Kulas Foundation
The Kulas Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1937 by industrialist Elroy J. Kulas and his wife Fynette Hill Kulas. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, the foundation operates as an independent grantmaking organization with a primary focus on supporting the musical arts and related cultural initiatives in the Greater Cleveland area.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$46.4M
+5.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.9M
+5.6% YoY
Grant Count
47
-4.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$41K
+10.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kulas Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation was established with the primary purpose of supporting the musical arts in the Greater Cleveland area. Today, the foundation's funding priorities include:
- Music and Music Education — The foundation's core focus, comprising more than 75% of arts and culture grants
- Arts and Culture — More than half of all grants in recent five-year periods directed to this category, including visual arts and theater
- Music Therapy Research — A commitment area for the foundation
- Community Support — Including social services and community development
- Higher Education — Support for educational institutions
- Performing Arts — Significant annual giving directed toward Cleveland's major performing arts institutions, with encouragement also given to smaller performing arts organizations
The foundation does not make grants to individuals or for endowment funds.
Grantmaking
Over the past 20 years, the foundation has distributed more than $50 million in grants. In the late 1960s, the foundation provided half a million dollars for the construction of the Blossom Music Center, the summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra.
Grant Range
$20,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses its grantmaking on the Greater Cleveland area and Northeast Ohio region. Institutions that have received support include organizations throughout the Cleveland metropolitan area and surrounding communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2023:
- Total Assets: $44.2 million
- Total Revenue: $1.87 million
- Total Expenses: $2.64 million
- Net Income: -$774
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Composition (2023):
- Investment income and dividends: $817,178
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $1,050,535
Historical Giving: Over the past 20 years, the foundation has distributed more than $50 million in grants.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $46,413,486 | $44,183,148 | $39,192,152 |
| Revenue | $2,427,652 | $1,867,847 | $887,978 |
| Expenses | $2,749,928 | $2,642,761 | $2,342,773 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,560,493 | $2,452,108 | $2,145,016 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,270,742 | $1,702,090 | $737,562 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,905,110 | $2,068,606 | $2,156,439 |
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
236 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cleveland Institute of Music ($325,000), The Musical Arts Association ($235,000), Case Western Reserve University ($154,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| APOLLO'S FIRE CLEVELAND BAROQUE ORCHESTRA CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH | PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY BEREA, OH | PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT | $49,500 |
| BLUEWATER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA CLEVELAND, OH | PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS UNLIMITED CLEVELAND, OH | PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY CLEVELAND, OH | PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT | $154,500 |
| CENTER FOR ARTS-INSPIRED LEARNING CLEVELAND, OH | PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| CHAMBERFEST CLEVELAND CLEVELAND, OH | PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT | $12,000 |
| CLEVELAND BALLET CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH | PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT | $45,000 |
| CLEVELAND COUNCIL ON WORLD AFFAIRS CLEVELAND, OH | PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF MUSIC CLEVELAND, OH | PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT | $325,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board & Staff:
- Richard W. Pogue — Chairman of the Board, Trustee
- Nancy W. McCann LLC — President/Treasurer/Trustee
- Christopher M. Kelly — Vice President/Trustee
- Heather Lennox — Vice President/Trustee
- John M. Saada Jr. — Vice President/Trustee
- Lou Grasso — Vice President & Secretary
- Lori Louche — Office Manager
- Christine Porter — Grants Manager
The foundation is managed from a shared office with the John P. Murphy Foundation, another separate private foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD W POGUE | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, TRUSTEE | 1 | $12,000 |
| NANCY W MCCANN LLC | PRESIDENT/TREASURER/TRUSTEE | 20 | $193,000 |
| CHRISTOPHER M KELLY | VICE PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 1 | $12,000 |
| HEATHER LENNOX | VICE PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 1 | $12,000 |
| JOHN M SAADA JR | VICE PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 1 | $12,000 |
| LOU GRASSO | VICE PRESIDENT & SECRETARY | 20 | $129,167 |
Contact Information
Address: Kulas Foundation 1660 West 2nd Street, Suite 800 Cleveland, Ohio 44113-1461
Phone: 216-623-4770
Email: infokulas@murphykulas.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Kulas Foundation fund?
The foundation was established with the primary purpose of supporting the musical arts in the Greater Cleveland area. Today, the foundation's funding priorities include: • **Music and Music Education** — The foundation's core focus, comprising more than 75% of arts and culture grants • **Arts and Culture** — More than half of all grants in recent five-year periods directed to this category, including visual arts and theater • **Music Therapy Research** — A commitment area for the foundation • *…
How do I apply for a grant from Kulas Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 47-56 grants in recent fiscal years • Median grant size: $20,000 • Grant range: $2,500 to $325,000 **Recent Notable Grants (2023):** • The Cleveland Orchestra: $220,000 • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: $185,000 • Case Western Reserve University: $164,500 **Historical Impact:** Over the past 20 years, the foundation has distributed more than $50 million in grants. In the late 1960s, the foundation provided half a million dollars for the construction of the Blossom Music C…
Where does Kulas Foundation make grants?
The foundation focuses its grantmaking on the Greater Cleveland area and Northeast Ohio region. Institutions that have received support include organizations throughout the Cleveland metropolitan area and surrounding communities.
What size grants does Kulas Foundation award?
In 2024, Kulas Foundation awarded 47 grants totaling $1.9M — an average of about $41K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Kulas Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Kulas Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Kulas Foundation's EIN?
Kulas Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-0770687. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Kulas Foundation'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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