Williamson Foundation for Music
The Williamson Foundation for Music is a private foundation based in Pebble Beach, California. It supports young musicians through grants for study at music programs of their choice and offers scholarships through certain established music schools.
Williamson Foundation for Music at a glance
In short: Williamson Foundation for Music gave $136K across 48 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), top state California. 69% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $136,479
- +3.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 48
- -5.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,843
- +9.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,160
- Total assets
- $2,057,974
- +0.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 69% first-time grantees (33 of 48, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (13% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Williamson Foundation for Music
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says it does not accept grant applications; student grantees are selected directly or indirectly by the board, and the foundation sends funds to the corresponding institutions.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 524, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Phone: (831) 624-4143
Website: https://wfmusic.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Williamson Foundation for Music funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ajda Cvek ($12K). Together the top 10 received $51K.
Grant Size Distribution
219 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 219 grants of 219 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports grant dollars going to recipients in California, New York, Washington, and Colorado, as well as recipients in a state or jurisdiction not identified in the filing data provided. California, New York, and Washington accounted for 13%, 13%, and 10% of grant dollars, respectively; Colorado accounted for 7%. The listed 2025 grants also include organizations located in New Jersey and several recipients whose locations are not specified.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 48 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Williamson Foundation for Music open to new grantees?
69%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 33 of 48 grantees (69%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 25% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+17%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 128% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $69K (2020) to $136K (2025). In 2025 it made 48 grants totaling $136K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ajda Cvek | To Further Music Education | $11,556 |
| Festival Cordes Et Pics | To Further Music Education | $7,000 |
| Scottish Fiddlers of California Pasadena, CA | To Further Music Education | $7,000 |
| Bang on a Can Brooklyn, NY | To Further Music Education | $4,500 |
| At the Worlds Edge Music Foundation Inc Albany, NY | To Further Music Education | $3,500 |
| Centrum Foundation Port Townsend, WA | To Further Music Education | $3,500 |
| Chamber Music Europe | To Further Music Education | $3,500 |
| Domaine Forget | To Further Music Education | $3,500 |
| Enone | To Further Music Education | $3,500 |
| Festival Des Arcs | To Further Music Education | $3,500 |
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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 | $2,057,974 | $204,793 | $195,097 | $136,479 | 48 | $164,216 | $180,505 | $128,468 |
| 2024 | $2,048,278 | $138,007 | $187,347 | $132,213 | 51 | $160,788 | $111,448 | $125,151 |
| 2023 | $2,097,618 | $68,810 | $170,831 | $125,165 | 44 | $148,764 | $46,743 | $117,037 |
| 2022 | $2,199,639 | $88,295 | $144,517 | $116,824 | 42 | $124,492 | $70,651 | $121,792 |
| 2021 | $2,255,861 | $101,832 | $131,207 | $112,158 | 34 | $116,245 | $81,147 | $136,149 |
| 2020 | $2,285,236 | $74,597 | $97,684 | $68,753 | 24 | — | $60,593 | $115,282 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Williamson Foundation for Music reported a distributable amount of $128K 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 says it is dedicated to encouraging young people in music and offers grants of varying amounts for educational programs, with an emphasis on summer programs. Its website describes eligible programs as including summer schools, year-round music programs, festivals, academies, master classes, and other educational musical gatherings. It also supports scholarships for musicians selected by certain established music schools. A plan to help students buy instruments is described as under consideration.
The organizations receiving grants in 2025 include groups whose own stated missions span traditional Scottish fiddle music and dance (Scottish Fiddlers of California), contemporary music presentation and education (Bang on a Can), youth music participation and learning (Youth Music Monterey), and scholarships connected with the Écoles d’Art Américaines in Fontainebleau, France (Fontainebleau Associations). Other 2025 recipients describe work in participatory chamber, orchestral, and choral music (Kinhaven Music School), multicultural arts education (Palenke Arts), African music (Moon & Stars Foundation), and creative and artistic growth through the arts (Centrum Foundation).
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 48 grants totaling $136,479. Individual grants ranged from $240 to $11,556, with a median of $2,160. The largest reported award was $11,556 to Ajda Cvek; other larger grants included $7,000 each to Festival Cordes et Pics and Scottish Fiddlers of California, and $4,500 to Bang on a Can.
The foundation’s website says that selected student grantees make their own applications and arrangements to attend their chosen programs, after which the foundation sends funds directly to the institutions. Students are asked to report on their experience, and institutions must document that funds were used as intended. The website also says it supports scholarships for musicians chosen by certain established music schools.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Julie Hansen as president, Wendy Burnham as secretary, Maeve du Toit as treasurer, Jeffrey Horton as executive director, and Karen Raizen as director.
Williamson Foundation for Music is led by Jeffrey Horton, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jeffrey Horton
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
$33K (2023) → $33K (2025)
Julie Hansen
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Raizen
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maeve Du Toit
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wendy Burnham
Secretary
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $33K, to Jeffrey Horton (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Williamson Foundation for Music
How much does Williamson Foundation for Music give each year?
Williamson Foundation for Music gave $136K across 48 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $132K across 51 grants.
What is Williamson Foundation for Music's typical grant size?
Williamson Foundation for Music's median grant in 2025 was $2,160, and its average grant was $2,843, across 48 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Williamson Foundation for Music that year got $2K on average.
Where does Williamson Foundation for Music give grants?
Williamson Foundation for Music's top state is California, with 13% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (13%) and Washington (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Leicester, VT (2 grants), Boulder, CO (2 grants), Seattle, WA (2 grants) and Bellingham, WA (2 grants).
Does Williamson Foundation for Music give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 48 grants with a stated purpose on Williamson Foundation for Music's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Further Music Education" (48 grants).
Who are Williamson Foundation for Music's largest grantees?
Williamson Foundation for Music's largest 2025 grantees include Ajda Cvek ($11,556), Festival Cordes Et Pics ($7,000) and Scottish Fiddlers of California ($7,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Williamson Foundation for Music?
Williamson Foundation for Music reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $164K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $128K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Williamson Foundation for Music fund?
The foundation says it is dedicated to encouraging young people in music and offers grants of varying amounts for educational programs, with an emphasis on summer programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Williamson Foundation for Music?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Williamson Foundation for Music's EIN?
Williamson Foundation for Music's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2468781. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Williamson Foundation for Music accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
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 October 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
Live grants for the work Williamson Foundation for Music funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Williamson Foundation for Music funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/williamson-foundation-for-music-morg_42614dee888c4fcbbff8ed2997ade64c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_202468781_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Williamson Foundation for Music funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/williamson-foundation-for-music-morg_42614dee888c4fcbbff8ed2997ade64c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Williamson Foundation for Music'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.
Williamson Foundation for Music down — hundreds of funders to go?