irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $281KCOMMUNICATIONS/CONNECTIVITY: NEW MUSIC USA WORKS TO CREATE GLOBAL AWARENESS OF U.S.-BASED ARTISTS AND THEIR MUSIC BY PROVIDING PLATFORMS FOR AUDIENCES TO ACCESS AND EXPERIENCE THE WORK OF THE FIELD AND PARTICIPATING AS ADVOCATES IN NETWORKS AROUND THE WORLD. THROUGH DIGITAL MEDIA PROGRAMS LIKE NEWMUSICBOX, OUR FREE COMMUNITY CALENDAR, AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, WE PROMOTE ARTISTS AND ENGAGE WITH THE IMPORTANT TOPICS FACING OUR COMMUNITY. WE PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL GATHERINGS PLUS NATIONAL CONFERENCES TO ADVOCATE FOR A VIBRANT AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY FOR THE MUSIC OF OUR TIME.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
New Music Organization Fund
Provides grants to nonprofit organizations, performance groups, dance organizations, festivals, presenters, and venues for general operating support, creation of new musical works, or live music for dance projects
NewMusicBox
Award-winning online publication serving as a platform for composers, performers, educators, and new music appreciators, featuring articles, podcasts, interviews, and multimedia content
SoundLives Podcast
Monthly podcast featuring interviews with new music composers and practitioners, including video and multimedia content
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Artist Support Grants 3 activities
- Funding co-commissioning and performance of new orchestral worksSupports the co-commissioning and repeated performance of new orchestral works by living composers, having supported 110 composers, 76 orchestras, and 114 distinct composer-orchestra residencies through the Music Alive program.
- Funding film composition by emerging composers from marginalized backgroundsProvides grants and mentorship through a five-year program for composers from marginalized backgrounds in film composition, funding composer compensation, musician fees, studio costs, orchestration, recording, mastering, and essential production resources.
- Funding new music creation through project grantsAwards 50–60 grants annually averaging $3,000 (up to $5,000), plus one $10,000 Thea Musgrave grant, to individual creators and organizations for recording projects, premieres, collaborative works, and interdisciplinary projects addressing themes like climate disruption or motherhood; distributed $216,500 across 13 states in 2026.
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Music Awards and Honors Programs 1 activity
- Administering the Next Jazz Legacy programSelects awardees through an open application and review process led by a panel of jazz professionals, providing financial support, intergenerational mentorship, performance showcases at major festivals, professional networking, and year-long apprenticeships with master bandleaders and creative mentors.
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Arts Professional Advocacy & Equity Initiatives 1 activity
- Advocating for an inclusive new music communityParticipates in international gatherings and national conferences to advocate for a vibrant and inclusive new music field.
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Startup Acceleration & Business Growth Support 1 activity
- Capacity building for small new music organizationsRuns an 18-month cohort-based program combining financial support and peer-to-peer learning for emerging new music organizations, including convenings and shared learning opportunities; expanded from New York City to Baltimore, Chicago, and Los Angeles since 2020.
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Organizational Governance & Leadership Development 1 activity
- Facilitating community input through a Program CouncilOperates a Program Council composed of representatives from the new music community to provide feedback and advice on organizational activities and field needs.
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Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
- Operating NewMusicBox and digital engagement platformsProduces and publishes NewMusicBox, an online platform featuring articles, podcasts, guest columns, and news, along with a community calendar and social media presence to promote U.S.-based new music artists and engage global audiences.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.49M
Contributions & grants$3.49M78%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$1.01M22%
Other revenue$-7K
expenses
Total expenses$2.97M
Program expenses75%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$1.07M
Grants paid out$1.13M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$22.11M
Cash$3.54M
Investments$17.43M
Liabilities$1.18M
Net assets$20.93M
Liquid reserves84.8 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +92.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| VANESSA REED | PRESIDENT AND CEO TO 5/2025 | 35 | $229K |
board members · 17
- AJA BURELL WOOD — BOARD MEMBER
- AMY IWANO — VICE-CHAIR
- ANGELICA SANCHEZ — BOARD MEMBER
- ANNE-MARIE SPATARU — BOARD MEMBER
- BILL HOCHBERG — BOARD MEMBER
- CHERE LOTT — SECRETARY
- DAN KELLOGG — BOARD MEMBER
- DOROTHEA ENDICOTT — BOARD MEMBER
- FRED PETERS — BOARD MEMBER
- GAYLE MORGAN — BOARD MEMBER
- JENNIFER JOLLEY — BOARD MEMBER
- JOSEPH WALKER — CHAIR
- JOSEPH YOUNG — BOARD MEMBER
- JUAN PABLO CONTRERAS — BOARD MEMBER
- PHYLLIS MILLS — BOARD MEMBER
- STEVE TRESNAN — TREASURER
- SUSAN WEGLEITNER — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 70
Who they work with
- ASCAP Funder — Provides funding support for the Amplifying Voices program.
