The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music
The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music is a private, not-for-profit foundation chartered in 1962 and based in New York City. Founded by Tony-winning singer-actress Lotte Lenya, the Foundation preserves and perpetuates the legacies of composer Kurt Weill (1900-1950) and his wife Lotte Lenya (1898-1981). Since 2012, the Foundation has also administered the musical and literary estate of Marc Blitzstein. The organization operates with a five-member staff and actively promotes appreciation of Weill's music through support of performances, recordings, scholarship, and talent development in musical theater.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$42.0M
+11.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$434K
+28.0% YoY
Grant Count
82
-8.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+40.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation encourages appreciation of Kurt Weill's music through support of performances, recordings, and scholarship, while nurturing talent in the creation, performance, and study of musical theater. Primary focus areas include:
- Arts and culture
- Performing arts
- Theater and musical theater
- Music and opera
- Education
Grantmaking
The Foundation's Grant and Collaborative Initiatives Programs award financial support to individuals and not-for-profit organizations for projects related to Weill, Lenya, or Marc Blitzstein. Since 1983, the Foundation has awarded more than $5,000,000 in grant funding to hundreds of organizations and individuals worldwide.
Grant Range
$1,000–$125,000
Review Cycle
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation funds projects across the United States and internationally, including major cultural hubs such as New York, Chicago, and London. Geographic reach includes: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $37–$42 million (recent filings)
- Annual Revenue: approximately $2.7 million
- Annual Expenses: approximately $3.7 million
- Annual Giving: $420,800–$3.7 million
- Giving Rate: approximately 1.0% of assets
- Tax-exempt status: Since July 1964
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $41,991,782 | $37,654,383 | $35,744,615 |
| Revenue | $4,572,680 | $2,706,277 | $1,372,351 |
| Expenses | $1,847,290 | $3,748,305 | $2,006,272 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,588,278 | $3,532,947 | $1,792,718 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,908,951 | $2,544,308 | $1,373,095 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,856,673 | $1,729,624 | $1,783,738 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
16 open opportunities from The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music
Grant and Collaborative Initiatives: College/University and Amateur Performance
THE KURT WEILL FOUNDATION FOR MUSIC
Amount
Up to US $15,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Grant and Collaborative Initiatives: Kurt Weill Dissertation Fellowship
THE KURT WEILL FOUNDATION FOR MUSIC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Grant and Collaborative Initiatives: Media
THE KURT WEILL FOUNDATION FOR MUSIC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Carnegie Hall ($125,000), Ana Karneza ($25,000), Central City Opera House Association ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2 AM MEDLEY INC BROOKLYN, NY | LENYA COMPETITION SONGBOOK RECOGNITION AWARD | $375 |
| AMERICAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA NEW YORK, NY | PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE GRANT - KLEINE DREIGROSCHENMUSIK | $5,000 |
| ANA KARNEZA BROOKLYN, NY | 2024 LENYA COMPETITION SEMIFINALIST PRIZE | $1,250 |
| ANA KARNEZA BROOKLYN, NY | 2024 LENYA COMPETITION FINALS 1ST PRIZE | $25,000 |
| ANA KARNEZA BROOKLYN, NY | 2024 LOTTE LENYA COMPETITION TRAVEL STIPEND | $1,200 |
| ARCOLA THEATRE | PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE GRANT - NO FOR AN ANSWER | $3,500 |
| ATTHEW AMIRA NEW YORK, NY | 2024 LENYA COMPETITION SEMIFINALIST PRIZE | $1,250 |
| BEN WEXLER NEW YORK, NY | LENYA COMPETITION SONGBOOK RECOGNITION AWARD | $750 |
| BREVARD MUSIC CENTER BREVARD, NC | 2024 AMATEUR PERFORMANCE GRANT: THE THREEPENNY OPERA | $15,000 |
| CARNEGIE HALL NEW YORK, NY | SUPPORT OF KW CONCERTS IN 2024 WEIMAR FESTIVAL | $125,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- President: Kim Kowalke
- Board members include: Theodore S. Chapin and Jeanine Tesori
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIM KOWALKE | PRESIDENT | 40 | $163,322 |
| THEODORE S CHAPIN | BOARD CHAIR | 0.25 | $750 |
| PHILIP GETTER | SR. VICE CHAIR | 0.25 | $1,000 |
| PENELOPE BOEHM | TREASURER | 1 | $4,000 |
| NAOMI ANDRE | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | $500 |
| ANDRE BISHOP | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | $250 |
| VICTORIA CLARK | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | $500 |
| SUSAN FEDER | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | $1,000 |
| COREY FIELD | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | $750 |
| JAMES HOLMES | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | — |
| WELZ KAUFFMAN | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | $250 |
| TAZEWELL THOMPSON | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | $500 |
| JEANINE TESORI | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | $500 |
| PAMELA ZILLY | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | $250 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music fund?
The Foundation encourages appreciation of Kurt Weill's music through support of performances, recordings, and scholarship, while nurturing talent in the creation, performance, and study of musical theater. Primary focus areas include: • Arts and culture • Performing arts • Theater and musical theater • Music and opera • Education
How do I apply for a grant from The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music?
The Foundation's Grant and Collaborative Initiatives Programs award financial support to individuals and not-for-profit organizations for projects related to Weill, Lenya, or Marc Blitzstein. Since 1983, the Foundation has awarded more than $5,000,000 in grant funding to hundreds of organizations and individuals worldwide. **Grant Categories:** • Professional Performance • College/University and Amateur Performance • Media • Scholarly Symposia and Conferences • Publication Assistance • Research…
Where does The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music make grants?
The Foundation funds projects across the United States and internationally, including major cultural hubs such as New York, Chicago, and London. Geographic reach includes: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
What size grants does The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music award?
In 2024, The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music awarded 82 grants totaling $434K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music reported a distributable amount of $1.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music's EIN?
The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6139518. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music'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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