Washington Music Educators Association
Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) is a public charity based in Renton, Washington. Its mission is to support music educators and help ensure Washington students have access to comprehensive, sequential music education taught by qualified, certified teachers.
Washington Music Educators Association at a glance
In short: Washington Music Educators Association gave $260K across 42 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in Washington. 95% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $259,986
- +8.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 42
- +31.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,190
- -17.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,000
- Total assets
- $256,110
- -38.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 95% first-time grantees (40 of 42, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Washington (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Washington Music Educators Association
- How to Apply
-
The 2026–27 guidelines describe an online application for eligible Washington public-school music teachers and district music coordinators.
- Review Cycle
- The application window is scheduled to close October 15, 2026. Applicants are to be notified in November, with recipients receiving funds in December.
- Deadline
- The application window is scheduled to close October 15, 2026.
- Contact
Mailing address: 435 Main Ave S, Renton, WA 98057
Phone: (206) 617-3116
Website: https://wmea.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Washington Music Educators Association funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Yelm School District ($12K). Together the top 10 received $71K.
Grant Size Distribution
85 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 85 grants of 85 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
WMEA’s mission and the Music Aid Northwest Grants focus on Washington State. All recipients listed in the 2025 filing were in Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Washington Music Educators Association open to new grantees?
95%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 40 of 42 grantees (95%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 2% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2023–2025). 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 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $90K (2023) to $260K (2025). In 2025 it made 42 grants totaling $260K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Yelm School District Yelm, WA | — | $11,924 |
| Highland Middle School Bellevue, WA | — | $9,000 |
| Frontier Middle School Graham, WA | — | $7,440 |
| Puyallup School District Puyallup, WA | — | $7,056 |
| Aberdeen School District Aberdeen, WA | — | $6,000 |
| Burlington School District Burlington, WA | — | $6,000 |
| Castle Rock School District Castle Rock, WA | — | $6,000 |
| Cleveland STEM High School Seattle, WA | — | $6,000 |
| Emerson Elementary Hoquiam, WA | — | $6,000 |
| Entiat School District Entiat, WA | — | $6,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $256,110 | $1,367,797 | $1,745,241 | $259,986 | 42 | $7,784 |
| 2024 | $417,596 | $1,244,087 | $1,346,050 | $239,449 | 32 | $6,307 |
| 2023 | $495,623 | $1,624,866 | $1,375,493 | $89,687 | 11 | $3,636 |
| 2022 | $323,514 | $851,362 | $1,054,661 | — | — | $4,469 |
| 2021 | $550,894 | $448,010 | $349,263 | — | — | $8,651 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
WMEA’s mission is to support music educators so every student in Washington State can access comprehensive, sequential music education taught by a highly qualified and certified teacher. Its stated vision is to empower generations to create, perform, respond, and connect to music.
Through the Music Aid Northwest Grants, WMEA distributes support to public K–12 schools across Washington for music-program equipment needs. The 2026–27 guidelines allow Washington public-school music teachers and district music coordinators to apply for equipment for a school building, multiple buildings, or district-wide facilities. Permitted examples include instruments, instrument repairs, and specialty equipment such as risers or sound systems.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, WMEA reported 42 grants totaling $259,986. Grant amounts ranged from $5,260 to $11,924, with a median of $6,000. The listed recipients were all in Washington. Among the largest reported grants were $11,924 to Yelm School District; $9,000 to Highland Middle School in Bellevue; $7,440 to Frontier Middle School in Graham; and $7,056 to Puyallup School District. Aberdeen School District, Burlington School District, Castle Rock School District, Cleveland STEM High School, Emerson Elementary, Entiat School District, Ephrata School District, and Fairview Middle School each received $6,000.
For 2026–27, the maximum award is $6,000, and an applicant may request or receive only one grant per annual cycle. Applications require acknowledgment from the district superintendent or an authorized designee, approval of the request, and agreement to the grant terms. Applicants must also assure that existing music budgets will not be reduced or altered because of the award. Funds are sent to the district’s central office and must be used for the approved purpose; booster clubs and other outside organizations cannot receive funds. Funds must be used during the 2026–27 school year, and awardees must report on their use by June 15, 2027. Unspent or unauthorized funds may be subject to repayment. Salaries or stipends, travel, scholarships, and commissioned works are excluded.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Frank Lewis as president, Meghan Wagner as president-elect, Ron Gerhardstein as past president, Sarah Berglund as vice president, and Scott Ketron as executive director. The organization’s About page names Frank Lewis as president and Elizabeth Fortune as interim executive director.