- ASCAP Foundation Funder — Provides major program and project-based support through the Bart Howard Fund.
- Albina Music Trust Partner — Recipient of a Small Grant Fund award from New Music USA to support programming in Portland's new music community.
- American Music Center Partner — Merged with Meet the Composer in 2011 to form New Music USA.
- Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Partner — Director Aja Burrell Wood is Managing Director at Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice.
- Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Partner — Operates the Next Jazz Legacy program in partnership with New Music USA
- Big Mouth Society Partner — Recipient of a Small Grant Fund award from New Music USA to support programming in Portland's new music community.
- Bloomberg Philanthropies Funder — Provides major program and project-based support.
- Christophe Beck Partner — Founding sponsor and advisory board member of the Reel Change Film Fund
- Fear No Music Partner — Recipient of a Small Grant Fund award from New Music USA to support programming in Portland's new music community.
- Fifth House Ensemble Funder — Provides major program and project-based support.
- Francis Goelet Charitable Lead Trust Funder — Provides funding support for the Amplifying Voices program.
- Francis Goelet Charitable Lead Trusts Funder — Additional supporter of the Music Alive program
- Hawai'i Symphony Orchestra Partner — Vice-Chair Amy Iwano is President & CEO of Hawai'i Symphony Orchestra.
- Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Partner — Represented on the Next Jazz Legacy advisory board
- International Association of Music Information Centers Network — Represents the new music community internationally through membership in this organization.
- International Society for Contemporary Music Network — Represents the new music community internationally through membership in this organization.
- Jazz at Lincoln Center Partner — Represented on the Next Jazz Legacy advisory board
- Kori Coleman Partner — Local Program Coordinator for New Music Inc. – Chicago
- League of American Orchestras Partner — Co-founder of the Music Alive program with New Music USA
- Lehman College Partner — Director Jennifer Jolley is Associate Professor at Lehman College.
- Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Partner — Co-Chair Anne-Marie Spataru serves on the board of directors of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.
- Los Angeles Performance Practice Partner — Local Program Coordinator for New Music Inc. – Los Angeles
- Luna Lab Partner — Collaborating organization featured in program materials
- Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust Partner — Director Gayle Morgan is a former program officer at Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust.
- Meet the Composer Partner — Merged with the American Music Center in 2011 to form New Music USA.
- Mellon Foundation Funder — Funds the Next Jazz Legacy program
- Montavilla Jazz Partner — Recipient of a Small Grant Fund award from New Music USA to support programming in Portland's new music community.
- NPR Partner — Represented on the Next Jazz Legacy advisory board
- Native Instruments Partner — Donates its flagship music production suite, Komplete Collectors Edition, to each Reel Change grantee
+ 40 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.
- Artist-Centered Grantmaking with Holistic Reviewmethodology: artist-centered_community_impactBy using a review framework that prioritizes artistic quality, community impact, and organizational readiness, grantmaking better supports sustainable and meaningful artistic development because it aligns funding with both creative excellence and real-world relevance.
- Collaboration-Centered Funding to Strengthen Artistic Ecosystemsmethodology: collaboration-centered-fundingBy funding collaborative projects between music creators and other artists or practitioners, the field of new music becomes more innovative and resilient because interdisciplinary partnerships generate richer creative outputs and broader community engagement than individual efforts.
- Integrated Support Model for Artist-Led Organizationsmethodology: integrated_support_modelBy combining financial grants with connectivity, peer learning, and shared experiences, small arts organizations achieve transformative outcomes because sustained multidimensional support builds resilience and capacity more effectively than funding alone.