named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Music Scholarship Program
Awarding annual music scholarships to outstanding young artists based on merit and potential, with recipients attending music schools and conservatories worldwide.
Songwriting Contest
Annual competition that awards cash prizes to original songwriters, judged by a rotating panel of music professionals.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Community Event Fundraising 1 activity
- Conducting fundraising rafflesOrganizes raffles to support programming, including one with 2,500 tickets sold and prizes totaling $9,000 plus a canvas print.
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Music Education Support 1 activity
- Distributing new musical instruments to school districtsPurchases and donates new musical instruments to public school districts, including $3,000 to Beacon School District, $3,300 to Goshen School District, and $4,000 to Ellenville School District in 2026, as part of a cumulative effort totaling nearly $40,000.
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Arts Education Scholarships 1 activity
- Funding music scholarships for studentsAwards unrestricted music scholarships to students with financial need attending accredited U.S. colleges or universities. Has awarded $233,000 in scholarships across 89 awards since inception, including $26,000 to eleven artists in 2026.
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Teacher & Classroom Innovation Grants 1 activity
- Funding music teachers through annual appreciation grantsProvides $1,000 annual grants to K–12 music teachers nominated by board members through the MFH Music Teacher Appreciation Award, established in 2022. Recipients include teachers from Goshen, Brooklyn, and West Orange.
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Music Awards and Honors Programs 1 activity
- Organizing an annual songwriting contestHosts an annual songwriting contest now in its fourth year (2026), receiving 122 submissions in 2025, and awards $1,000 to the first-place winner, $500 to the runner-up, and additional benefits including a radio interview and online recognition.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Providing free public music performancesHosts free monthly public music performances on the 3rd Saturday of each month, featuring 2–3 local or regional performers, and shares recordings of these events on its YouTube channel.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$72K
Contributions & grants$56K78%
Program service revenue$9K12%
Investment income$8421%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$83K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out$31K
balance sheet
Total assets$11K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$11K
4 years on record · 2022–2025 · YoY revenue +24.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 3
- BARRY ADELMAN CO-FOUNDER — EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND BOA
- CHARLES MOKOTOFF — BOARD MEMBER
- SHARON BURTON MANSUETO — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 24
Who they work with
- Allan’s Falafel Partner — Provided cuisine for the 20th anniversary celebration event.
- Alto Music Partner — Hosted the instrument presentation event and supported the distribution of instruments to the Beacon School District.
- Alto Music Partner — Provided musical instruments to Music for Humanity at competitive prices for distribution to school districts.
- Charles Mokotoff Partner — Member of the Scholarship Committee
- Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan County Partner — Sponsor of the 20th anniversary celebration event.
- FestivalNet.com Partner — Kurt Irmiter, Co-Founder of Music for Humanity, was also co-founder of FestivalNet.com, a platform related to music and festival operations.
- Goshen Elementary School Partner — Recipient of the MFH Music Teacher Appreciation Award through its music teacher, Andrew O'Neil.
- HeyKier.com Partner — Kurt Irmiter, Co-Founder of Music for Humanity, managed his brother Kier, a singer/comedian whose work is associated with HeyKier.com.
- Jimmy Sturr Band Partner — Johnny Karas, a board member of Music for Humanity, is the lead vocalist and tenor saxophonist for the Grammy Award winning Jimmy Sturr Band.
- John Burton Partner — Hosts the “Home from Here” radio show where the contest winner will be interviewed.
- Johnstons Subaru Partner — Co-partnered with Subaru of America in the 2025 "Share the Love" event, contributing to a $22,450 donation to Music for Humanity.
- Key Bank Partner — Sponsor of the 20th anniversary celebration event.
- Kurt Henry Partner — Member of the Scholarship Committee
- Maxfield Panish Partner — Member of the Scholarship Committee
- Mulder Chapel Partner — Provided the venue for the 20th anniversary celebration event.
- Noble Coffee Roasters Partner — Hosts the Free Performance Night event where scholarship winners are announced.
- Quest Financial Services Partner — Johnny Karas, a board member of Music for Humanity, serves as a consultant with Quest Financial Services in Goshen, New York.
- St. Cloud Elementary School Partner — Recipient of the MFH Music Teacher Appreciation Award through its music teacher, Marissa Gerin.
- Subaru of America Partner — Partnered with Music for Humanity as part of the 2025 "Share the Love" event, resulting in a $22,450 donation.
- Success Academy Flatbush Partner — Recipient of the MFH Music Teacher Appreciation Award through its music teacher, Mark Edwards.
- Sussex Academy Partner — Employer of Mike Marotta, 2025 Music Teacher Appreciation Award winner.
- WALL Radio Partner — Sponsor of the 20th anniversary celebration event.
- YouTube Partner — Posts recorded performances on its YouTube channel to share music and expand reach.
- info@MusicForHumanity.org Government — Primary contact for grant reporting and communication.
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.
- Music Ambassador Modelmethodology: music-ambassador-modelBy empowering scholarship recipients as "Music Ambassadors," the organization extends its mission through their performances and teaching, because these ambassadors naturally spread music and its unifying values within their communities, creating a multiplier effect.
- Music as a Unifying Force for Social Connectionmethodology: music-as-connectionBy using music to create shared emotional experiences, the organization fosters social connection across religious, political, ethnic, and economic divides because music transcends societal barriers and builds spiritual and emotional bonds.
- Pay-It-Forward Ecosystemmethodology: pay-it-forwardBy operating on a "pay it forward" model, the organization sustains long-term impact because experienced musicians contribute time and resources to support future generations, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of giving and musical growth.