named programs · 8 · from sources
What they call their work
BMI Composer Awards
Annual awards honoring excellence in composition, with winners selected by BMI Foundation and BMI leadership
Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize
Annual award recognizing outstanding jazz compositions, presented at the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop Summer Showcase
Chris Trousdale Dream Awards
Scholarships awarded to high school music students across the United States
Dolly Parton Songwriters Award
Annual award recognizing emerging singer-songwriters, selected from hundreds of applicants by a panel of music industry experts
Evelyn Buckstein Scholarship
Scholarship awarded to high school music students in New York City
John Lennon Award
Annual songwriting competition offering $20,000 in prizes to young songwriters in contemporary genres such as pop, rock, R&B, and experimental music
New Music Grants
Multi-year unrestricted grants to U.S. nonprofit organizations focused on the creation and performance of contemporary music, with support for both performers/presenters and education programs
Pete Carpenter Fellowship
Fellowship for media composers providing mentorship from established industry professionals such as Kevin Kiner and Ronit Kirchman
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Artist Support Grants 2 activities
- Funding creation, performance, and study of contemporary musicProvides grants, scholarships, awards, and commissions to individuals and nonprofit organizations supporting the creation, performance, and study of contemporary music in the United States. This includes multi-year unrestricted grants and operational support for new music initiatives.
- Funding songwriting and composition through competitive awardsAdministers annual songwriting and composition competitions and awards, including the John Lennon Award, Dolly Parton Songwriters Award, peermusic Latin Music Award, Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize, and Manny Albam Commission, to support emerging songwriters and composers across genres.
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Mentorship and Professional Development Programs 1 activity
- Providing mentorship and professional development for emerging composersAdministers the Pete Carpenter Fellowship, which pairs emerging media composers with established industry professionals for mentorship and career development.
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Music Education Support 1 activity
- Providing scholarships to music studentsOffers scholarships to high school and college-level music students in New York City and nationwide, including the Evelyn Buckstein, Kavi Ohri Memorial, Theodora Zavin, Chris Trousdale Dream Awards, and Curtis Mayfield Scholarships, to support music creation and performance education.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$607K
Contributions & grants$402K66%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$202K33%
Other revenue$3K
expenses
Total expenses$401K
Program expenses66%
Admin / overhead34%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$98K
Grants paid out$253K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.07M
Cash$66K
Investments$3.01M
Liabilities$67K
Net assets$3.01M
Liquid reserves91.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +162.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 8
- CLAY BRADLEY — SECRETARY
- COREY FIELD — TRUSTEE
- DAN COLEMAN — TREASURER
- DEIRDRE CHADWICK — PRESIDENT
- LUCIANA SOUZA — TRUSTEE
- PAMELA WILLIAMS — TRUSTEE
- SAMANTHA COX — VICE PRESIDENT
- WILLIAM WELLS — TRUSTEE
relationships · 47
Who they work with
- Aaron Jay Kernis Partner — Artistic consultant who collaborates with the foundation to award resources to nonprofit music and arts organizations.
- Aaron Jay Kernis Partner — Artistic consultant who reviews and recommends recipients for grants and awards.
- Alarm Will Sound Partner — Recipient of New Music Grants
- Amas Musical Theatre Partner — Recipient of New Music Grants
- American Composers Forum Partner — Recipient of New Music Grants
- Argento Chamber Ensemble Partner — Recipient of New Music Grants
- BMI Government — BMI Foundation receives significant annual support from BMI and shares a mission to support music creators, though it operates as an independent 501(c)3 organization.
- BMI Government — Receives significant financial and in-kind support from BMI annually, though operates as a separate 501(c)3 organization.
- BMI Foundation Partner — Mike O'Neill serves as Honorary Chair.
- Babyface Partner — Partnered with the BMI Foundation to create the BMI Foundation Babyface Award.
- Broadcasters Foundation of America Network — Mike O'Neill serves on the Board of Directors.
- Deborah O'Grady Partner — Partnered with the BMI Foundation and John Adams to launch the John Adams Award with a $100,000 donation.
- Ebb & Flow Arts Partner — Recipient of New Music Grants
- Either/Or Duo Partner — Recipient of New Music Grants
- Ellen Taaffe Zwilich Partner — Artistic consultant who collaborates with the foundation to award resources to nonprofit music and arts organizations.
- Ellen Taaffe Zwilich Partner — Artistic consultant who reviews and recommends recipients for grants and awards.
- Experiments in Opera Partner — Recipient of New Music Grants
- FastTrack Network — Mike O'Neill is Chairman of the Board.
- Joan Tower Partner — Artistic consultant who collaborates with the foundation to award resources to nonprofit music and arts organizations.
- Joan Tower Partner — Artistic consultant who reviews and recommends recipients for grants and awards.
- John Adams Partner — Partnered with the BMI Foundation and Deborah O'Grady to launch the John Adams Award with a $100,000 donation.
- Little Orchestra Society Partner — Recipient of New Music Grants
- MATA Festival Partner — Recipient of New Music Grants
- MATA Festival Partner — Recipient of support through the BMI Foundation's new music grants.
- MATA Festival Partner — Supported by the BMI Foundation through resources for new music.
- Maury Yeston Partner — Artistic consultant who reviews and recommends recipients for grants and awards.
- Modern Works Music Publishing Partner — Dan Coleman co-founded and operates this music publishing entity.
- Monmouth Medical Center Foundation Network — Mike O'Neill serves on the Board of Directors.
- Musicambia Partner — Recipient of New Music Grants
- NOW Ensemble Partner — Recipient of New Music Grants
+ 17 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Equity-Centered Grantmaking Through Blind and Inclusive Evaluationmethodology: equity_monitoring_through_evaluationBy using blind evaluation and collecting anonymous demographic data, the foundation ensures that grant decisions are based on artistic merit while systematically advancing equity and reducing barriers related to background or affiliation.
- Peer-Led Artistic Review for Grant Selectionmethodology: peer_review_grantmakingBy involving music industry veterans in the evaluation process, the foundation ensures that funding decisions reflect deep artistic insight and professional standards, enhancing the credibility and quality of supported work.
- Unrestricted Financial Support for Music Creatorsmethodology: unrestricted_grantmakingBy providing unrestricted grants and financial awards, the foundation enables music creators and institutions to advance the creation, performance, and study of music according to their own artistic priorities, fostering innovation and sustainability in the field.