The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation)
The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charitable Foundation, also known as The Music Man Foundation, is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Established by Rosemary Willson in 1998 to honor her husband, composer Meredith Willson, it donates profits from his licensing royalties to community organizations that use music to catalyze enduring change and carry forward his musical legacy.
Key facts about The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation)
In short: The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation) gave $4.2M across 41 grants in 2024 (avg $103K), top state California. 38% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 46-1015108
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,238,030
- Grants made (2024)
- 41
- Average grant
- $103,367
- Median grant
- $100,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (13 of 34, 2024)
- Total assets
- $77,698,532
- Primary geography
- California (47% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The filing states that application instructions are provided on the Foundation’s website and submissions must be completed through its online grants portal. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- Deadlines vary by opportunity.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$77.7M
-2.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.2M
-1.5% YoY
Grant Count
41
+2.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$103K
-3.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation) reported a distributable amount of $4.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation) open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 34 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $95K; repeat grants $143K. How we count
Medians: $75K first-time, $125K repeat.
- 56% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 33% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 119% of 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to empower organizations using music to catalyze enduring change and amplify its founders’ musical legacy. Its stated funding priorities include using music to shift systems, advocating for public funding and pro-arts and pro-artist policies, and building public support for the arts.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work in its portfolio. ETM-LA describes its mission as integrating music into under-resourced schools’ curricula to support students’ academic performance and development. The American Music Therapy Association says it works to advance awareness of music therapy and increase access to quality services. Arts for Healing and Justice Network describes coordinating community-based arts education organizations serving system-impacted youth in Los Angeles County.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation made 41 grants totaling $4,238,030. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $300,000, with a median of $100,000. Among the largest were $300,000 to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for general operating support and $300,000 to the Aspen Institute for its NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative; $250,000 to Save the Music Foundation for general operating support; and $250,000 to the Regents of the University of California for the School of Nursing/Sound Health.
The Meredith Willson Awards provide multi-year general operating support. The Foundation’s published 2026 program information describes awards of $50,000–$500,000, paid over two years, with 5–10 organizations anticipated to receive grants. That opportunity is for organizations based in and primarily serving one or more of six an individual recipient counties: Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura. Applications are assessed for the organization’s approach to systemic change, the role of music in advancing it, and the organization’s capacity; the program states that it will not fund applications focused on developing new programs.
Strengthening the Sector grants support advocacy initiatives with a policy focus, including work to increase public funding for the arts, support pro-arts and pro-artist policies, or build public support for the arts. Published program information describes one-time grants of $20,000–$250,000, generally for 12 months, with up to 24 months possible for multi-year initiatives. The Foundation also describes invitation-only Strategic Partnership grants for innovative work advancing the field of music.
Review Cycle
Deadlines vary by opportunity. For the 2026 Meredith Willson Awards, the Leadership Letter deadline was January 28, 2026, and the full application deadline for invited applicants was April 22, 2026.
How to Apply
The filing states that application instructions are provided on the Foundation’s website and submissions must be completed through its online grants portal. Deadlines vary. The filing says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations. The Meredith Willson Awards process begins with a Leadership Letter; selected organizations are invited to submit a full application. The Strengthening the Sector process described by the Foundation includes an eligibility check and Letter of Inquiry, with selected applicants invited to further steps.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation)
Advocacy and Research Grants: Strengthening the Sector
The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation)
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
National Meredith Willson Awards Grant
The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation)
Amount
US $100,000 - US $1,000,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ready to take the next step with The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation)?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s published 2026 Meredith Willson Awards opportunity is limited to organizations based in and primarily serving Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, or Ventura County. Its 2025 Strengthening the Sector announcement described support for advocacy organizations operating in Los Angeles County, across California, or nationally.
In 2024, 47% of grant dollars went to California recipients, 15% to New York, 14% to the District of Columbia, 5% to Ohio, and 5% to Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 41 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.9M (2020) to $4.3M (2023). In 2024 it made 41 grants totaling $4.2M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was John F Kennedy Center for Performing Arts ($300K). Together the top 10 received $2.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
215 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 103 grants of 215 (48%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| John F Kennedy Center for Performing Arts Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $300,000 |
| Aspen Institute Washington, DC | Neuroarts Blueprint Initiative | $300,000 |
| Save the Music Foundation New York, NY | General Operating Support | $250,000 |
| The Regents of the University of California San Francisco, CA | School of Nursing/Sound Health | $250,000 |
| American Music Therapy Association Silver Spring, MD | Website & Technology Infrastructure | $200,000 |
| ETM-La Inc Burbank, CA | General Operating Support | $175,000 |
| Arts for Healing and Justice Network Long Beach, CA | General Operating Support | $175,000 |
| Heart of Los Angeles Youth Inc Los Angeles, CA | General Operating Support | $150,000 |
| Music Will Montclair, NJ | General Operating Support | $150,000 |
| Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture Los Angeles, CA | La County Arts Ed Collective | $150,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grants awarded | Number of grants |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,238,030 | 41 |
| 2023 | $4,303,866 | 40 |
| 2022 | $2,909,148 | 26 |
The Foundation files Form 990-PF.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $77,698,532 | $79,920,494 | $77,795,066 |
| Revenue | $6,975,985 | $7,885,644 | $12,740,702 |
| Expenses | $6,103,078 | $5,760,216 | $5,220,366 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,410,659 | $5,474,152 | $4,661,867 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,487,399 | $7,661,697 | $12,572,048 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,561,253 | $4,191,939 | $3,854,935 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Tom Camp as president and director; Al Pivo as vice president and CFO and director; Laura Zucker as secretary and director; and Larry W. Swanson and Leticia Rhi Buckley as directors. The Foundation’s website identifies Sarah Lyding as executive director.
The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation) is led by Tom Camp, President & Director on every filing since 2020; all 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Tom Camp
President & Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $18K (2024)
Al Pivo
Vice President, CFO & Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $16K (2024)
Larry W. Swanson
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $14K (2024)
Laura Zucker
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$12K (2020) → $14K (2024)
Leticia Rhi Buckley
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
$11K (2023) → $15K (2024)
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 $18K, to Tom Camp (President/Director). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: Katie Mackenzie
Mailing address: 1751 Colorado Blvd Number 354, Los Angeles, CA 90041
Phone: (310) 274-5854
Email: inquiries@musicmanfoundation.org
Website: https://musicmanfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation)
How much does The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation) give each year?
The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation) gave $4.2M across 41 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.3M across 40 grants.
What is The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation)'s typical grant size?
The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation)'s median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $103,367, across 41 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation) that year got $95K on average.
Where does The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation) give grants?
The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation)'s top state is California, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (15%) and District of Columbia (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (8 grants), New York, NY (5 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Mason City, IA (3 grants).
Does The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation) give general operating support?
Yes: 56% of The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation)'s 2024 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 41) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation)'s largest grantees?
The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation)'s largest 2024 grantees include John F Kennedy Center for Performing Arts ($300,000), Aspen Institute ($300,000) and Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture ($275,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation)?
The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation) reported $77.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation) fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to empower organizations using music to catalyze enduring change and amplify its founders’ musical legacy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation)?
The filing states that application instructions are provided on the Foundation’s website and submissions must be completed through its online grants portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation)'s EIN?
The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation)'s EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1015108. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charit (Aka the Music Man Foundation) by hand.
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