Help Music

Private foundation · Grantmaker Decatur, MI EIN: 92-2154119

Help Music is a private foundation, based in Decatur, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2023 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $7K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 5 grants totaling $9K. Net investment income was $38.

Help Music at a glance

In short: Help Music gave $9K across 5 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$8,500
+70.0% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
5
+150.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$1,700
-32.0% vs 2023
Median grant
$2,000
Total assets
$6,524
-51.0% vs 2023
Primary geography
Michigan (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who Help Music funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 5 recipients in 2024

Covert Public Schools Music: $2KCovert Public Schools Music$2KMarcellus Band Program: $2KMarcellus Band Program$2KLawton Elementary Music: $2KLawton Elementary Music$2KDecatur Middle High Schools Band: $2KDecatur Middle High SchoolsBand$2KDavis Elementary Music: $1KDavis Elementary Music$1K

The largest 2024 recipient was Covert Public Schools Music ($2K). Together the top 5 received $9K.

Grant Size Distribution

7 grants across all recorded years

7<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 7 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.

States

Cities

DecaturCovertLawtonMarcellus

How Help Music gives

  • In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2.5K$5K$7.5K$10K2 grants2023 5 grants2024

From 2023 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2023) to $9K (2024). In 2024 it made 5 grants totaling $9K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Covert Public Schools Music Covert, MITo support the school music program instrument and supply assistance for students and music education support.$2,000
Marcellus Band Program Marcellus, MITo support the school music program instrument and supply assistance for students and music education support.$2,000
Lawton Elementary Music Lawton, MITo support the school music program instrument and supply assistance for students and music education support.$2,000
Decatur Middle High Schools Band Decatur, MITo support the school music program instrument and supply assistance for students and music education support.$1,500
Davis Elementary Music Decatur, MITo support the school music program instrument and supply assistance for students and music education support.$1,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$6,524$5,448$12,241$8,5005$12,241$38$319
2023$13,317$20,274$6,957$5,0002$6,957$18—

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Help Music reported a distributable amount of $319 for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Help Music is led by Gary Latham, President since 2024 (on filings since 2023); none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Gary Latham

    President

    Director → President, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer Soldano

    Board Member

    On filings since 2023

    No compensation reported

  • Lisa Chilton

    Board Member

    On filings since 2023

    No compensation reported

  • Makala Latham

    Vice President

    Director → Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Severiano Sandoval

    Board Member

    On filings since 2023

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2023–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Help Music

How much does Help Music give each year?

Help Music gave $9K across 5 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $5K across 2 grants.

What is Help Music's typical grant size?

Help Music's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $1,700, across 5 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Help Music give grants?

Help Music gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Decatur, MI (2 grants).

Does Help Music give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Help Music's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are Help Music's largest grantees?

Help Music's largest 2024 grantees include Covert Public Schools Music ($2,000), Marcellus Band Program ($2,000) and Lawton Elementary Music ($2,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 71% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Help Music?

Help Music reported $7K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $12K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $319 (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is Help Music's EIN?

Help Music's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 92-2154119. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(2)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 30, 2026)
  2. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 28, 2026)

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Help Music's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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