The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc
The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Created by composer Aaron Copland through a bequest of a large part of his estate and announced publicly in 1992, the Fund supports organizations working to encourage public knowledge and appreciation of contemporary American music.
The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc at a glance
In short: The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc gave $1.5M across 203 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in New York. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,483,850
- +5.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 203
- -12.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,310
- +20.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $18,376,713
- +0.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (36 of 203, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (56% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc
- Invitation Only
-
The Fund’s application information directs applicants to program guidelines and FAQs. General Support and Project Support applicants must first submit a preliminary application; only those invited may apply to the Main Round. The Legacy Program accepts applications by invitation only. The Fund’s 2026 Project Support Main Round is open, with a deadline of November 12, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
- Contact
Application contact: Brooke Larimer
Mailing address: 156 5Th Avenue Suite 600, New York, NY 10010
Phone: (212) 707-8377
Email: onlinegrants@coplandfund.org
Website: https://coplandfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc
Who The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was New Music USA ($90K). Together the top 10 received $418K.
Grant Size Distribution
1,009 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,001 grants of 1,009 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, recipients in New York received 56% of grant dollars, followed by California at 15%, Illinois at 5%, Massachusetts at 4%, and Pennsylvania at 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 203 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 36 of 203 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+19%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 292% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $872K (2021) to $1.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 203 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New Music USA New York, NY | Encourage Knowledge and Appreciation of Contemporary American Music | $90,000 |
| The Koussevitzky Foundation New York, NY | Encourage Knowledge and Appreciation of Contemporary American Music | $75,000 |
| Albany Symphony Orchestra Albany, NY | Encourage Knowledge and Appreciation of Contemporary American Music | $43,000 |
| Cabrillo Festival Santa Cruz, CA | Encourage Knowledge and Appreciation of Contemporary American Music | $38,500 |
| Copland House Inc Peekskill, NY | Encourage Knowledge and Appreciation of Contemporary American Music | $37,600 |
| Bmop Malden, MA | Encourage Knowledge and Appreciation of Contemporary American Music | $28,600 |
| Bang on a Can Inc Brooklyn, NY | Encourage Knowledge and Appreciation of Contemporary American Music | $28,000 |
| American Composers Orchestra Inc New York, NY | Encourage Knowledge and Appreciation of Contemporary American Music | $27,500 |
| American Composers Forum Saint Paul, MN | Encourage Knowledgeand Appreciation Ofcontemporary American Music | $25,000 |
| International Contemporary Ensemble Brooklyn, NY | Encourage Knowledge and Appreciation of Contemporary American Music | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $18,376,713 | $2,949,561 | $2,827,515 | $1,483,850 | 203 | $2,632,524 | $2,808,428 | — |
| 2024 | $18,254,667 | $2,641,936 | $2,917,329 | $1,401,500 | 231 | $2,793,551 | $2,518,688 | $955,788 |
| 2023 | $18,530,060 | $2,199,628 | $2,837,983 | $1,416,400 | 176 | $2,673,192 | $2,084,837 | $992,576 |
| 2022 | $19,109,415 | $3,298,778 | $2,301,475 | $1,247,293 | 216 | $2,000,665 | $3,160,768 | $1,041,108 |
| 2021 | $18,112,112 | $2,664,671 | $2,213,884 | $871,700 | 183 | — | $2,540,561 | $983,921 |
| 2020 | $17,661,325 | $2,725,211 | $2,607,298 | $1,415,895 | 235 | — | $2,603,604 | $884,517 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Fund’s stated purpose is to encourage and improve public knowledge and appreciation of contemporary American music. Its General Support Program offers unrestricted grants to eligible performing ensembles, presenters, music service organizations, and record companies with a substantial commitment to contemporary American concert music, jazz, or both. The Project Support Program offers restricted grants for special projects and initiatives; the Legacy Program is by invitation.
The Fund defines contemporary music as music composed within the last 40 years. Its definition of American music includes work by U.S. citizens, wherever they live, and by non-citizens who have lived and worked in the United States and its territories for a significant period. Jazz support requires improvisation and eligible original works or substantially original, non-derivative arrangements.
Grantees’ own missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. New Music USA describes its work as supporting the creation, performance, and appreciation of new music throughout the United States. Albany Symphony Orchestra says it creates, records, and disseminates music of its time as part of its mission to celebrate living musical heritage. Bang on a Can describes its work as presenting, commissioning, performing, recording, and teaching contemporary music.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Fund reported 203 grants totaling $1,483,850. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $90,000, with a median of $5,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $90,000 to New Music USA, $75,000 to The Koussevitzky Foundation, $43,000 to Albany Symphony Orchestra, $38,500 to Cabrillo Festival, and $37,600 to Copland House Inc.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Christopher Theofanidis as President; Ursula Oppens as Vice President; Ellen Taaffe Zwilich as Vice President and Director; James M. Kendrick as Executive Vice President and Secretary; Norman Feit as Treasurer; and Brooke Larimer as Assistant Secretary. Directors listed include John Corigliano, George Lewis, Alex Shapiro, and Augusta Read Thomas.
The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc is led by Christopher Theofanidis, President since 2024 (on filings since 2023); 9 of 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Christopher Theofanidis
President
First Vice President & Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
$51K (2023) → $56K (2025)
Alex Shapiro
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$4K (2023) → $2K (2025)
Augusta Read Thomas
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$2K (2023) → $1K (2025)
Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$4K (2023) → $2K (2025)
John Corigliano
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$800 (2024) → $1K (2025)
George Lewis
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
$2K (2025)
Brooke Larimer
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary & Administrator → Assistant Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$105K (2023) → $110K (2025)
James M. Kendrick
Executive Vice President & Secretary
Executive Vice President, Secretary & Director → Executive Vice President & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
$125K (2023) → $134K (2025)
Ursula Oppens
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$2K (2023) → $2K (2025)
Norman Feit
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Robert Beaser (2020–2023) — President & Director
- Former: Chris Theofanidis (2020–2022) — First Vice President & Director
- Former: David Del Tredici (2020–2021) — Vice President & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $134K, to James M Kendrick (Exec VP/Secy). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc
How much does The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc give each year?
The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc gave $1.5M across 203 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.4M across 231 grants.
What is The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc's typical grant size?
The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,310, across 203 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc that year got $4K on average.
Where does The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc give grants?
The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc gives mostly in New York: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (15%) and Illinois (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (53 grants), Brooklyn, NY (24 grants), San Francisco, CA (13 grants) and Chicago, IL (10 grants).
Does The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 203 grants with a stated purpose on The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc's largest grantees?
The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc's largest 2025 grantees include New Music USA ($90,000), The Koussevitzky Foundation ($75,000) and Albany Symphony Orchestra ($43,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc?
The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc reported $18.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $2.9M.
What does The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc fund?
The Fund’s stated purpose is to encourage and improve public knowledge and appreciation of contemporary American music. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc?
The Fund’s application information directs applicants to program guidelines and FAQs. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc's EIN?
The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3620909. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-aaron-copland-fund-for-music-inc-morg_470bc35a0a044f1e864f47368638839f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133620909_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-aaron-copland-fund-for-music-inc-morg_470bc35a0a044f1e864f47368638839f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 The Aaron Copland Fund for Music 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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