The Boch Family Foundation
The Boch Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Norwood, Massachusetts. It does business as Music Drives Us, an organization that supports music education and musical opportunities, with a stated focus on communities throughout New England.
The Boch Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Boch Family Foundation gave $184K across 15 grants in 2024 (avg $12K), mostly in Vermont. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $184,492
- +231.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 15
- +25.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $12,299
- +165.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $3,614,768
- +13.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Vermont (54% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Boch Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing lists online submission of the application and materials, with two application periods in May and November.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists two periods, May and November; it does not specify dates.
- Deadline
- The filing lists two periods, May and November; it does not specify dates.
- Contact
Application contact: Robert Weiss
Mailing address: 111 Morse Street, Norwood, MA 02062
Phone: (781) 255-6335
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from The Boch Family Foundation
Music Drives Us Instrument Grant
The Boch Family Foundation
Amount
Unspecified amount in in-kind support
Deadline
Deadline not published
Music Drives Us Organizational Grant
The Boch Family Foundation
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Music Drives Us Performance Grant
The Boch Family Foundation
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Boch Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Vermont Agency of Education ($100K). Together the top 10 received $176K.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 44 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Music Drives Us states that it supports musical opportunities throughout New England. In 2024, 54% of grant dollars went to recipients in Vermont, 31% to Massachusetts, and 15% to California; the filing also lists New Hampshire at 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Boch Family Foundation gives
- 13% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 53% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $9K (2022) to $184K (2024). In 2024 it made 15 grants totaling $184K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont Agency of Education Montpelier, VT | Education | $100,000 |
| Falcetti Music Springfield, MA | Education | $26,257 |
| Music Forward Foundation Beverly Hill, CA | Education | $25,000 |
| Falcetti Panos Springfield, MA | Education | $9,710 |
| Guitar Center Westlake Village, CA | Education | $2,691 |
| Barnstable Public Schools Hyannis, MA | Education | $2,500 |
| Boston Public Schools Roxbury, MA | Education | $2,500 |
| Holliston Public Schools Holliston, MA | Education | $2,500 |
| Reading Public Schools Reading, MA | Education | $2,500 |
| Rockland Public Schools Rockland, MA | Education | $2,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,614,768 | $651,403 | $223,824 | $184,492 | 15 | $192,607 | $244,509 | $200,623 |
| 2023 | $3,177,640 | $253,357 | $101,078 | $55,606 | 12 | $74,809 | $61,879 | $170,788 |
| 2022 | $3,019,862 | $-160,156 | $56,637 | $8,650 | 3 | $15,706 | $86,900 | $154,020 |
| 2021 | $2,597,081 | $632,827 | $151,606 | $120,735 | 4 | $126,978 | $266,373 | $151,685 |
| 2020 | $2,780,459 | $476,152 | $113,922 | $52,034 | 10 | — | $118,356 | $122,119 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Boch Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $201K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Music Drives Us states that its mission is to preserve music education and produce musical opportunities for communities throughout New England. Its website describes support through grants, instrument donations, and community partnerships, with a focus on underserved communities.
The listed grant programs include instrument grants for schools and nonprofit organizations, organizational grants, and performance grants. Program descriptions name schools, hospitals, and community centers among potential organizational applicants. For context, the website describes partner Falcetti Music as working to support music education and live music in the region; it describes partner Blues Schoolhouse as teaching students about blues music, its history, and its relationship to social conditions and community.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation made 15 grants totaling $184,492. Grant amounts ranged from $150 to $100,000, with a median grant of $2,500. The largest awards included $100,000 to the Vermont Agency of Education for education, $26,257 to Falcetti Music for education, and $25,000 to Music Forward Foundation for education. Other listed recipients included Falcetti Panos ($9,710) and Guitar Center ($2,691), as well as several Massachusetts public school systems that each received $2,500.
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists an online application with materials submitted online and no limitations on awards. The filing names Robert Weiss as the application contact.
Music Drives Us also lists instrument, organizational, and performance grant programs. The program information gives an award ceiling of $10,000 for organizational and performance grants; the instrument grant is described as in-kind support, with no amount specified.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Ernest A. Boch Jr. as president, and Bruce Mittman and Paul Geary as directors. Music Drives Us identifies Ernie Boch Jr. as its founder.
The Boch Family Foundation is led by Ernest A. Boch Jr., President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ernest A. Boch Jr.
President
Founder → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Mittman
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Geary
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Robert Weiss (2021) — Treasurer & Secretary
- Former: Stan Lewicki (2021) — Foundation Manager
- Former: Jackie Dinatale (2020) — Foundation Manager
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Boch Family Foundation
How much does The Boch Family Foundation give each year?
The Boch Family Foundation gave $184K across 15 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $56K across 12 grants.
What is The Boch Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Boch Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $12,299, across 15 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Boch Family Foundation give grants?
The Boch Family Foundation gives mostly in Vermont: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (31%) and California (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Springfield, MA (2 grants).
Does The Boch Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on The Boch Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (14 grants).
Who are The Boch Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Boch Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Vermont Agency of Education ($100,000), Falcetti Music ($26,257) and Music Forward Foundation ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Boch Family Foundation?
The Boch Family Foundation reported $3.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $193K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $201K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Boch Family Foundation fund?
Music Drives Us states that its mission is to preserve music education and produce musical opportunities for communities throughout New England. Its website describes support through grants, instrument donations, and community partnerships, with a focus on underserved communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Boch Family Foundation?
The 2024 filing lists online submission of the application and materials, with two application periods in May and November. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Boch Family Foundation's EIN?
The Boch Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3429592. 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
Live grants for the work The Boch Family Foundation funds
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