The Elma Music Foundation (US)
The ELMA Music Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, New York. It invests in organizations that use music to improve youth outcomes in the United States and South Africa.
The Elma Music Foundation (US) at a glance
In short: The Elma Music Foundation (US) gave $1.9M across 24 grants in 2025 (avg $81K), top state New York. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,946,430
- -37.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 24
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $81,101
- -37.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $2,588,592
- +14.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (4 of 22, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (32% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Elma Music Foundation (US)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1345 Avenue Of The Americas 2301, New York, NY 10105
Phone: (212) 697-1000
Website: https://elmaphilanthropies.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Elma Music Foundation (US) funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Berklee College of Music Inc ($273K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
119 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 59 grants of 119 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated geographic scope includes the United States and South Africa. In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in New York (32%), Massachusetts (14%), Louisiana (13%), Florida (10%), and California (9%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Elma Music Foundation (US) open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 22 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $44K; repeat grants $98K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $78K repeat.
- 77% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 55% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.9M (2025) to $4.4M (2022). In 2025 it made 24 grants totaling $1.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
Ready to take the next step with The Elma Music Foundation (US)?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,588,592 | $2,311,179 | $1,979,042 | $1,946,430 | 24 | $1,981,880 | $61,179 | $86,907 |
| 2024 | $2,261,705 | $1,633,307 | $3,159,409 | $3,116,887 | 24 | $3,150,968 | $133,307 | $149,614 |
| 2023 | $3,782,557 | $4,112,922 | $3,388,954 | $3,359,734 | 25 | $3,388,954 | $112,922 | $213,427 |
| 2022 | $3,058,589 | $1,001,246 | $4,373,833 | $4,353,709 | 23 | $4,373,459 | $1,190 | $229,796 |
| 2021 | $6,431,176 | $5,000,826 | $3,129,469 | $3,107,809 | 23 | $3,129,407 | $826 | $250,578 |
| 2020 | $4,559,819 | $3,005,323 | $4,075,511 | $4,051,571 | 25 | — | $4,368 | $234,066 |
| 2019 | $5,630,007 | $3,012,839 | $3,052,563 | $3,124,133 | 25 | — | $11,644 | $252,690 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Elma Music Foundation (US) reported a distributable amount of $87K for 2025 — 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 foundation’s website describes its investment framework as guiding its philanthropic strategy, focus areas, goals, and measures of success. Its listed investments include after-school music and arts programming, free music training and performance opportunities, youth development, and need-based scholarships.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. Berklee College of Music says its mission is to promote the study and teaching of music and related arts. The Jazz Foundation of America says it assists jazz and blues musicians through emergency assistance and work opportunities. A Place Called Home says it supports young people in South Los Angeles to achieve social, emotional, and economic success.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 24 grants totaling $1,946,430. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $223,212, with a median of $50,000.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $223,212 to Berklee College of Music for need-based scholarships for students from the foundation’s U.S. grantees; $200,000 to the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music for general support of its after-school music program for underserved youth in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward; and $200,000 to The Miami Foundation for a collaborative music and social-emotional support initiative for students in Miami. Other notable grants included $176,552 to Manhattan School of Music to establish the Hugh Masekela Heritage Scholarship for South African students, and $100,000 each to Big Thought, the Jazz Foundation of America, and The Door.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Thomas McPartland as CEO/director; Robyn Calder as president/director; Meron Makonnen as secretary/director; Simbarashe Jairosi as treasurer; and Clive Calder, Paul Katz, and Tarik Ward as directors.
The Elma Music Foundation (US) is led by Thomas McPartland, CEO & Director since 2024 (on filings since 2019); none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thomas McPartland
CEO & Director
President & Director → Director, CEO & Treasurer, 2022
Director, CEO & Treasurer → Director & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robyn Calder
President & Director
Director → Director & President, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clive Calder
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meron Makonnen
Secretary & Director
Secretary → Secretary & Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Katz
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tarik Ward
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Simbarashe Jairosi
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Liz Healy (2019–2021) — CFO & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Elma Music Foundation (US)
How much does The Elma Music Foundation (US) give each year?
The Elma Music Foundation (US) gave $1.9M across 24 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.1M across 24 grants.
What is The Elma Music Foundation (US)'s typical grant size?
The Elma Music Foundation (US)'s median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $81,101, across 24 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Elma Music Foundation (US) that year got $44K on average.
Where does The Elma Music Foundation (US) give grants?
The Elma Music Foundation (US)'s top state is New York, with 32% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were 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).
Does The Elma Music Foundation (US) give general operating support?
Yes: 54% of The Elma Music Foundation (US)'s 2025 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Elma Music Foundation (US)'s largest grantees?
The Elma Music Foundation (US)'s largest 2025 grantees include Berklee College of Music Inc ($273,212 across 2 grants), Ellis Marsalis Center for Music Inc ($200,000) and The Miami Foundation Inc ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Elma Music Foundation (US)?
The Elma Music Foundation (US) reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $87K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Elma Music Foundation (US) fund?
The foundation’s website describes its investment framework as guiding its philanthropic strategy, focus areas, goals, and measures of success. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Elma Music Foundation (US)?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The Elma Music Foundation (US) accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 28, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Elma Music Foundation (US) funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-elma-music-foundation-us-morg_13d0d83ea312471aa03ef03e68761d5e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_273622277_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Elma Music Foundation (US) funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-elma-music-foundation-us-morg_13d0d83ea312471aa03ef03e68761d5e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Elma Music Foundation (US)'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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