PONTIAC PONTIAC, MI | TO SUPPORT GROWTH AND APPRECIATION OF MUSIC | $3,264 |
| ACCENT PONTIAC PONTIAC, MI | THE GRANT WILL ENCOURAGE GROWTH IN PARTICIPATION OF THE MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS | $20,000 |
| ADVENTUROUS MIND PRODUCE EXTRAORDINARY DREAMS LOUISVILLE, KY | TO SUPPORT GROWTH AND APPRECIATION OF MUSIC | $2,364 |
| AFRO LATIN JAZZ ALLIANCE NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT GROWTH AND APPRECIATION OF MUSIC | $2,000 |
| AFTER-SCHOOL ALL-STARS WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT GROWTH AND APPRECIATION OF MUSIC | $2,500 |
| AGAPE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC (ANAM) INDIANAPOLIS, IN | TO SUPPORT GROWTH AND APPRECIATION OF MUSIC | $2,100 |
| ALICE COOPER'S SOLID ROCK TEEN CENTERS PHOENIX, AZ | TO SUPPORT GROWTH AND APPRECIATION OF MUSIC | $2,264 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Director: Karen Shelley
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN D'ADDARIO JR | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| SUZANNE D'ADDARIO BROUDER | VICE PRESIDENT | 15 | $51,651 |
| JONATHAN TURITZ | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| JOSHUA LOHRIUS | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| MARGARET MARTIN | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| TOM CILMI | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| TOM SZAKY | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| AMY D'ADDARIO HINCHEY | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| DORON OFIR | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| DAHILA AMBACH CAPLIN | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| KAREN SHELLEY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 32 | $96,000 |
| JAMES D'ADDARIO | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The D'Addario Foundation has maintained active grantmaking and communications:
Published a 2024-25 Biennial Report highlighting two years of impact, growth, and commitment to expanding access to transformative music education
Announced 2026 Immersive Music Challenge (IMC) Ecosystem Grants recipients
D\u2019Addario Foundation Names Music-Based Nonprofit Grant Recipients |\Received a $10,000 grant from the NAMM Foundation to support the Immersive Music Challenge initiative
D\u2019Addario Foundation Names Music-Based Nonprofit Grant Recipients |\Made grant announcements for 2025 Cycle 1 and Cycle 2, as well as 2024 Cycle 2 grants
2025 Cycle 1 Grants AnnouncementHighlighted research on breakthroughs in reading education and literacy development through immersive, ensemble-based music mentoring programs
Contact Information
Mailing Address: 595 Smith Street Farmingdale, NY 11735
Email: foundation@daddario.com
Website: foundation.daddario.com
Tax ID: 33-1912408 (for donor-advised funds and qualified charitable distributions)
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does D'addario Foundation Inc fund?
The D'Addario Foundation believes in the power of music to build community and transform lives. The foundation's mission centers on making music instruction accessible and providing scholarships to those with financial need and those who would not otherwise have access to music education. **Primary focus areas include:** • Supporting nonprofit organizations that provide free or affordable music instruction to communities with limited access • Awarding college scholarships • Conducting research …
How do I apply for a grant from D'addario Foundation Inc?
The D'Addario Foundation annually supports approximately 200 community music programs across the globe. Recent grantmaking activity demonstrates consistent support for music education initiatives: **Grant Activity:** • In 2024, the foundation made 165 grants to various organizations • Recent grant recipients include Accent Pontiac ($20,000), People's Music School ($20,000), and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra ($5,077) • The foundation announced recipients for its 2026 Immersive Music Challenge (IM…
Where does D'addario Foundation Inc make grants?
The D'Addario Foundation supports music programs globally, with particular emphasis on community-based organizations serving high-needs communities throughout the world. The foundation maintains a Long Island Lesson Program, indicating regional engagement in its home area of New York.
What size grants does D'addario Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, D'addario Foundation Inc awarded 202 grants totaling $518K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is D'addario Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, D'addario Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $51K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is D'addario Foundation Inc's EIN?
D'addario Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-2637844. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Browse active grant opportunities in D'addario Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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