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THE DENYCE GRAVES FOUNDATION INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 862276658 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A68 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · thedenycegravesfoundation.org
revenue
$217K
expenses
$471K
net assets
$457K
employees
11
volunteers
77
program ratio
67%
mission · from form 990

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO CELEBRATE AMERICA'S HISTORIC HIDDEN MUSICALFIGURES AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF CLASSICAL VOCAL ARTISTS, HONORING THE VOICES OF OUR PAST WHILE EMPOWERING THE SINGERS OF TOMORROW.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Denyce Graves Foundation supports the next generation of classical vocal artists while honoring underrepresented figures in American musical history. It operates at the intersection of arts, education, and social justice, focusing on increasing representation and access in classical music. The foundation achieves its mission through public events, educational programming, and partnerships with music conservatories and HBCUs.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Harvest Moon Gala
Annual fundraising event honoring prominent figures in the arts, supporting the foundation’s mission and programs through high-profile performances and donor engagement.
Hidden Voices Program
Initiative to research, preserve, and promote the legacies of underrepresented Black concert and operatic performers in American history through lectures, exhibits, and publications.
Shared Voices Cohort
Flagship program pairing emerging singers from HBCUs and top music conservatories for training, coaching, performances, and networking to advance inclusive opportunity in classical music.
Shared Voices Symposium
Annual gathering bringing together students and faculty from HBCUs and leading music conservatories for performances, peer exchanges, and career development in classical vocal arts.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Opera and Vocal Arts Training Programs 2 activities
    • Operate Generational Voices career accelerator for emerging artists
      Runs Generational Voices, a career accelerator program that provides emerging classical singers with individualized mentorship, strategic career guidance, and support in navigating artistic refinement, auditions, contracts, networking, financial planning, and personal well-being through an intergenerational Artistic Council.
    • Support emerging classical vocal artists through performance and career development opportunities
      Provides performance opportunities, industry introductions, and targeted financial support to help exceptionally talented classical singers of all backgrounds develop sustainable and impactful careers, including through programs like Shared Voices and Generational Voices.
  • Musicological Research and Scholarly Editions 1 activity
    • Conduct research on underrepresented American musicians of color
      Conducts research on the accomplishments of underrepresented American musicians of color, such as the presentation on Mary Cardwell Dawson and the National Negro Opera Company co-sponsored by The Library of Congress and The American Musicological Society during the 2023 launch weekend, to elevate their stories into the national narrative.
  • Benefit Events for Arts and Culture 1 activity
    • Host Harvest Moon Gala fundraising event
      Hosts the Harvest Moon Gala, an annual fundraising event held in New York City, to support foundation programs.
  • Professional Conference & Symposium Organization 1 activity
    • Host annual Shared Voices Symposium
      Organizes the annual Shared Voices Symposium, a multi-day event scheduled for September 11–13, 2026 at Morehouse College, bringing together participants from the Shared Voices network for collaboration and performance.
  • Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
    • Operate Shared Voices program connecting HBCUs and music conservatories
      Runs the Shared Voices program, the foundation's flagship initiative, which connects students and faculty from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and top music conservatories to promote belonging, access, and inclusion in classical music. The program includes classes, individual lessons, coaching, rehearsals, performances, peer-to-peer exchanges, and has involved 14 academic institutions, including Fisk University, Howard University, and Oberlin Conservatory, across multiple cycles from 2022 to 2025.
  • Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
    • Produce concerts and community engagement programs celebrating musicians of color
      Produces concerts, presentations, and community engagement programs such as the 2026 Sounds of Hope concert, which celebrates Black composers and classical music through performances by the Shared Voices Cohort, and other artistic works that elevate the contributions of musicians, educators, and composers of color.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$217K
Contributions & grants$189K87%
Program service revenue$19K9%
Investment income$9K4%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$471K
Program expenses67%
Admin / overhead30%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$262K
Grants paid out$7K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$505K
Cash$490K
Investments$0
Liabilities$48K
Net assets$457K
Liquid reserves12.5 mo
3 years on record · 2022–2024 · YoY revenue -70.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
TERRY EBERHARDT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $122K
board members · 15
  • AARON URBANEK — TREASURER
  • ANNE GOTTLIEB — BOARD MEMBER
  • ARIANA RAINBOW — SECRETARY
  • CAROL JEAN YOUNG — BOARD MEMBER
  • CLYDE JONES — BOARD MEMBER
  • DENYCE GRAVES — PRESIDENT-FOUNDER
  • DON FRANZEN — VICE CHAIR
  • ELLIOTT FERGUSON — BOARD MEMBER
  • JAMES MUHAMMAD — BOARD MEMBER
  • MARC CHAZAUD — CHAIR
  • MATTHEW ROBERTSON — BOARD MEMBER
  • ROBERT MONTGOMERY — BOARD MEMBER
  • RYAN TAYLOE — BOARD MEMBER
  • STEPHANIE COOPER GREENBERG — BOARD MEMBER
  • TIMOTHY OLEARY — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 19

