Music Matters Fund Inc is a private foundation established in 2022 with locations in both Santa Barbara, California and New York, New York. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity (EIN: 85-1467296) with no employees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.4M
+7.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.0M
+27.2% YoY
Grant Count
59
-1.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
+29.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to recognize and protect small venues and listening rooms across the United States so that live music can remain accessible to all. The organization supports initiatives that promote and preserve the performance and experience of live music, including:
- Awarding grants to intimate venues that nurture emerging musicians
- Helping sustain the careers of established and under-recognized music makers
- Ensuring affordable access to live music in traditionally underserved communities
Primary funding focus areas include Arts, Culture & Humanities, Education, and Philanthropy & Voluntarism.
Grantmaking
Music Matters Fund makes grants typically ranging from $4,000 to $50,000. Recent grants awarded in 2023 include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking priorities focus primarily on California, Washington, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $1,290,963
- Total revenues: $2,637,680
- Total expenses: $1,378,329
Most recent filing (2024):
- Total assets: $1,382,726
- Total giving: $1,013,411
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,382,726 | $1,290,963 | $23,600 |
| Revenue | $1,695,696 | $2,637,680 | $1,155,847 |
| Expenses | $1,603,753 | $1,378,329 | $1,146,670 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,539,875 | $1,318,559 | $1,089,957 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
245 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Parlor Room ($50,000), Roots Music Project Foundation ($45,000), Blue Jay Listening Room ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 118 NORTH WAYNE, PA | PROJECT SUPPORT | $18,500 |
| 3420 BLUES CLUB INC CHICAGO, IL | PROJECT SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| 7DRUM LESSONS LLC WASHINGTON, DC | PROJECT SUPPORT | $6,500 |
| ACORN CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS THREE OAKS, MI | PROJECT SUPPORT | $22,000 |
| BAY AREA JAZZ & ARTS INC OAKLAND, CA | PROJECT SUPPORT | $8,000 |
| BLACK CAT HOSPITALITY GROUP LLC SAN FRANCISCO, CA | PROJECT SUPPORT | $8,500 |
| BLUE JAY LISTENING ROOM JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL | PROJECT SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| BOSSA BISTRO WASHINGTON, DC | PROJECT SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| CHOCOLATE CHURCH ARTS CENTER BATH, ME | PROJECT SUPPORT | $12,500 |
| CHRIS'S JAZZ CAFE PHILADELPHIA, PA | PROJECT SUPPORT | $35,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFREY WILKINS | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| STEPHEN WEBBER | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| CAT HENRY | EXEC DIRECTR | 40 | $184,685 |
| GAVIN BERGER | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Music Matters Fund Inc fund?
The foundation's mission is to recognize and protect small venues and listening rooms across the United States so that live music can remain accessible to all. The organization supports initiatives that promote and preserve the performance and experience of live music, including: • Awarding grants to intimate venues that nurture emerging musicians • Helping sustain the careers of established and under-recognized music makers • Ensuring affordable access to live music in traditionally underserve…
How do I apply for a grant from Music Matters Fund Inc?
Music Matters Fund makes grants typically ranging from $4,000 to $50,000. Recent grants awarded in 2023 include: • Caffe Lena: $40,000 (Project Support) • Passim: $39,500 (Project Support) The foundation's total giving in the most recent fiscal year was $1,013,411.
Where does Music Matters Fund Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities focus primarily on California, Washington, and New York.
What size grants does Music Matters Fund Inc award?
In 2024, Music Matters Fund Inc awarded 59 grants totaling $1.0M — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Music Matters Fund Inc's EIN?
Music Matters Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-1467296. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Music Matters Fund Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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