The Mike Curb Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation established in 1998 and based in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded by Mike Curb, a musician and founder of Curb Records, the foundation partners with government, community leaders, and other non-profit organizations to support music-related projects and serve the needs of marginalized people.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$35.4M
-2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.7M
+220.4% YoY
Grant Count
8
+33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$217K
+140.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on making a difference with music. Since its inception, the Mike Curb Foundation has provided grants and gifts totaling more than $200 million in support of:
- Music education
- Preserving historic music sites
- Homelessness services
- Higher and other education
- Social services
- Arts and culture
- Performing arts
- Religion (specifically Christian, Protestant, and Baptist causes)
- Human services
The foundation advances the charitable spirit of America's entertainment industry through lead gifts to major projects, exemplifying Mike Curb's determination to give and inspire giving by others.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 26 grants in the most recent fiscal year. The foundation is supported by contributions and by earnings from Curb Records, one of the nation's largest independent music companies.
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $10,000 to $1,100,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds initiatives across multiple states, with documented activity in:
- Tennessee (primary focus)
- North Carolina
- Massachusetts
- Arizona
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- Minnesota
- Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Fiscal Year (FYE 07/2025):
- Total Assets: $35,414,229
- Total Revenues: $1,664,943
- Total Expenses: $2,610,940
- Total Giving: $1,737,600
- Investment Income and Dividends: $761,291
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $869,972
Prior Year (FYE 07/2024):
- Total Assets: $29.6 million
- Total Revenues: $5.38 million
- Total Expenses: $3.06 million
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $35,414,229 | $36,360,226 | $29,606,390 |
| Revenue | $1,664,943 | $8,305,688 | $5,383,958 |
| Expenses | $2,610,940 | $1,551,852 | $3,063,222 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,194,134 | $1,131,778 | $2,736,047 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,319,422 | $957,053 | $239,151 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,785,401 | $1,602,540 | $1,316,674 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
68 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Michael C. Curb — President and Director (serves without compensation)
- Linda Curb — Director (serves without compensation)
- Tracy Moore — Director and Secretary (serves without compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL C CURB | PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR | 10 | — |
| LINDA CURB | DIRECTOR | 10 | — |
| TRACY MOORE | DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY | 15 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Major Gifts:**
The foundation announced a $58 million lead gift to Belmont University, the largest philanthropic donation in the university's history. These funds will support expansion of Belmont's Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, including renovation of existing buildings and construction of a facility on Music Row. An additional $40 million is needed to fully finalize the effort.
Belmont announces $58M gift from Curb Foundation | Development | nashvillepost.comA $500,000 gift from the Mike Curb Foundation endowed a new program at Occidental College's John Branca Institute for Music.
$500,000 Gift from Mike Curb Foundation Endows New Program at John BrancaThe foundation provided funding for a new student recording facility at UCLA.
Mike Curb Donates Funding For New Student Recording Facility At UCLA - MusicRow.com**Educational Partnerships:**
The foundation supports music and entertainment programs at multiple universities, including:
Arizona State University (Mike Curb Program in Creative Enterprise and Public Leadership, McCain Institute for International Leadership, Herberger/Curb Programs)
Baylor University (The Lab, Curb Learning Lab for Music & Entertainment Marketing)
Belmont University (multiple facilities and programs including the Reverend Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership and the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business)
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
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Assets
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Grants
1
Total Given
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Assets
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Total Given
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Springplace Presbyterian Church 280-5019032
KNOXVILLE, TN
Assets
$140K
Grants
1
Total Given
$6K
United Way of East Tennessee
JOHNSON CITY, TN
Assets
$3.4M
Grants
12
Total Given
$202K
One Family Memphis
MEMPHIS, TN
Assets
$6.4M
Grants
0
Total Given
—
B & B Foundation
NASHVILLE, TN
Assets
—
Grants
9
Total Given
$2.1M
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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