The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc
The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc is a private foundation based in New York, NY, established to honor composer Aaron Copland's lifelong devotion to contemporary music. The Fund was officially announced to the public in 1992, following Copland's bequest of a large portion of his estate. The organization operates multiple grant programs and manages permissions for the use of Copland's music and literary works.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$18.3M
-1.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
-1.1% YoY
Grant Count
231
+31.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
-24.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Fund's purpose is to encourage and improve public knowledge and appreciation of contemporary American music. The organization specifically supports:
- Contemporary American concert music
- Contemporary jazz by American composers
- Performing ensembles and presenters
- Music service organizations
- Record companies
Grantmaking
The Aaron Copland Fund for Music operates three primary grant programs:
Grant Range
** $8,100
Average Grant
** $8,100
Review Cycle
** April 30, 2026 - 11:59 PM
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Fund's grant-making focuses primarily on New York, California, and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2023:
- Total Assets: $18,530,060
- Total Revenue: $2,199,628
- Total Expenses: $2,837,983
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Investment Income and Dividends: $563,564
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, tax-exempt since August 1991 EIN: 13-3620909
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $18,254,667 | $18,530,060 | $19,109,415 |
| Revenue | $2,641,936 | $2,199,628 | $3,298,778 |
| Expenses | $2,917,329 | $2,837,983 | $2,301,475 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,793,551 | $2,673,192 | $2,000,665 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,518,688 | $2,084,837 | $3,160,768 |
| Distributable Amount | $955,788 | $992,576 | $1,041,108 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key leadership includes:
- Alex Shapiro, Director
- Augusta Read Thomas, Director
- Christopher Theofanidis, First Vice President/Director
The organization operates with 4 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN CORIGLIANO | Director | 1 | $800 |
| NORMAN FEIT | Treasurer | 2 | — |
| JAMES M KENDRICK | EXEC VP/SECY | 15 | $151,430 |
| GEORGE LEWIS | Director | 1 | — |
| URSULA OPPENS | Vice President | 1 | $1,600 |
| ALEX SHAPIRO | Director | 1 | $800 |
| CHRISTOPHER THEOFANIDIS | President | 3 | $54,600 |
| AUGUSTA READ THOMAS | Director | 1 | $800 |
| ELLEN TAAFFE ZWILICH | VP/DIRECTOR | 5 | $1,600 |
| BROOKE LARIMER | ASSIST SECRETAR | 35 | $120,185 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Fund continues to actively accept applications across its three grant programs. The 2026 application cycle is underway, with the General Support Program and Legacy Program currently open for submissions. The Project Support Program will open in June 2026.
Performance Program grants awarded for 2023The Fund also manages licensing for Aaron Copland's musical compositions through Boosey & Hawkes (a Concord Company) and handles permissions for use of Copland's literary works and image through direct inquiry.
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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