Muse Foundation
Muse Foundation is a private foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable and educational organizations, including arts and cultural organizations, schools, and health-related organizations.
Muse Foundation at a glance
In short: Muse Foundation gave $42K across 31 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 10% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $41,535
- +18.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- +10.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,340
- +6.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $728,906
- +22.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (3 of 31, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (73% 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 Muse Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 200 Fleet Street Suite 5000, Pittsburgh, PA 15220
Phone: (206) 660-5242
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Muse Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Eye & Ear Foundation ($10K). Together the top 10 received $34K.
Grant Size Distribution
159 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 159 grants of 159 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 73% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania, 20% to California, and 5% to Illinois. The listed grants also include recipients in New Jersey and other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Muse Foundation open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 31 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $745; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $200 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 84% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 106% 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 $35K (2023) to $42K (2021). In 2024 it made 31 grants totaling $42K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Eye & Ear Foundation Pittsburgh, PA | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Amoca Pomona, CA | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Pittsburgh, PA | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Carnegie Museum of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA | Charitable | $3,000 |
| Viewpoint School Calabasas, CA | Education | $3,000 |
| Just 1 Mike Foundation Clarendon Hills, IL | Charitable | $2,000 |
| Pittsburgh Opera Pittsburgh, PA | Charitable | $2,000 |
| Wqed Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA | Charitable | $1,500 |
| Shady Side Presbyterian Church Pittsburgh, PA | Charitable | $1,200 |
| Camille Maclair Duquense Club Pittsburgh, PA | Education | $1,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $728,906 | $157,100 | $52,403 | $41,535 | 31 | $41,535 | $144,890 | $39,001 |
| 2023 | $597,394 | $9,339 | $43,775 | $35,150 | 28 | $35,150 | $10,535 | $36,900 |
| 2022 | $621,830 | $6,766 | $48,991 | $41,300 | 31 | $41,300 | $6,701 | $39,566 |
| 2021 | $637,872 | $53,792 | $48,502 | $42,285 | 34 | $42,285 | $47,575 | $38,769 |
| 2020 | $632,582 | $13,900 | $42,550 | $37,032 | 35 | — | $8,856 | $36,893 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Muse Foundation reported a distributable amount of $39K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants include support for organizations whose own missions span several areas. Pittsburgh Cultural Trust says it presents performing and visual art, advances arts education, and develops Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. Pittsburgh Opera says it seeks to enrich the region culturally through opera. Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania describes its mission as providing reproductive health care and sexuality education and advocating for policies protecting access to those services. Propel Schools describes its work as operating charter schools and seeking to expand access to high-performing public schools.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 31 grants totaling $41,535. Grant amounts ranged from $35 to $10,000, with a median of $500.
Among the largest reported grants were $10,000 to Eye & Ear Foundation, $5,000 each to AMOCA and Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, $3,000 to Carnegie Museum of Pittsburgh, and $3,000 to Viewpoint School. Other recipients included Just 1 Mike Foundation ($2,000), Pittsburgh Opera ($2,000), and WQED Pittsburgh ($1,500). Additional 2024 grants included $1,000 to Planned Parenthood of Western PA, $500 each to Propel Schools and Shady Side Academy, and $150 to Ligonier Valley Fire Companies.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists James Muse and Alexandra Ehrlich as trustees.
Muse Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
James G. Muse
Trustee
Trustee - Part-Time → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Alexandra Ehrlich
Trustee
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Albert Muse (2022–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Ac Muse (2020–2021) — Trustee - Part-Time
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.
Frequently asked questions about Muse Foundation
How much does Muse Foundation give each year?
Muse Foundation gave $42K across 31 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $35K across 28 grants.
What is Muse Foundation's typical grant size?
Muse Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $500, and its average grant was $1,340, across 31 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Muse Foundation that year got $745 on average.
Where does Muse Foundation give grants?
Muse Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsburgh, PA (15 grants) and Ligonier, PA (4 grants).
Does Muse Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 31 grants with a stated purpose on Muse Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (19 grants) and "Education" (12 grants).
Who are Muse Foundation's largest grantees?
Muse Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Eye & Ear Foundation ($10,000), Amoca ($5,000) and Pittsburgh Cultural Trust ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Muse Foundation?
Muse Foundation reported $729K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $42K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $39K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Muse Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants include support for organizations whose own missions span several areas. Pittsburgh Cultural Trust says it presents performing and visual art, advances arts education, and develops Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Muse Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Muse Foundation's EIN?
Muse Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6042685. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Muse Foundation 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
(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 Muse Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Muse 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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