irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $254KMUSIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OURTREACH: The ASCAP Foundation is dedicated to nurturing the music talent of tomorrow by developing and supporting educational programs that provide effective learning opportunities consistent with our mission to students of all ages. The ASCAP Foundation has provided funding to support 17 Music Education and / or Development programs throughout the year with the goal of enhancing and promoting music education and providing the community with access to music and its history. These 17 programs include 10 that received $5,000 or more in funding and 7 programs that received less $5,000.
- #2 $211KTALENT DEVELOPMENT: The ASCAP Foundation Talent Development programs provide aid and encouragement to music creators nationally who are in various stages of their careers including: Workshops (12); Commissioning programs (3); and sponsorship of talent development programs, (9). By providing professional opportunities to emerging composers, lyricists and songwriters, The ASCAP Foundation supports their careers and promotes their works.
named programs · 9 · from sources
What they call their work
ASCAP Foundation Songwriter Workshop Series
Hosts genre-specific songwriter workshops in pop, jazz, musical theater, and other genres in major cities, offering mentorship and critique from industry professionals.
Charles Kingsford Commissioning Program
Provides commissions to ASCAP composers to write art songs, supporting the creation of new classical vocal works.
Children Will Listen
Brings musical theatre experiences to young students nationwide, providing free access to performances and educational opportunities in partnership with Broadway shows.
Jerry Herman: The Broadway Legacy Concert
Hosts a nationwide concert series and master classes for musical theater students, culminating in performances and the awarding of the Jerry Herman Broadway Legacy Prize.
Living Archive Project
Documents the history of prominent ASCAP songwriters and composers through videotaped interviews, preserving their contributions to American music.
Mark Snow Lecture Series
Offers educational lectures for aspiring film and TV composers in partnership with Brooklyn College, featuring insights from composer Mark Snow.
Music in the Schools
Partners with VH1 Save The Music and Alfred Music to provide sheet music, band arrangements, and method books to public schools receiving musical instruments.
Musical Theatre Songwriting Program
Teaches high school students at the Professional Performing Arts High School how to write original songs through a 15-week workshop with professional mentors.
Summer Guitar Project
Provides guitar lessons and instruments to campers at the Fresh Air Fund, enabling New York City children to learn guitar and write original songs.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Music Education and Training Programs 2 activities
- Directly operating composer and songwriter workshopsHosts genre-specific songwriter workshops in cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Nashville, connecting emerging writers with established professionals for feedback and career guidance; also runs a 15-week musical theatre songwriting workshop for high school students culminating in a professional showcase.
- Providing youth music access and education programsDistributes sheet music and band arrangements to over 2,000 public schools through the "Music in the Schools" program; provides instruments and visiting composers to Fresh Air Fund camps; runs the Summer Guitar Project; and offers first musical theatre experiences to students nationwide via the "Children Will Listen" program.
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Arts Education Scholarships 2 activities
- Funding music education and talent development programsAwards grants to 501(c)(3) organizations working in music education, talent development, and humanitarian programs through an invitation-only process, funding between 16 and 26 programs annually, with some receiving $5,000 or more.
- Funding music scholarships for studentsProvides financial assistance through named scholarships such as the "Music Is Our Foundation" Scholarship, Billy Joel Scholarships, Max Dreyfus Scholarship, and others, supporting undergraduate and graduate students studying music at institutions including Berklee College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and City College of New York.
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Commissioning New Musical Works 1 activity
- Administering talent development and commissioning programsOperates commissioning initiatives and talent development programs including the Commission Program for emerging composers, sponsorship of talent development programs, and support for workshops and master classes, with annual activity including 10–12 workshops and multiple commissioning opportunities.
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Artist Support Grants 1 activity
- Funding composer commissions and awardsFinances commission programs and awards for composers, including the Charles Kingsford Commission program, Morton Gould Young Composer Awards, Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards, and Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award, supporting emerging and established ASCAP composers across genres.
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Music Awards and Honors Programs 1 activity
- Presenting awards and honors to emerging and veteran composersRecognizes composers and songwriters under 30 through the Young Composer Awards, presents the Rudolf Nissim Prize for concert works, awards the Richard Rodgers Award to musical theater veterans, and provides student-specific awards at LaGuardia High School including the Ira Gershwin and Boosey & Hawkes Young Composer Awards.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Documenting music history through oral interviewsRecords and preserves music history by videotaping interviews with prominent ASCAP songwriters and composers, including Van Dyke Parks and Peter Schickele.