Washington Music Educators Association is led by Scott Ketron, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 1 of 17 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Scott Ketron
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$84K (2022) → $87K (2025)
Frank Lewis
President
Vice President → President-Elect, 2023
President-Elect → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Tori Seward
Collegiate President
Collegiate President Elect → Collegiate President, 2025
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Syd Thayer-O'Brien
President
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Ron Gerhardstein
Past President
President-Elect → President, 2023
President → Past President, 2024
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Jeff Chang
Jazz
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Jerilynn Harris
Orchestra
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Meghan Wagner
President-Elect
Band → President Elect, 2024
President Elect → President-Elect, 2025
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Rachel Lake
Small Schools
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Bruce Walker
College & Univers
Collegeuniversity → College & Univers, 2025
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Carinn Ormson
Administration
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Don Neptun
Secretary & Treasurer
Secretarytreasurer → Secretary & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Holly Brown
Elementary West
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Kim Claassen
Choral
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Sarah Berglund
Vice President
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Shawn Tolley
Elementary East
Elementary-East → Elementary East, 2025
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Corinne Smith
Band
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (32)
- Former: Cori Smith (2024) — Band
- Former: Melissa Jones (2024) — Collegiate President
- Former: Karen Helseth (2021–2023) — Past President
- Former: Chistopher Hanson (2022–2023) — Connections Program Coordinator
- Former: Elizabeth Harvery (2022–2023) — Collegiate
- Former: Kelly Foster Griffin (2022–2023) — Elementary West
- Former: Meagan Ley (2022–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Carol Pederson (2023) — Administration
- Former: Carole Leander (2023) — Secretary-Treasurer
- Former: Courtney Vetter (2023) — Elementary-East
- Former: Kasey Eck (2023) — Choral
- Former: Andrea Klouse (2021–2022) — Past President
- Former: Bill Klouse (2021–2022) — Connections Program Coordinator
- Former: Carrie Rose (2021–2022) — Elementary East
- Former: Joe Dyvig (2021–2022) — Administration
- Former: Andy Robertson (2022) — Vice President
- Former: Jaci Cummings (2022) — Choral
- Former: Jennifer Marin (2022) — Small Schools
- Former: John Wetherington (2022) — Secretary-Treasurer
- Former: Jonathan Middleton (2022) — College University
- Former: Kelly Clingan (2022) — Jazz
- Former: Lanae Hexum (2022) — Collegiate
- Former: Bob Cooper (2021) — Administration
- Former: Chase Chang (2021) — Orchestra
- Former: Chris Bruya (2021) — Jazz
- Former: Dawn McCormick (2021) — Choral
- Former: Jim Rice (2021) — Past President
- Former: Laurie Bianco (2021) — Elementary West
- Former: Lisa Ray (2021) — Band
- Former: Matt Brown (2021) — Small Schools
- Former: Patty Bourne (2021) — Collegiateuniversity
- Former: Pearl Petaia (2021) — Collegiate
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $87K, to Scott Ketron (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Washington Music Educators Association
How much does Washington Music Educators Association give each year?
Washington Music Educators Association gave $260K across 42 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $239K across 32 grants.
What is Washington Music Educators Association's typical grant size?
Washington Music Educators Association's median grant in 2025 was $6,000, and its average grant was $6,190, across 42 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Washington Music Educators Association that year got $6K on average.
Where does Washington Music Educators Association give grants?
Washington Music Educators Association gives mostly in Washington: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Tacoma, WA (3 grants), Graham, WA (2 grants), Seattle, WA (2 grants) and Federal Way, WA (2 grants).
Who are Washington Music Educators Association's largest grantees?
Washington Music Educators Association's largest 2025 grantees include Yelm School District ($11,924), Highland Middle School ($9,000) and Frontier Middle School ($7,440), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Washington Music Educators Association?
Washington Music Educators Association reported $256K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.4M.
What does Washington Music Educators Association fund?
WMEA’s mission is to support music educators so every student in Washington State can access comprehensive, sequential music education taught by a highly qualified and certified teacher. Its stated vision is to empower generations to create, perform, respond, and connect to music. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Washington Music Educators Association?
The 2026–27 guidelines describe an online application for eligible Washington public-school music teachers and district music coordinators. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Washington Music Educators Association's EIN?
Washington Music Educators Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-6029531. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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