Reading Musical Foundation
Reading Musical Foundation is a public charity based in Reading, Pennsylvania. It supports music education and appreciation in Berks County through grants to music organizations and projects, student scholarships, and community programs.
Reading Musical Foundation at a glance
In short: Reading Musical Foundation gave $266K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $20K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $265,660
- -10.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- +8.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $20,435
- -17.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,800
- Total assets
- $23,631,866
- +9.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Reading Musical Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Organizations or individuals who have not applied before should submit a letter of intent before completing an application. Requests over $1,500 are considered annually; requests under $1,500 are considered by RMF’s Outreach Committee. Projects and programs must take place primarily in Berks County. The website lists full-grant and special-project applications, as well as an Outreach Grant application. It also describes a separate Gertrude Sternbergh Concert Soloist Fund, offering up to $6,000 for soloist fees for local music organizations.
- Review Cycle
- For organizations with a January–December fiscal year, the listed deadline is October 15, 2026. The February 27, 2026 deadline for organizations with a July–June fiscal year or new projects occurring July–December 2026, and the February 27 deadline for the 2026–2027 soloist fund, have passed. The website lists Outreach Committee deadlines as the last Friday in April, August, and December.
- Deadline
- For organizations with a January–December fiscal year, the listed deadline is October 15, 2026.
- Contact
Mailing address: P O Box 14835, Reading, PA 19612
Phone: (610) 376-3395
Website: https://readingmusicalfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Reading Musical Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Reading Symphony Orchestra ($118K). Together the top 10 received $247K.
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 48 grants of 53 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
RMF states that eligible organizations must provide programming primarily in Berks County and that projects and programs must take place primarily there. In its 2025 filing, all reported grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania; the listed recipients are in Reading, West Lawn, or Wyomissing.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Reading Musical Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 13 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $22K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+18%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $114K (2021) to $301K (2020). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $266K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Symphony Orchestra Reading, PA | Restricted Grant for Concert and Outreach Expenses | $118,395 |
| Olivet Boys & Girls Club Reading, PA | Restricted Grant for After-School Music Programs | $32,000 |
| Ringgold Band Reading, PA | Restricted Grant for Concert and Outreach Expenses | $20,000 |
| Reading Choral Society Reading, PA | Restricted Grant for Concert and Outreach Expenses | $18,500 |
| Berks Arts Reading, PA | Restricted Grant for Jazz Education Programs | $14,200 |
| Reading Pops Orchestra Reading, PA | Restricted Grant for Concert and Outreach Expenses | $11,700 |
| Friends of Chamber Music Reading, PA | Restricted grant for concert performances and outreach program expenses | $8,800 |
| WCR Center for the Arts Reading, PA | Restricted Grant for Concert Expenses | $8,100 |
| Berks Sinfonietta Reading, PA | Restricted Grant for Concert Expenses | $8,000 |
| Yocum Institute for Arts Education West Lawn, PA | Restricted Grant for Music Production Expenses | $7,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Reading Musical Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Amounts below are from the foundation’s filings. Grant totals are grants given.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $23,631,866 | $1,519,550 | $1,133,643 | $265,660 | 13 | $713,652 |
| 2024 | $21,639,152 | $1,523,675 | $1,231,547 | $295,820 | 12 | $817,937 |
| 2023 | $19,546,330 | $1,734,772 | $1,083,790 | $268,195 | 11 | $525,823 |
| 2022 | $17,638,151 | $3,531,006 | $939,991 | $224,999 | 10 | $2,358,113 |
| 2021 | $20,635,939 | $1,474,447 | $764,826 | $114,309 | 7 | $851,680 |
| 2020 | $16,252,909 | $1,406,641 | $1,050,205 | $301,132 | 10 | $619,536 |
| 2019 | $15,767,135 | $1,265,325 | $977,701 | $223,116 | 8 | $711,422 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states its mission as advancing and advocating for music education and appreciation in Berks County. Its grantmaking supports music education and appreciation, including music-making experiences, school music programs, live performances and audience development, and collaborations that highlight music’s impact on the community.
The foundation reports supporting music-presenting organizations and special projects. For example, it awarded WCR Center for the Arts $8,100 in 2025; WCR describes its mission as preserving the building at 140 North Fifth Street in Reading. Berks Youth Chorus received $6,465; the chorus describes its mission as fostering choral excellence among local youth through music education and live performance opportunities.
