Kulas Foundation
The Kulas Foundation is a private foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio, established in 1937 by Elroy J. Kulas and Fynette Hill Kulas to support the musical arts in Greater Cleveland. It supports music and music therapy research, arts and culture, community organizations, and education.
Kulas Foundation at a glance
In short: Kulas Foundation gave $1.9M across 47 grants in 2024 (avg $41K), mostly in Ohio. 9% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,933,500
- +5.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 47
- -4.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $41,138
- +10.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $46,413,486
- +5.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (4 of 47, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Kulas Foundation
- How to Apply
The 2024 filing directs applicants to contact the President of the Kulas Foundation and submit copies of the grant application, tax-exempt certificates, and Treasury Department letters certifying that the applicant is…
The 2024 filing directs applicants to contact the President of the Kulas Foundation and submit copies of the grant application, tax-exempt certificates, and Treasury Department letters certifying that the applicant is a publicly supported tax-exempt organization, not a private foundation. The website says grants are not available to individuals or for-profit corporations, nonprofit organizations outside Northeast Ohio, local chapters of national nonprofits, endowments, debt reduction or elimination, program-related investments or loans, staff or contractor compensation, or special-event sponsorships and ticket or table purchases. Grant funds must be used as approved; funds not spent accordingly must be returned.
- Review Cycle
- Trustees usually meet quarterly. The foundation advises applicants to contact its Grants Manager for upcoming meeting dates and deadlines.
- Deadline
- Trustees usually meet quarterly.
- Contact
Application contact: President Of Kulas Foundation
Mailing address: 1660 West 2Nd St Suite 800, Cleveland, OH 44113-1461
Phone: (216) 623-4770
Website: https://murphykulas.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Kulas Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cleveland Institute of Music ($325K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
236 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 192 grants of 236 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies Cuyahoga County as its primary geographic area and says it also considers organizations in contiguous counties to a lesser extent. Its 2024 filing states that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 47 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Kulas Foundation open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 47 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $44K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 81% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+19%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 134% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2022) to $1.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 47 grants totaling $1.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Institute of Music Cleveland, OH | Programmatic Support | $325,000 |
| The Musical Arts Association Cleveland, OH | Programmatic Support | $235,000 |
| Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH | Programmatic Support | $154,500 |
| Playhouse Square Foundation Cleveland, OH | Programmatic Support | $150,000 |
| University Hospitals Health System Shaker Heights, OH | Programmatic Support | $102,500 |
| University of Akron Foundation Akron, OH | Programmatic Support | $84,000 |
| Kent State University Foundation Kent, OH | Programmatic Support | $79,500 |
| Great Lakes Theater Festival Cleveland, OH | Programmatic Support | $60,000 |
| The Salvation Army Cleveland, OH | Programmatic Support | $57,000 |
| Cleveland State University Foundation Cleveland, OH | Programmatic Support | $52,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $46,413,486 | $2,427,652 | $2,749,928 | $1,933,500 | 47 | $2,560,493 | $2,270,742 | $1,905,110 |
| 2023 | $44,183,148 | $1,867,847 | $2,642,761 | $1,831,000 | 49 | $2,452,108 | $1,702,090 | $2,068,606 |
| 2022 | $39,192,152 | $887,978 | $2,342,773 | $1,565,500 | 44 | $2,145,016 | $737,562 | $2,156,439 |
| 2021 | $50,527,466 | $6,647,917 | $2,462,307 | $1,618,520 | 50 | $2,181,345 | $6,456,703 | $2,606,272 |
| 2020 | $46,575,789 | $1,410,251 | $2,647,525 | $1,846,000 | 46 | — | $1,233,453 | $2,038,932 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation was established with the primary purpose of supporting the musical arts in Greater Cleveland. Its website says that, in a recent five-year period, more than half of its grants were for arts and culture; music and music education accounted for more than three-quarters of grants in that category. It also describes long-standing support for major performing arts institutions and encouragement for smaller performing arts organizations. The foundation identifies music therapy research as a signature commitment and says it began funding research in the field in the 1940s.