Who they work with

  • Fisk University Partner — Partner institution in the Shared Voices program.
  • Howard University Partner — Partnered with the Denyce Graves Foundation for the launch of the Shared Voices program in 2022.
  • Johns Hopkins University's Peabody Institute Partner — Participating institution in the Denyce Graves Foundation's Shared Voices program.
  • Library of Congress Partner — Co-presents "Treemonisha: Behind the Scenes" with the Washington National Opera.
  • Library of Congress Partner — Collaborates with DGF on programs related to history and culture.
  • Lincoln Center Partner — Collaborates with DGF on programs related to history and culture.
  • Morehouse College Partner — Host institution and consortium partner for the Annual Shared Voices Symposium.
  • New Heritage Group Partner — Co-presents the Sounds of Hope concert with DGF and The Leonard Davis Center for the Performing Arts.
  • Oberlin Conservatory Partner — Participates in the Denyce Graves Foundation's Shared Voices program as an inaugural partner institution.
  • Tennessee State University Partner — HBCU partner in the 2024–2025 Shared Voices program
  • The American Musicological Society Partner — Co-sponsored a lecture by Dr. Karen M. Bryan as part of the Hidden Voices launch events.
  • The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Partner — Collaborates with DGF on programs related to history and culture.
  • The Juilliard School Partner — Inaugural participant in the Shared Voices program.
  • The Leonard Davis Center for the Performing Arts Partner — Co-presents the Sounds of Hope concert with DGF and New Heritage Group.
  • The Library of Congress Partner — Co-sponsored a lecture by Dr. Karen M. Bryan as part of the Hidden Voices launch events.
  • The Manhattan School of Music Partner — Music conservatory partner in the Denyce Graves Foundation's Shared Voices program for 2024–2025.
  • The Metropolitan Opera Partner — Collaborates with DGF on programs related to history and culture.
  • The Smithsonian Institution Partner — Collaborates with DGF on programs related to history and culture.
  • Washington National Opera Partner — Collaborates on events including "Treemonisha: Behind the Scenes" and the Sounds of Hope concert.
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.

  • Cultural Reclamation as Social Justice
    methodology: cultural_reclamation
    By recovering and elevating the histories of underrepresented concert and operatic performers, the organization advances social justice and transforms cultural valuation of artists of color, because reclaiming erased narratives fosters equity in artistic recognition and education.
  • Education as Activism through Integrated Arts
    methodology: educating-is-activism
    By integrating classical vocal arts, American history, and social justice into education, the organization transforms audiences and institutions, because interdisciplinary learning activates deeper engagement and systemic change.
  • Intergenerational and Institutional Bridge-Building
    methodology: intersectional-arts-education
    By connecting historical recognition of underrepresented artists with contemporary training through HBCU-conservatory partnerships and intergenerational councils, the organization sustains artistic legacy and access, because collective cross-institutional and cross-generational expertise produces more resilient and inclusive artistic pathways.