RMF also offers scholarships directly to students, including merit awards and need-sensitive assistance for private study, instrument upgrades, and summer music camps. These are participant awards, distinct from grants to outside organizations.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, RMF reported 13 grants totaling $265,660. Grant amounts ranged from $6,000 to $118,395, with a median of $8,800.
The largest reported awards included $118,395 to Reading Symphony Orchestra for concert and outreach expenses; $32,000 to Olivet Boys & Girls Club for after-school music programs; $20,000 to Ringgold Band for concert and outreach expenses; $18,500 to Reading Choral Society for concert and outreach expenses; and $14,200 to Berks Arts for jazz education programs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Keri M. Shultz as president; Paul G. Oxholm as chair; Fran Post as vice chair of development; Martha Aynardi as vice chair of finance; Srividya Ramanathan as vice chair of programs; Stephanie Kocher as treasurer; Tim Haynes as assistant treasurer; Sandy Kern as secretary; and Tim Simmons and Michael Anderson as trustees.
Reading Musical Foundation is led by Keri M. Shultz, President on every filing since 2019; 1 of 19 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Keri M. Shultz
President
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$71K (2019) → $90K (2025)
Paul G. Oxholm
Chair
Secretary → Vice Chair of Finance, 2021
Vice Chair of Finance → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Webster
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lewis Freeman
Trustee
Assistant Treasurer → Vice Chair of Finance, 2023
Vice Chair of Finance → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael D. Anderson
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Virginia Dodge
Trustee
Trustee → Vice Chair of Development, 2023
Vice Chair of Development → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kent Gutzler
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rick Tomlinson
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Debra Micka
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Ernesto
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike D'errico
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim Simmons
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wanda Crespo
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martha Aynardi
Vice Chair of Finance
Trustee → Vice Chair of Programs, 2021
Vice Chair of Programs → Vice Chair of Finance, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sandy Kern
Secretary
Assistant Treasurer → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tim Haynes
Assistant Treasurer
Trustee → Assistant Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Srividya Ramanathan
Vice Chair of Programs
Trustee → Vice Chair of Programs, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Kocher
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fran Post
Vice Chair of Development
Trustee → Vice Chair of Development, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: David L. Kline (2019–2024) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Jamie Thompson (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Timothy Simmons (2019–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Jayne R. Schaeffer CPA (2019–2023) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Tahj Morales (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Benjamin Watts (2019–2022) — Vice Chair of Development · Filing note: Until 1/2022
- Former: Ann Gallen Moll (2021–2022) — Trustee · Filing note: Until 11/2021
- Former: David Swartz (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Melissa Brewer Till (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Melissa Brewer (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Randy Shayler (2019–2020) — Vice Chair of Development
- Former: Carl Fiorini (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Heather Adams (2019) — Trustee
- Former: John Tripolitis (2019) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $90K, to Keri M Shultz (President).
Frequently asked questions about Reading Musical Foundation
How much does Reading Musical Foundation give each year?
Reading Musical Foundation gave $266K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $296K across 12 grants.
What is Reading Musical Foundation's typical grant size?
Reading Musical Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $8,800, and its average grant was $20,435, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Reading Musical Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does Reading Musical Foundation give grants?
Reading Musical Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Reading, PA (11 grants).
Does Reading Musical Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Reading Musical Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Restricted Grant for Concert Expenses" (4 grants) and "Restricted Grant for Concert and Outreach Expenses" (4 grants).
Who are Reading Musical Foundation's largest grantees?
Reading Musical Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Reading Symphony Orchestra ($118,395), Olivet Boys & Girls Club ($32,000) and Ringgold Band ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Reading Musical Foundation?
Reading Musical Foundation reported $23.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.5M.
What does Reading Musical Foundation fund?
The foundation states its mission as advancing and advocating for music education and appreciation in Berks County. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Reading Musical Foundation?
Organizations or individuals who have not applied before should submit a letter of intent before completing an application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Reading Musical Foundation's EIN?
Reading Musical Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-1472487. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 28, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 31, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 4, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Reading Musical Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Reading Musical Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/reading-musical-foundation-morg_fc635d655d864240991b80c1669913ce
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_231472487_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Reading Musical Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/reading-musical-foundation-morg_fc635d655d864240991b80c1669913ce},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Reading Musical 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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