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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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