The foundation supports eligible 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporations in good standing, including nonprofit organizations and institutions in Cuyahoga County and, to a lesser extent, its contiguous counties. Its website lists programs and services, select capital campaigns, and music therapy research among eligible purposes. It generally does not award grants to preschool, primary, or secondary schools.
Among the 2024 grantees, the Cleveland Institute of Music describes its mission as empowering classical music students to fulfill their potential. The Musical Arts Association says the Cleveland Orchestra inspires and enriches lives through musical experiences. Playhouse Square Foundation describes its work as presenting and producing performing arts, advancing arts education, and strengthening the region’s economic vitality. These examples reflect support for music, higher education, and performing arts institutions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 47 grants totaling $1,933,500. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $325,000, with a median of $20,000. The largest grants included $325,000 to the Cleveland Institute of Music, $235,000 to the Musical Arts Association, $154,500 to Case Western Reserve University, $150,000 to Playhouse Square Foundation, and $102,500 to University Hospitals Health System. Each was listed for programmatic support.
The foundation’s website says its board customarily meets four times annually to consider requests. It acknowledges applications in writing and typically notifies applicants of decisions within two weeks of the meeting at which trustees consider them. It accepts only a very limited number of new applicants each year and advises organizations to contact the foundation to determine eligibility and obtain current application forms and instructions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Richard W. Pogue as Chairman of the Board and Trustee; Nancy W. McCann LLC as President, Treasurer, and Trustee; Christopher M. Kelly, Heather Lennox, and John M. Saada Jr. as Vice Presidents and Trustees; and Lou Grasso as Vice President and Secretary. The foundation’s website identifies Christine Porter as Grants Manager and Lori Louche as Office Manager.
Kulas Foundation is led by Richard W. Pogue, Chairman of the Board & Trustee since 2022 (on filings since 2020); all 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Nancy W McCann LLC
President, Treasurer & Trustee
On filings since 2023
20 hrs/week
$183K (2023) → $193K (2024)
Richard W. Pogue
Chairman of the Board & Trustee
Chairman of the Board → Chairman of the Board & Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$13K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Christopher M. Kelly
Vice President & Trustee
Vice President → Vice President & Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$13K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Heather Lennox
Vice President & Trustee
Vice President → Vice President & Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$13K (2020) → $12K (2024)
John M. Saada Jr.
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$3K (2022) → $12K (2024)
Lou Grasso
Vice President & Secretary
Vice President → Vice President & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
20 hrs/week
$18K (2022) → $129K (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Nancy W. McCann (2020–2022) — President, Treasurer & Trustee
- Former: Richard J. Clark (2020–2022) — Executive Vice President & Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $193K, to Nancy W McCann LLC (President/Treasurer/Trustee). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Kulas Foundation
How much does Kulas Foundation give each year?
Kulas Foundation gave $1.9M across 47 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.8M across 49 grants.
What is Kulas Foundation's typical grant size?
Kulas Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $41,138, across 47 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Kulas Foundation that year got $11K on average.
Where does Kulas Foundation give grants?
Kulas Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (32 grants), Shaker Heights, OH (2 grants), Akron, OH (2 grants) and Cleveland Heights, OH (2 grants).
Does Kulas Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 47 grants with a stated purpose on Kulas Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Programmatic Support" (47 grants).
Who are Kulas Foundation's largest grantees?
Kulas Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Cleveland Institute of Music ($325,000), The Musical Arts Association ($235,000) and Case Western Reserve University ($154,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Kulas Foundation?
Kulas Foundation reported $46.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Kulas Foundation fund?
The foundation was established with the primary purpose of supporting the musical arts in Greater Cleveland. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Kulas Foundation?
The 2024 filing directs applicants to contact the President of the Kulas Foundation and submit copies of the grant application, tax-exempt certificates, and Treasury Department letters certifying that the applicant is… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Kulas Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Kulas Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/kulas-foundation-morg_0bac013d7c67477a9ef662cd00606061
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_340770687_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Kulas Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/kulas-foundation-morg_0bac013d7c67477a9ef662cd00606061},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Kulas Foundation'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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