The Elma Music Foundation (us)
The ELMA Music Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in New York, NY. Established in 2011, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting music education, artist development, and music-related programming across the United States.
Key facts about The Elma Music Foundation (us)
- EIN
- 27-3622277
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,946,430
- Grants made (2025)
- 24
- Average grant
- $81,101
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Primary geography
- New York (32% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Elma Music Foundation (us) funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Elma Music Foundation (us)'s 24 itemized 2025 grants were New York (32%), Massachusetts (14%) and Louisiana (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (7 grants), Atlanta, GA (3 grants), Boston, MA (2 grants) and New Orleans, LA (2 grants). 54% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.9M
-37.6% YoY
Grant Count
24
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$81K
-37.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on music education and artist support, with particular emphasis on:
- Youth music education and empowerment programs
- Support for aging and professional musicians
- Music training and performance opportunities for underserved communities
- Music scholarships and educational access
- Creative youth development through music and arts
Grantmaking
The foundation made 25 grants in 2024. Recent grants include:
Grant Range
Range:**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations primarily in New York, California, and Tennessee, with additional support for programs in Louisiana and Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 24 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2024):
- Total Assets: $2,261,705
- Total Revenue: $1,633,307
- Total Expenses: $3,159,409
- Total Liabilities: $5,250
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since February 2011 EIN: 27-3622277
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| 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
119 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Berklee College of Music Inc ($273,212 across 2 grants), Ellis Marsalis Center for Music Inc ($200,000), The Miami Foundation Inc ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC INC BOSTON, MA | MYDA SCHOLARSHIP", WHICH WILL PROVIDE NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS FROM ELMA'S MUSIC FOUNDATION (U.S.) GRANTEES TO ATTEND BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC'S FOUR YEAR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM. | $223,212 |
| ELLIS MARSALIS CENTER FOR MUSIC INC NEW ORLEANS, LA | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR AN AFTER-SCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAM PROVIDING UNDERSERVED CHILDREN AND YOUTH FROM THE NINTH WARD OF NEW ORLEANS THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY MUSIC THROUGH ARTS-FOCUSED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. | $200,000 |
| THE MIAMI FOUNDATION INC MIAMI, FL | PROJECT SUPPORT FOR ARTS ACCESS MIAMI, A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF FIVE ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS IN MIAMI FROM ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL WITH SUPPLEMENTAL MUSIC AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC NEW YORK, NY | PROJECT SUPPORT TO ESTABLISH THE HUGH MASEKELA HERITAGE SCHOLARSHIP FOR SOUTH AFRICAN STUDENTS TO ATTEND THE MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC | $176,552 |
| BIG THOUGHT DALLAS, TX | PROJECT SUPPORT FOR INTENSIVE PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM, CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, TO HELP DISENGAGED YOUTH IN THE JUVENILE SYSTEM TRANSITION OUT OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM | $100,000 |
| JAZZ FOUNDATION OF AMERICA INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT EXTENDS THE CAREERS OF AGING ARTISTS AND BRINGS MUSIC TO SCHOOLS, NURSING HOMES, AND HOSPITALS NATIONWIDE. | $100,000 |
| THE DOOR - A CENTER OF ALTERNATIVES NEW YORK, NY | PROJECT SUPPORT FOR THE MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMMING OF A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES YOUTH AGES 12-21 IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, THE ARTS, PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND CAREER SERVICES. | $100,000 |
| A PLACE CALLED HOME LOS ANGELES, CA | PROJECT SUPPORT FOR THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE AFTERSCHOOL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES. | $91,666 |
| MAMA FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR AN ORGANIZATION UPLIFTING GOSPEL AND JAZZ MUSICAL TRADITIONS TO HEAL AND INSPIRE, WITH A FOCUS ON PROVIDING FREE TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW-INCOME TEENAGERS IN HARLEM. | $75,000 |
| RYSE INC RICHMOND, CA | PROJECT SUPPORT FOR THE MEDIA, ARTS, AND CULTURE (MAC) PROGRAM FOR A COMMUNITY- BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES SAFE SPACE FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION, AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP IN RICHMOND, CA. | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS MCPARTLAND | CEO/DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| ROBYN CALDER | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| MERON MAKONNEN | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| SIMBARASHE JAIROSI | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| CLIVE CALDER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| PAUL KATZ | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| TARIK WARD | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported the Hugh Masekela Heritage Scholarship program in partnership with Manhattan School of Music and the Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation, enabling South African music students to study at the institution. The foundation also provided support during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the broader ELMA group of foundations committing $106.9 million for COVID-19 response efforts.
News Release: MSM, The ELMA Music Foundation, and the Hugh Masekela Heritage\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Elma Music Foundation (us) fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on music education and artist support, with particular emphasis on: • Youth music education and empowerment programs • Support for aging and professional musicians • Music training and performance opportunities for underserved communities • Music scholarships and educational access • Creative youth development through music and arts
How do I apply for a grant from The Elma Music Foundation (us)?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 25 grants in 2024. Recent grants include: • Manhattan School of Music: $361,852 for the Hugh Masekela Heritage Scholarship for South African students • Jazz Foundation of America: $300,000 for the Jazz and Blues in the Schools Program • Berklee College of Music: Project support for need-based scholarships for students from the foundation's grantees • Youth Empowerment Project: Project support for after-school music and arts programming serving 175 youth a…
Where does The Elma Music Foundation (us) make grants?
The foundation funds organizations primarily in New York, California, and Tennessee, with additional support for programs in Louisiana and Georgia.
What size grants does The Elma Music Foundation (us) award?
In 2025, The Elma Music Foundation (us) awarded 24 grants totaling $1.9M — an average of about $81K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Elma Music Foundation (us)'s EIN?
The Elma Music Foundation (us)'s EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-3622277. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Elma Music Foundation (us)'s focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.