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THE ELMA MUSIC FOUNDATION (US)

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 273622277 · Form 990PF · FY2025 · NTEE T20 · Philanthropy & Grantmaking · Medium ($1M-$10M)
revenue
$2.3M
expenses
$33K
net assets
$2.6M
employees
profile · synthesized from sources

The Elma Music Foundation (US) is a private foundation based in New York that supports music education and youth development programs. It provides grants to organizations across the United States and internationally, focusing on underserved youth, access to music training, and career opportunities in the arts. The foundation funds scholarships, after-school programs, and initiatives that integrate music with social-emotional learning.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Arts Access Miami
Collaborative initiative providing supplemental music education and social-emotional support to students from elementary through high school in Miami.
Creative Solutions
Intensive performing arts program helping disengaged youth in the juvenile justice system transition successfully.
Hugh Masekela Heritage Scholarship
Supports South African students attending the Manhattan School of Music through dedicated scholarships.
MYDA Scholarship
Provides need-based scholarships for students from Elma Music Foundation grantees to attend Berklee College of Music's four-year undergraduate program.
Media, Arts, and Culture (MAC) Program
Youth-led arts and creative expression program at Ryse Inc. in Richmond, CA, focused on leadership and community engagement.
Music and Performing Arts Program
Youth development program at The Door, offering arts programming integrated with health, education, and career services for youth ages 12-21.
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Performing Arts Production Support 2 activities
    • Funding community-based music initiatives preserving cultural traditions and serving low-income youth
      Funds programs that uplift gospel and jazz traditions and provide free music training and performance opportunities for low-income teenagers, such as in Harlem, and supports broader arts access initiatives like Arts Access Miami.
    • Funding music performance outreach by aging artists to schools and care facilities
      Funds an organization that extends the careers of aging artists and brings live music performances to schools, nursing homes, and hospitals across the U.S., increasing access to the arts in community settings.
  • Arts Education Scholarships 2 activities
    • Funding need-based scholarships for African and Elma Music Foundation grantee students to attend Berklee College of Music
      Funds need-based scholarships for students from Africa and from Elma's Music Foundation (U.S.) grantees to attend Berklee College of Music's four-year undergraduate program.
    • Funding scholarship and exchange programs for international students in music education
      Funds the Hugh Masekela Heritage Scholarship, which supports South African students attending the Manhattan School of Music, promoting international access to high-level music education.
  • Dance Program Access and Scholarship Support 1 activity
    • Funding after-school music and creative youth development programs for underserved youth
      Funds after-school music and arts-focused youth development programs that provide underserved children and youth with opportunities to study music, dance, and performing arts, supporting social-emotional development and creative expression in cities including New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Richmond, CA.
  • Artist Support Grants 1 activity
    • Funding performing arts programs for youth in the juvenile justice system
      Funds Creative Solutions, an intensive performing arts program designed to help disengaged youth transition out of the juvenile justice system through creative engagement.
financials · form 990PF · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$2.31M
Contributions & grants$2.25M97%
Program service revenue
Investment income$61K3%
Other revenue
expenses
Total expenses$33K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$1.95M
balance sheet
Total assets$2.59M
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$2.59M
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +41.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 6
  • CLIVE CALDER — DIRECTOR
  • MERON MAKONNEN — SECRETARY/DIRECTOR
  • PAUL KATZ — DIRECTOR
  • ROBYN CALDER — PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR
  • TARIK WARD — DIRECTOR
  • THOMAS MCPARTLAND — CEO/DIRECTOR
relationships · 11

Who they work with

  • A Place Called Home Partner — Funded to support the music department of an afterschool youth development center in South Central Los Angeles.
  • Berklee College of Music Inc Partner — Funded to provide need-based scholarships for students from Africa and Elma’s grantees to attend its undergraduate program.
  • Big Thought Partner — Funded to support Creative Solutions, an intensive performing arts program for youth in the juvenile justice system.
  • Ellis Marsalis Center for Music Inc Partner — Funded to support an after-school music program for underserved youth in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward.
  • Jazz Foundation of America Inc Partner — Funded to extend careers of aging artists and bring music to schools, nursing homes, and hospitals nationwide.
  • Mama Foundation for the Arts Inc Partner — Funded to uplift gospel and jazz traditions and provide free music training and performance opportunities for low-income teenagers in Harlem.
  • Manhattan School of Music Partner — Funded to establish the Hugh Masekela Heritage Scholarship for South African students.
  • Moving in the Spirit Inc Partner — Funded to support an after-school program using dance and music to enhance social-emotional development in children and teens.
  • Ryse Inc Partner — Funded to support the Media, Arts, and Culture (MAC) program offering creative expression and youth leadership in Richmond, CA.
  • The Door - A Center of Alternatives Partner — Funded to support music and performing arts programming for youth ages 12–21 in health, education, and career development.
  • The Miami Foundation Inc Partner — Funded to support Arts Access Miami, a collaborative effort providing music and social-emotional support to K–12 students in Miami.
strategies · 2

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.

  • Collaborative Arts Education Partnerships
    methodology: collaborative-arts-education
    By funding multi-organization collaborations, the foundation amplifies access to music education and social-emotional support for K–12 students because coordinated efforts across institutions increase program reach, resource sharing, and systemic impact.
  • Creative Youth Development through Music and Dance
    methodology: creative-youth-development
    By integrating music and dance into youth programming, the foundation enhances social-emotional learning in children and teens because artistic expression fosters emotional regulation, self-awareness, and interpersonal skills.