Olga Forrai Foundation
The Olga Forrai Foundation is a New York, New York–based private foundation that supports the training, career development, and professional education of emerging artists with exceptionally large, dramatic voices, as well as conductors in classical music. Established in 1981, the foundation says it has awarded more than 343 grants totaling over $1.1 million.
Key facts about Olga Forrai Foundation
In short: Olga Forrai Foundation gave $67K across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), top state Pennsylvania. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 13-3182161
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $66,543
- Grants made (2024)
- 21
- Average grant
- $3,169
- Median grant
- $2,365
- Total assets
- $610,520
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (15% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation’s website describes applications for eligible singers and conductors, with proposals submitted for board consideration. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- None; the website says applications are accepted year-round when an artist has a qualifying professional contract or…
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$611K
-5.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$67K
+8.4% YoY
Grant Count
21
+40.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-22.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Olga Forrai Foundation reported a distributable amount of $40K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How Olga Forrai Foundation gives
- Giving grew 141% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 193% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to support training, career development, and professional education for exceptionally large, dramatic voices in opera and conductors in classical music.
For singers, it considers proposals for preparation of a new dramatic role and for qualifying audition tours. Applicants must have completed basic musical studies or equivalent training and experience, demonstrate professional-level talent, and have either a paid contract for a new role or at least three confirmed auditions in opera houses. For conductors, it considers applicants contracted for a professional performance in dramatic repertoire; conductor grants are limited to one per calendar year.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation gave 21 grants totaling $66,543. Grants ranged from $700 to $10,093, with a median of $2,365. The largest reported awards went to individual recipients: $10,093 to a recipient in South Carolina, $7,925 to a recipient in Pennsylvania, $6,870 to a recipient whose state was not listed, $4,840 to a recipient in Florida, and $4,100 to a recipient in Texas. The stated purpose for each was “to study and perform.”
The website describes application materials including a proposal and budget, professional résumé, biography, headshot, and three recommendation letters from eligible classical-music professionals. For role-preparation applications, applicants provide role, company, and performance dates; audition-tour applicants provide confirmed auditions and an itemized expense proposal. The website says an application advanced to the board may lead to an invitation to a live audition in New York City, at the artist’s expense. The filing lists no restrictions on awards. The website says grants generally do not cover items such as headshots, recordings, music purchases, meals, household expenses, or travel, with a possible exception for qualifying audition-tour travel.
Review Cycle
None; the website says applications are accepted year-round when an artist has a qualifying professional contract or audition tour.
How to Apply
The foundation’s website describes applications for eligible singers and conductors, with proposals submitted for board consideration. The filing lists letters from singers and musical conductors as application materials.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in New York, New York. Its 2024 filing lists grant recipients in multiple states, including Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Florida, Texas, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York. The website says artists of all nationalities may apply, though applicants invited to audition must travel to New York City.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $13K (2020) to $73K (2022). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $67K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
64 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 64 grants of 64 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 21 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $66,543 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $610,520 | $72,506 | $109,011 | $66,543 |
| 2023 | $647,374 | $41,154 | $96,694 | $61,390 |
| 2022 | $702,565 | -$4,417 | $108,386 | $72,615 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $610,520 | $647,374 | $702,565 |
| Revenue | $72,506 | $41,154 | $-4,417 |
| Expenses | $109,011 | $96,694 | $108,386 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $76,682 | $70,200 | $80,749 |
| Net Investment Income | $30,038 | $5,550 | $2,225 |
| Distributable Amount | $39,670 | $39,843 | $43,373 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mark Corpron as president; Hendrick Vandamme as vice president and treasurer; Paula Liscio as assistant treasurer; Helene JF De Aguilar as secretary; Geroge Voorhis as assistant secretary; Helga Kramer as founding member; Craig Montgomery as media coordinator; and Michael Stallman and Ira Kushner as board members.
Olga Forrai Foundation is led by Mark Corpron, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 9 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mark Corpron
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Helene Jf De Aguilar
Secretary
Assistant Secretrary → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hendrick Vandamme
Vice President & Treasurer
Treasurer → Vice President & Treasuerer, 2022
Vice President & Treasuerer → Vice President & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Stallman
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paula Liscio
Assistant Treasurer
Board Member → Assistant Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Craig Montgomery
Media Coordinator
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Geroge Voorhis
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Helga Kramer
Founding Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ira Kushner
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Eugenie Grunewald (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: George Voorhis (2020–2021) — Board Member
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.
Contact
Application contact: Hendrick Vandamme
Mailing address: 46 Trinity Place 3Rd Floor, New York, NY 10006
Phone: (212) 641-0613
Website: https://www.olgaforraifoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Olga Forrai Foundation
How much does Olga Forrai Foundation give each year?
Olga Forrai Foundation gave $67K across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $61K across 15 grants.
What is Olga Forrai Foundation's typical grant size?
Olga Forrai Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,365, and its average grant was $3,169, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Olga Forrai Foundation give grants?
Olga Forrai Foundation's top state is Pennsylvania, with 15% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were South Carolina (15%) and New York (12%).
Does Olga Forrai Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Olga Forrai Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Study and Perform" (21 grants).
How large is Olga Forrai Foundation?
Olga Forrai Foundation reported $611K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $77K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $40K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Olga Forrai Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support training, career development, and professional education for exceptionally large, dramatic voices in opera and conductors in classical music. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Olga Forrai Foundation?
The foundation’s website describes applications for eligible singers and conductors, with proposals submitted for board consideration. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Olga Forrai Foundation's EIN?
Olga Forrai Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3182161. 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 October 2026.
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