Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc
The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation is a private foundation located in Great Neck, New York. Founded in 1969 by Louis and Lucille Armstrong, it is dedicated to perpetuating their legacies and supports musicians, jazz education, performances, and programming.
Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 31 grants in 2025 (avg $35K), mostly in New York. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,081,885
- +12.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 31
- -3.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $34,900
- +15.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,500
- Total assets
- $16,337,458
- +23.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (6 of 31, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (68% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its published process requires an LOI for specified applicants, with a full application by invitation.
- Review Cycle
- For funding for July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, LOIs are accepted November 10, 2025 through January 9, 2026. Invited New Grant Applications are due April 17, 2026. Grant Renewal Applications are accepted February 16 through April 17, 2026.
- Deadline
- For funding for July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, LOIs are accepted November 10, 2025 through January 9, 2026.
- Contact
Mailing address: 40 Cuttermill Rd Ste 305, Great Neck, NY 11021
Phone: (516) 466-5150
Website: https://louisarmstrongfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Louis Armstrong House Museum ($210K). Together the top 10 received $885K.
Grant Size Distribution
125 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 97 grants of 125 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in New York (68%), Louisiana (24%), Illinois (3%), New Jersey (3%), and Washington (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 31 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $34K; repeat grants $35K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 81% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 63% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 160% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $467K (2021) to $1.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 31 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Louis Armstrong House Museum Corona, NY | General | $210,000 |
| The Louisiana Museum Foundation New Orleans, LA | General | $148,775 |
| Jazzmobile Inc New York, NY | General | $125,000 |
| Queens College Foundation Flushing, NY | General | $121,090 |
| Louis Satchmo Armstrong Summer New Orleans, LA | General | $100,000 |
| Mt Sinai Beth Israel - Louis New York, NY | General | $75,000 |
| Ascap Foundation New York, NY | General | $50,000 |
| Jazz Power Initiative New York, NY | General | $20,000 |
| Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center Bronx, NY | General | $20,000 |
| Harlem School of the Arts New York, NY | General | $15,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $16,337,458 | $4,265,987 | $1,746,589 | $1,081,885 | 31 | $1,100,096 | $3,949,450 | $687,509 |
| 2024 | $13,197,457 | $4,368,904 | $1,499,039 | $965,618 | 32 | $989,313 | $4,076,981 | $505,751 |
| 2023 | $10,320,543 | $2,569,172 | $1,257,006 | $790,000 | 25 | $801,650 | $2,560,704 | $418,001 |
| 2022 | $8,999,280 | $3,282,671 | $1,213,406 | $663,120 | 19 | $669,695 | $2,913,990 | $315,785 |
| 2021 | $6,958,824 | $2,567,808 | $1,246,738 | $466,500 | 18 | — | $2,244,426 | $267,477 |
| 2020 | $5,595,910 | $2,357,720 | $2,057,653 | $475,500 | 20 | — | $1,898,327 | $245,654 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $688K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to perpetuate the legacies of Louis and Lucille Armstrong. It describes its grantmaking as supporting organizations and programs that preserve, perpetuate, and educate the public about jazz, and that highlight Louis Armstrong’s impact on music and performance.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work represented among grantees. The Louis Armstrong House Museum says it preserves and interprets Armstrong’s home and presents public programs. Jazzmobile says it promotes and propagates jazz through performance and education. The ASCAP Foundation describes its work as nurturing future music talent and supporting music creators through educational, professional, and humanitarian programs. Harlem School of the Arts says it provides arts exposure and training, while Jazz House Kids describes its work as jazz education and performance supporting access, learning, career development, and community building.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 31 grants totaling $1,081,885. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $210,000, with a median of $12,500. The largest awards included $210,000 to the Louis Armstrong House Museum, $148,775 to The Louisiana Museum Foundation, $125,000 to Jazzmobile, $121,090 to Queens College Foundation, and $100,000 to Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp. The listed purposes for these grants were “general.”
The foundation considers applications from 501(c)(3) organizations. First-time applicants, prior grantees that did not receive funding the previous year, and renewal grantees applying for a different project must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI). Applicants whose LOIs are approved are invited to submit a New Grant Application. New grants are usually for a period not exceeding one year; long-term projects generally require evaluation for further funding, and capital projects are rarely considered. Renewal applicants use a separate Grant Renewal Application process.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Wynton Marsalis as president; Howard Schain as treasurer; David Chevan as secretary; Robin Bell-Stevens as vice-president; and Jackie Harris as executive director. Directors listed are Jeffrey Rosenstock, Jonathan Raskin, Michael Mossman, Susan Devens, and Kenneth Alleyne.
Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc is led by Wynton Marsalis, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 14 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Wynton Marsalis
President
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Rosenstock
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Raskin
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Alleyne
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Mossman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Devens
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alvin Benjamin Carter III
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Ross
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon Batiste
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Josh Mayer
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jackie Harris
Executive Di
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$73K (2020) → $100K (2025)
David Chevan
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Howard Schain
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robin Bell-Stevens
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Lisa Cohen (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Regina Bain (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Robert O'Meally (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: George Wein (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jerome Chazen (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $100K, to Jackie Harris (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc
How much does Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc give each year?
Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 31 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $966K across 32 grants.
What is Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $12,500, and its average grant was $34,900, across 31 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc that year got $34K on average.
Where does Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc give grants?
Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 68% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Louisiana (24%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (9 grants), New Orleans, LA (4 grants), Flushing, NY (3 grants) and Chicago, IL (3 grants).
Does Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (31 of 31) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Louis Armstrong House Museum ($210,000), The Louisiana Museum Foundation ($148,775) and Jazzmobile Inc ($125,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc?
Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc reported $16.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $688K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is to perpetuate the legacies of Louis and Lucille Armstrong. It describes its grantmaking as supporting organizations and programs that preserve, perpetuate, and educate the public about jazz, and that highlight Louis Armstrong’s impact on music and performance. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc's EIN?
Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-2659286. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/louis-armstrong-educational-foundation-inc-morg_5fdb0c524cd0423fb3024fb59642a078
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_132659286_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/louis-armstrong-educational-foundation-inc-morg_5fdb0c524cd0423fb3024fb59642a078},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-24. 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 Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc'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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