The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable
The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable is a private foundation based in Reston, Virginia. Established in 1996 by pianist Claudette Sorel and named for her parents, it supported opportunities for women musicians in areas including composition, conducting, performance, film scoring, arts leadership, technology, education, and scholarship.
The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable at a glance
In short: The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable gave $1.9M across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $133K), mostly in New York. 36% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,858,800
- +945.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- +75.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $132,771
- +497.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $84,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (5 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (71% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its 2024 filing is marked as its final return.
- Contact
Mailing address: 12030 Sunrise Valley Drive 450, Reston, VA 20191
Phone: (703) 437-9720
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was New Music USA ($370K). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
51 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 51 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 71% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 19% to Minnesota, 5% to California, 4% to Ohio, and 1% to Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 14 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $103K; repeat grants $149K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 1152% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 $149K (2021) to $1.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $1.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New Music USA Brooklyn, NY | Program Support | $370,000 |
| American Composer Orchestra New York, NY | Program Support | $350,000 |
| SUNY Fredonia Fredonia, NY | Program Support | $295,000 |
| American Composers Forum Saint Paul, MN | Program Support | $180,000 |
| American Pianists Association Indianopolis, MN | Program Support | $175,000 |
| Music and Arts Programs of America Berkeley, CA | Program Support | $100,000 |
| Voices of Ascension New York, NY | Program Support | $89,000 |
| Songfest at Colburn Cincinnati, OH | Program Support | $80,000 |
| National Arts Club New York, NY | Program Support | $55,000 |
| New York Philharmonic New York, NY | Program Support | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2024 filing reports 14 grants; the 2023 and 2022 filings report 8 and 10 grants, respectively.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | $-543,380 | $1,985,881 | $1,858,800 | 14 | $1,955,416 | $55,702 | $54,178 |
| 2023 | $2,529,261 | $93,327 | $301,671 | $177,800 | 8 | $268,158 | $58,564 | $115,997 |
| 2022 | $2,737,605 | $172,488 | $303,269 | $155,500 | 10 | $257,883 | $133,602 | $138,283 |
| 2021 | $2,855,486 | $597,051 | $364,761 | $148,500 | 8 | $326,511 | $559,043 | $148,931 |
| 2020 | $2,623,196 | $-45,915 | $373,917 | $161,542 | 11 | — | $21,579 | $157,071 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable reported a distributable amount of $54K 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
The Sorel Organization’s stated mission was to expand opportunities and stretch the boundaries for women musicians across music and related fields. Its activities included recording and composition programs, collaborations with arts organizations, and scholarship endowments at SUNY Fredonia and New York University.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate some of the work supported. New Music USA says it supports the creation, performance, and appreciation of new music and seeks to nurture an inclusive community for artists and listeners. American Composers Forum describes its mission as advocating for and supporting living composers. Voices of Ascension says it advances choral music through performance, commissions, and community engagement. The Boulanger Initiative says it promotes inclusivity for women and gender-marginalized composers through performance, education, and commissions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $1,858,800. Grant amounts ranged from $4,800 to $370,000, with a median of $84,500. The largest reported grants included $370,000 to New Music USA, $350,000 to American Composers Orchestra, $295,000 to SUNY Fredonia, $180,000 to American Composers Forum, and $175,000 to American Pianists Association. Each was designated for program support.
Other reported grants included $100,000 to Music and Arts Programs of America, $89,000 to Voices of Ascension, $80,000 to Songfest at Colburn, $55,000 to National Arts Club, and $50,000 each to New York Philharmonic, New York University, and Sparks & Wiry Cries. The organization’s website describes legacy endowments established or augmented in 2024, including funds at New Music USA, American Composers Orchestra, American Composers Forum, American Piano Awards, and National Arts Club.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Walter T. Killmer Jr. as president, Wende Persons as vice president/treasurer, and JoAnn Falletta as vice president/secretary.
The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable is led by Walter T. Killmer Jr., President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Walter T. Killmer Jr.
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wende Persons
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$60K (2020) → $70K (2024)
Joann Falletta
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $70K, to Wende Persons (Vice President/Treasurer).
Frequently asked questions about The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable
How much does The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable give each year?
The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable gave $1.9M across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $178K across 8 grants.
What is The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable's typical grant size?
The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable's median grant in 2024 was $84,500, and its average grant was $132,771, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable that year got $103K on average.
Where does The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable give grants?
The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable gives mostly in New York: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Minnesota (19%) and California (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants).
Does The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (14 grants).
Who are The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable's largest grantees?
The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable's largest 2024 grantees include New Music USA ($370,000), American Composer Orchestra ($350,000) and SUNY Fredonia ($295,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
What does The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable fund?
The Sorel Organization’s stated mission was to expand opportunities and stretch the boundaries for women musicians across music and related fields. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable reported a distributable amount of $54K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable's EIN?
The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3918852. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 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 November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-elizabeth-and-michel-sorel-charitable-morg_b38007eda13a4f66bde2bf2ae1764613
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133918852_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Elizabeth \& Michel Sorel Charitable funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-elizabeth-and-michel-sorel-charitable-morg_b38007eda13a4f66bde2bf2ae1764613},
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 The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable'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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