The Muse Family Foundation
The Muse Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Dallas, Texas. In 2024, it reported 24 grants totaling $1,900,043 to organizations including education, community development, and national security grantees.
The Muse Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Muse Family Foundation gave $1.9M across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $79K), top state Colorado. 26% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,900,043
- +32.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- -17.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $79,168
- +60.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $22,500
- Total assets
- $50,035,277
- +6.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (6 of 23, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (39% 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 Muse Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a letter directed to The Muse Family Foundation: John Muse. The filing lists Angela Johnson as the contact and states that there are no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: Angela Johnson
Mailing address: 3131 Turtle Creek Blvdsuite 1020, Dallas, TX 75219
Phone: (214) 740-7236
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Muse Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Air Force Academy Foundation ($750K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
166 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 105 grants of 166 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars were reported as 39% to Colorado, 39% to Texas, 13% to Massachusetts, 4% to New York, and 3% to Ohio. Listed recipients also included organizations in Washington, DC, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Muse Family Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 23 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $28K; repeat grants $102K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+12%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $1.4M (2023) to $2.4M (2022). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $1.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force Academy Foundation Usaf Academy, CO | Falcon Stadium Renovation | $500,000 |
| Air Force Academy Foundation Usaf Academy, CO | Muse Family NCLS SPKR FD | $250,000 |
| Year-up Boston, MA | General Operating Support | $250,000 |
| Child Poverty Action Lab Dallas, TX | General Operating Support | $200,000 |
| Jubilee Park & Community Center Dallas, TX | General Operating Support | $150,000 |
| The Commit Partnership Dallas, TX | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Mill City Community Association Dallas, TX | General Operating Support | $79,301 |
| Institute of Classical Architecture & Art New York, NY | General Operating Support | $75,000 |
| Empowering the Masses Cedar Hill, TX | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| Fidelity Charitable Giving Cincinnati, OH | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Muse Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $50,035,277 | $1,825,938 | $2,283,026 | $1,900,043 | 24 | $2,149,512 | $2,770,302 | $2,388,833 |
| 2023 | $46,867,318 | $755,641 | $2,006,691 | $1,435,360 | 29 | $1,808,321 | $1,237,356 | $2,526,370 |
| 2022 | $43,294,817 | $2,003,872 | $2,900,916 | $2,375,115 | 36 | $2,724,146 | $2,142,883 | $2,088,327 |
| 2021 | $48,664,161 | $1,024,641 | $2,170,892 | $1,695,060 | 38 | $2,041,957 | $1,711,780 | $2,178,279 |
| 2020 | $46,692,547 | $247,604 | $2,332,219 | $1,968,602 | 39 | — | $87,604 | $2,272,251 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Muse Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Child Poverty Action Lab says it exists to reduce child poverty in Dallas, while Jubilee Park & Community Center says it works to improve a 62-block Dallas community through efforts addressing housing, employment, safety, and education. The Air Force Academy Foundation describes its work as supporting the Academy’s mission of developing leaders of character and serving its graduates.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 24 grants totaling $1,900,043. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $500,000, with a median of $22,500. Among the largest awards were $500,000 to the Air Force Academy Foundation for Falcon Stadium renovation and $250,000 to the same foundation for the Muse Family NCLS Speaker Fund; $250,000 to Year Up for general operating support; $200,000 to Child Poverty Action Lab for general operating support; and $150,000 to Jubilee Park & Community Center for general operating support.
Other listed grants included $100,000 to The Commit Partnership, $79,301 to Mill City Community Association, $75,000 to the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, and $50,000 each to Empowering the Masses and Fidelity Charitable Giving. The 2024 filing also lists grants to organizations working on neighborhood revitalization, urban farming, healthcare, and national security.
The filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It directs applicants to send a letter to The Muse Family Foundation: John Muse, and lists Angela Johnson as the contact. It states that there are no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John R. Muse as director, president, and treasurer; Lyn R. Muse as director, executive vice president, and secretary; and Michael J. Muse, John Tyler Muse, Whitney Muse McKnight, Morgan Muse, and Elizabeth Muse as directors. Whitney Muse McKnight is also listed as executive director, and Mallory Muse as vice president, community development.
The Muse Family Foundation is led by Whitney Muse McKnight, Director & Executive Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 7 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Whitney Muse McKnight
Director & Executive Director
Executive Director → Director & Executive Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$100K (2020) → $168K (2024)
John Tyler Muse
Director, President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Muse
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lyn R. Muse
Director, Executive Vice President & Secretary
Executive Vice President & Secretary → Director, Executive Vice President & Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael J. Muse
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Morgan Muse
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mallory Muse
Vice President & Community Development
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$130K (2021) → $0 (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 $168K, to Whitney Muse McKnight (Director/Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Muse Family Foundation
How much does The Muse Family Foundation give each year?
The Muse Family Foundation gave $1.9M across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.4M across 29 grants.
What is The Muse Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Muse Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $22,500, and its average grant was $79,168, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Muse Family Foundation that year got $28K on average.
Where does The Muse Family Foundation give grants?
The Muse Family Foundation's top state is Colorado, with 39% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Texas (39%) and Massachusetts (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (13 grants), Usaf Academy, CO (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The Muse Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 92% of The Muse Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (22 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Muse Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Muse Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Air Force Academy Foundation ($750,000 across 2 grants), Year-up ($250,000) and Child Poverty Action Lab ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Muse Family Foundation?
The Muse Family Foundation reported $50.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Muse Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Muse Family Foundation?
Submit a letter directed to The Muse Family Foundation: John Muse. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Muse Family Foundation's EIN?
The Muse Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2824936. 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Muse Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-muse-family-foundation-morg_6a4e660d0a6543dc8e2d5c3830f696e1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_752824936_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Muse Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-muse-family-foundation-morg_6a4e660d0a6543dc8e2d5c3830f696e1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Muse Family Foundation'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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