The CMA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2011 by the Country Music Association and headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. The foundation operates as a subordinate organization under the Country Music Association and focuses on leveraging strategic partnerships, professional development, and grant distribution to improve music education programs nationwide.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.8M
+13.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.9M
+44.3% YoY
Grant Count
34
+25.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$56K
+14.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Guided by the generosity of the Country Music community, the CMA Foundation focuses on improving and sustaining music education programs everywhere while supporting worthwhile causes important to the Country Music Association.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Music education programs and sustainability
- Professional development for qualified music teachers
- Mental health support for music industry professionals
- Advocacy and accountability within music education
- Resources for students, schools, and communities
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only.
Grant Range
$25,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grant-making focuses primarily on Tennessee, California, and Pennsylvania, with a stated commitment to serving music education programs nationwide.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets (2025): $15,823,122
- Total revenues (2025): $5,378,796
- Total expenses (2025): $3,184,961
- Annual expenses (2024): $2,400,000
- Giving rate: 9.6% of assets
Staffing:
- 4 employees (as of most recent data)
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,823,122 | $13,893,513 | $11,027,480 |
| Revenue | $5,378,796 | $4,321,613 | $4,441,791 |
| Expenses | $3,184,961 | $2,423,061 | $1,507,192 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,211,942 | $536,930 | $273,474 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
102 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Cma Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Music Health Alliance ($200,000), Backline Care Inc ($100,000), Music Will ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MUSIC HEALTH ALLIANCE NASHVILLE, TN | MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR MUSIC INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS | $200,000 |
| BACKLINE CARE INC PORTLAND, OR | MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR MUSIC INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS | $100,000 |
| MUSIC WILL MONTCLAIR, NJ | GENERAL SUPPORT TO ADVANCE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN MUSIC EDUCATION FIELD | $100,000 |
| MUSICARES FOUNDATION SANTA MONICA, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT TO ADVANCE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN MUSIC EDUCATION FIELD | $100,000 |
| NOTES FOR NOTES NASHVILLE, TN | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMMING TO ENHANCE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH MUSIC LEARNING | $100,000 |
| PORTER'S CALL FRANKLIN, TN | MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR MUSIC INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS | $100,000 |
| STATE EDUCATION AGENCY DIRECTORS OF ARTS EDUCATION DOVER, DE | GENERAL SUPPORT TO ADVANCE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN MUSIC EDUCATION FIELD | $100,000 |
| THE ROOTS OF MUSIC NEW ORLEANS, LA | GENERAL SUPPORT TO ADVANCE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN MUSIC EDUCATION FIELD | $100,000 |
| TOURING CAREER WORKSHOP NASHVILLE, TN | MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR MUSIC INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS | $100,000 |
| VH1 SAVE THE MUSIC FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMMING TO ENHANCE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH MUSIC LEARNING | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Sarah Trahern – Principal Officer
- Tiffany Kerns – Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARAH TRAHERN | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| AMY SMARTT | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 5 | — |
| TIFFANY KERNS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | — |
| STEPHEN PARKER | CHAIRMAN | 2 | — |
| BRITTANY SCHAFFER | VICE CHAIRMAN | 2 | — |
| DAVID HASKELL | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| EILEEN VALOIS | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JAY WILLIAMS | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JENNIE SMYTHE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JESSE CANNON | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JOE GALANTE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JOSH VAN VALKENBURG | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| KAREN FAIRCHILD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| KELLA FARRIS | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MIKE DUNGAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| TYNE PARRISH | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The CMA Foundation has demonstrated significant commitment to music education through multiple initiatives:
CMA Foundation | Creating Brighter Futures With Music EducationIn 2023, the foundation sponsored all 30 recipients of its Music Teachers of Excellence awards through industry partner support
CMA Foundation | Creating Brighter Futures With Music EducationThe foundation has partnered with NAfME (National Association for Music Education) to announce State Advocacy Award grant winners in recent years
CMA Foundation | Creating Brighter Futures With Music EducationThe foundation previously donated $1 million to benefit music education programs for Nashville public school students through the Keep the Music Playing campaign
CMA Foundation | Creating Brighter Futures With Music EducationContact Information
Address: 35 Music Square East, Suite 201 Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 244-2840
Website: cmafoundation.org
EIN: 27-4842832
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Cma Foundation fund?
**Mission:** Guided by the generosity of the Country Music community, the CMA Foundation focuses on improving and sustaining music education programs everywhere while supporting worthwhile causes important to the Country Music Association. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Music education programs and sustainability • Professional development for qualified music teachers • Mental health support for music industry professionals • Advocacy and accountability within music education • Resources for studen…
How do I apply for a grant from The Cma Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2025): $2,239,983 • Total giving (2024): $1,328,125 • Number of grants (2024): 27 • Median grant size: $25,000 • Grant range: $5,000–$500,000 **Recent Grants:** • Music Health Alliance: $200,000 (2025) for Mental Health Support for Music Industry Professionals **Application Policy:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only. **Active Opportunities:** • Music Teachers of Excellence (MToE) Award
Where does The Cma Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grant-making focuses primarily on Tennessee, California, and Pennsylvania, with a stated commitment to serving music education programs nationwide.
What size grants does The Cma Foundation award?
In 2025, The Cma Foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $1.9M — an average of about $56K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Cma Foundation's EIN?
The Cma Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-4842832. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Cma Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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