Music Matters Fund Inc
Music Matters Fund Inc is a private foundation based in Santa Barbara, California. It supports small music venues and listening rooms across the United States through grants intended to help keep live music accessible.
Music Matters Fund Inc at a glance
In short: Music Matters Fund Inc gave $1.0M across 59 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), top state California. 56% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,013,411
- +27.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 59
- -1.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $17,176
- +29.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,382,726
- +7.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 56% first-time grantees (33 of 59, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (18% 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 Music Matters Fund Inc
- Contact
Application contact: Cat Henry
Mailing address: 441 West 53Rd Street, 5Th Fl, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 607-6100
Email: info@livemusicsociety.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Music Matters Fund Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Parlor Room ($50K). Together the top 10 received $395K.
Grant Size Distribution
284 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 273 grants of 284 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund supports venues across the United States. In 2024, California received 18% of grant dollars; Florida and Washington each received 7%, and Maine and Pennsylvania each received 6%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 59 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Music Matters Fund Inc open to new grantees?
56%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 33 of 59 grantees (56%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $11K repeat.
- 10% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−8%). 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 $483K (2020) to $1.1M (2021). In 2024 it made 59 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Parlor Room Northampton, MA | Project Support | $50,000 |
| Roots Music Project Foundation Boulder, CO | Project Support | $45,000 |
| Blue Jay Listening Room Jacksonville Beach, FL | Project Support | $40,000 |
| Drkmttr Collective LLC Goodlettsville, TN | Project Support | $40,000 |
| Lost Church San Francisco, CA | Project Support | $40,000 |
| Royal Room Seattle, WA | Project Support | $40,000 |
| Chris's Jazz Cafe Philadelphia, PA | Project Support | $35,000 |
| Grand Vision Foundation San Pedro, CA | Project Support | $35,000 |
| La Pena Cultural Center Berkeley, CA | Project Support | $35,000 |
| Maple Leaf Bar New Orleans, LA | Project Support | $35,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Music Matters Fund Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,382,726 | $1,695,696 | $1,603,753 | $1,013,411 | 59 | $1,539,875 |
| 2023 | $1,290,963 | $2,637,680 | $1,378,329 | $797,000 | 60 | $1,318,559 |
| 2022 | $23,600 | $1,155,847 | $1,146,670 | $731,500 | 48 | $1,089,957 |
| 2021 | $13,995 | $1,253,622 | $1,276,916 | $1,095,600 | 70 | $1,263,002 |
| 2020 | $36,949 | $592,536 | $555,587 | $483,350 | 47 | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund’s mission is to recognize and protect small venues and listening rooms so live music can remain accessible to all. Its grant programs support venue initiatives that improve the experience for musicians, staff, and audiences; build community engagement; and contribute to venues’ long-term health and growth. Program priorities described by the fund include audience development, revenue generation, inclusive programming, and practical venue improvements.
Its 2024 grantees included organizations with varied arts and music activities. Roots Music Project Foundation describes its mission as amplifying the live music community through performance, artist development, and education. One Longfellow Square says it engages its community through live music and supports musicians at all stages of their artistic journey. Grand Vision Foundation describes its work as providing culturally inclusive arts experiences for the Los Angeles Harbor/South Bay community.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the fund awarded 59 grants totaling $1,013,411. Grants ranged from $4,500 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest award was $50,000 to Parlor Room for project support. Other notable awards included $45,000 to Roots Music Project Foundation and $40,000 each to Blue Jay Listening Room, DRKMTTR Collective LLC, Lost Church, and Royal Room, all for project support. Grand Vision Foundation and One Longfellow Square each received $35,000.
The fund says it announces application timeframes and an online application process in conjunction with musicians, industry professionals, and industry organizations. Applicants submit eligibility responses, an application, and required documents, including three years of financial statements and tax returns, revenue and expense analyses by category, the amount requested, and the planned use of funds. The filing describes expected requests of $10,000 to $50,000 and lists no award restrictions. The fund does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Gavin Berger as president, Cat Henry as executive director, Stephen Webber as secretary, and Jeffrey Wilkins as treasurer.
Music Matters Fund Inc is led by Gavin Berger, President on the 2024 filing; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Gavin Berger
President
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cat Henry
Executive Directr
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$185K (2024)
Jeffrey Wilkins
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Webber
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Joyce Lim (2022–2023) — President
- Former: Peter Muller (2020–2022) — President
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $185K, to Cat Henry (Exec Directr).
Frequently asked questions about Music Matters Fund Inc
How much does Music Matters Fund Inc give each year?
Music Matters Fund Inc gave $1.0M across 59 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $797K across 60 grants.
What is Music Matters Fund Inc's typical grant size?
Music Matters Fund Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $17,176, across 59 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Music Matters Fund Inc that year got $15K on average.
Where does Music Matters Fund Inc give grants?
Music Matters Fund Inc's top state is California, with 18% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Florida (7%) and Washington (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (6 grants), Seattle, WA (3 grants), Portland, ME (3 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does Music Matters Fund Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 59 grants with a stated purpose on Music Matters Fund Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Project Support" (59 grants).
Who are Music Matters Fund Inc's largest grantees?
Music Matters Fund Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Parlor Room ($50,000), Roots Music Project Foundation ($45,000) and Blue Jay Listening Room ($40,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Music Matters Fund Inc?
Music Matters Fund Inc reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $1.7M.
What does Music Matters Fund Inc fund?
The fund’s mission is to recognize and protect small venues and listening rooms so live music can remain accessible to all. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Music Matters Fund Inc?
Music Matters Fund Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
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.
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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Music Matters Fund Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/music-matters-fund-inc-morg_4a00f7ee275c45b586fb8f5bbfb774ad
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_851467296_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Music Matters Fund Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/music-matters-fund-inc-morg_4a00f7ee275c45b586fb8f5bbfb774ad},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Music Matters Fund 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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