The Les Paul Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in March 1997 and based in Syosset, New York. The foundation perpetuates the legacy of Les Paul, the pioneering musician and inventor, by supporting programs and initiatives that align with his contributions to music, technology, and innovation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$42.3M
+3.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$418K
-20.4% YoY
Grant Count
63
+18.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-33.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Les Paul Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Les Paul Foundation inspires innovative and creative thinking by sharing the legacy of Les Paul through support of music education, recording, innovation, exhibits about Les Paul, and medical research related to hearing.
Primary Funding Areas:
- Music education programs and projects
- Recording innovation and music production initiatives
- Innovative STEM and STEAM programs for students in challenging situations
- Medical research related to curing tinnitus and hearing impairment issues
- Public exhibits presenting Les Paul's life and achievements
- Programs that encourage innovation in music performance
Grantmaking
The foundation appears to accept applications. Organizations interested in applying should visit the foundation's website for current grant guidelines and application procedures. The foundation's website indicates that grant guidelines are available online.
Grant Range
$1,000–$100,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds programs primarily in the United States, with recent grant activity noted in New York, Tennessee, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $40.7 million
- Total Revenue: $1.32 million
- Total Expenses: $2.27 million
- Total Liabilities: $291,000
Staffing: The foundation maintains a small staff of approximately 2 full-time employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $42,289,748 | $40,720,533 | $38,433,899 |
| Revenue | $2,574,927 | $1,321,449 | $1,448,188 |
| Expenses | $2,737,003 | $2,266,810 | $2,045,168 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,274,495 | $1,921,172 | $1,761,203 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,113,653 | $1,009,610 | $1,079,687 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,889,171 | $1,826,311 | $1,840,847 |
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
227 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Les Paul Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Discovery World ($75,000), Hearing Health Foundation ($50,000), Notes for Notes Inc ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A PLACE CALLED HOME LOS ANGELES, CA | BUILD LP PRO TOOLS LEARNING LAB | $2,500 |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUDNATION TEMPE, AZ | MUSIC PROGRAMS | $2,242 |
| ARTSQUEST BETHLEHEM, PA | MUSIC EDUCATION | $1,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF VISTA VISTA, CA | MUSIC PROGRAMS | $2,500 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF ST LUCIE COUNTY FORT PIERCE, FL | FUNDS FOR EQUIPMENT FOR MUSIC PRODUCTION STUDIO | $2,000 |
| BUILDING FOR THE ARTS NY INC NEW YORK, NY | HYBRID LEARNING PLATFORM | $3,000 |
| CENTER OF CREATIVE ARTS ST LOUIS, MO | MUSIC PROGRAMS | $2,500 |
| CLARKE UNIVERSITY DUBUQUE, IA | MUSIC PROGRAMS | $2,000 |
| CLEMSON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION CLEMSON, SC | SUPPORTING FUNDS FOR MUSIC PROGRAMS | $2,000 |
| COUNTRY MUSIC FOUNDATION NASHVILLE, TN | SUPPORTING FUNDS FOR MUSIC PROGRAMS | $7,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Michael K Braunstein – Executive Director
- Jeff Salmon – Trustee
- Arlene Palmer – Trustee
- Kathleen A Moro – Office Administrator
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL K BRAUNSTEIN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $432,480 |
| JEFF SALMON | TRUSTEE | 5 | $15,760 |
| ARLENE PALMER | TRUSTEE | 5 | $7,000 |
Contact Information
Address: 485 Underhill Blvd., Suite 108 Syosset, NY 11791
Email: info@lespaulfoundation.org
Phone: 212-687-2929
Website: www.les-paul.com/the-foundation
Social Media:
- Facebook: Les Paul Foundation
- X (Twitter): @lespaulfound
- Instagram: Les Paul Foundation
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Les Paul Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The Les Paul Foundation inspires innovative and creative thinking by sharing the legacy of Les Paul through support of music education, recording, innovation, exhibits about Les Paul, and medical research related to hearing. **Primary Funding Areas:** • Music education programs and projects • Recording innovation and music production initiatives • Innovative STEM and STEAM programs for students in challenging situations • Medical research related to curing tinnitus and he…
How do I apply for a grant from Les Paul Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 63 grants in the most recent filing period • Typical grant range: $1,000–$100,000 • Median grant amount: $2,500 • Total giving: $418,042–$450,750 (recent year) **Recent Grantees Include:** • Hearing Health Foundation ($100,000 for medical research) • Discovery World ($75,000 for STEM programs and exhibits) • Notes For Notes ($35,000 for funding recording studios in Boys and Girls Clubs) **Application Process:** The foundation appears to accept applicati…
Where does Les Paul Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds programs primarily in the United States, with recent grant activity noted in New York, Tennessee, and California.
What size grants does Les Paul Foundation award?
In 2024, Les Paul Foundation awarded 63 grants totaling $418K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Les Paul Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Les Paul 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 Les Paul Foundation's EIN?
Les Paul Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3911396. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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