- Hosting educational lecture series and legacy concertsProduces the Mark Snow Lecture Series in partnership with Brooklyn College for aspiring film and TV composers and hosts the Jerry Herman: The Broadway Legacy Concert, a nationwide educational series featuring master classes and student performances.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$3.28M
Contributions & grants$2.12M65%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$1.01M31%
Other revenue$155K
expenses
Total expenses$1.38M
Program expenses72%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising20%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$509K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$17.53M
Cash$1.95M
Investments$15.30M
Liabilities$103K
Net assets$17.43M
Liquid reserves150.4 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +30.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joan Hill | Sr. Director of Finance and Administration | 40 | $211K |
board members · 20
- Alex Shapiro — Secretary
- Betsy Perez — Director
- Bruce Broughton — Director
- Charles Bernstein — Director
- Dan Foliart — Director
- Dean Kay — Treasurer
- Desmond Child — Director
- Doug Wood — Director
- Irwin Robinson — Vice President
- James Kendrick — Director
- James McBride — Director
- Marcus Miller — Director
- Michael Price — Director
- Michelle Lewis — Director
- Paul Williams — President
- Roger McNulty — Director
- Stephen Schwartz — Director
- Tania Leon — Director
- Tita Cahn — Director
- Valerie Simpson — Director
relationships · 36
Who they work with
- 501(c)(3) organizations Partner — Receives proposals from and awards grants to 501(c)(3) organizations working in music-related fields.
- ASCAP Government — Parent organization and primary affiliate of The ASCAP Foundation
- ASCAP Government — Supported by contributions from ASCAP members
- Alfred Music Partner — Collaborates to supply educational music materials to public schools in the "Music in the Schools" program.
- Bang on a Can Partner — Organization supported by The ASCAP Foundation to provide creative opportunities for young musicians.
- Berklee College of Music Partner — Collaborates with Berklee College of Music to award a songwriting scholarship to a student in the Songwriting Department.
- Berklee College of Music Partner — Hosts the Bart Howard Songwriting Scholarship funded by The ASCAP Foundation.
- Boosey & Hawkes Funder — Funds the ASCAP Foundation Boosey & Hawkes Young Composer Award Honoring Aaron Copland at LaGuardia H.S.
- Brooklyn College Partner — Host institution for The ASCAP Foundation Mark Snow Lecture Series in Brooklyn, NY.
- CCNY Partner — Jointly administers the Louis Dreyfus Warner/Chappell City College Scholarship with The ASCAP Foundation and the Jean & Louis Dreyfus Foundation
- City College Partner — Hosts the Louis Dreyfus Warner-Chappell Scholarship funded by The ASCAP Foundation.
- Composers Now Festival Partner — Organization supported by The ASCAP Foundation to provide creative opportunities for young musicians.
- Copland House Partner — Organization supported by The ASCAP Foundation to provide creative opportunities for young musicians.
- Gershwin family Funder — Provides funding for the ASCAP Foundation Ira Gershwin Award at LaGuardia H.S.
- Jack and Amy Norworth Memorial Fund Funder — Funds the ASCAP Foundation Young Composer Awards
- Jean & Louis Dreyfus Foundation Partner — Jointly funds the Louis Dreyfus Warner/Chappell City College Scholarship with The ASCAP Foundation and CCNY
- Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Partner — Organization supported by The ASCAP Foundation to provide creative opportunities for young musicians.
- Manhattan School of Music Partner — Partner in the MSM Summer program offering intensive musical instruction to middle and high school students.
- Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Funder — Funds the ASCAP Foundation Max Dreyfus Scholarship
- Michael Masser Funder — Provides funding for the ASCAP Foundation Michael Masser Scholarship
- Music Education Coalition Partner — Collaborates on advocacy efforts for school music programs through supportmusic.com.
- National Alliance for Musical Theater Partner — Organization supported by The ASCAP Foundation to provide creative opportunities for young musicians.
- New Music USA Partner — Organization supported by The ASCAP Foundation to provide creative opportunities for young musicians.
- New York Musical Theatre Festival Partner — Organization supported by The ASCAP Foundation to provide creative opportunities for young musicians.
- New York Youth Symphony Partner — Organization supported by The ASCAP Foundation to provide creative opportunities for young musicians.
- Professional Performing Arts High School Partner — Partner institution hosting The ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Songwriting Program in New York City.
- Queens College Partner — Hosts the Louis Armstrong Scholarship funded by The ASCAP Foundation.
- Rodgers Family Trust Funder — Endows the ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers Award
- Rosie’s Theater Kids Partner — Partner organization in the Musical Theatre Songwriting Program, co-hosting the workshop with The ASCAP Foundation at the Professional Performing Arts High School in New York City.
- The Cain Foundation Funder — Provides funding for the Living Archive Project.
+ 6 more
strategies · 5
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.
- Mentor-Led Creative Empowerment for Underserved Youthmethodology: mentor-led_creative_empowermentBy providing intensive, mentor-led songwriting workshops to high school students with no prior experience, ASCAP Foundation enables underserved youth to discover their creative voice and produce original works, because guided creative engagement builds confidence, skills, and pathways into the arts.
- Music Education Access via Financial and Institutional Supportmethodology: financial_access_to_educationBy funding scholarships administered through educational institutions and reducing financial barriers, ASCAP Foundation increases access to music education, because equitable financial access enables broader participation and artistic development across age groups.
- Music as a Healing and Humanitarian Toolmethodology: music_healsBy supporting music-based healing programs and humanitarian initiatives through partnerships, ASCAP Foundation improves physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being, because music has intrinsic therapeutic and community-strengthening properties that extend beyond artistic expression.
- Strategic Grantmaking to Sustain the Music Ecosystemmethodology: invitation-only grantmakingBy using an invitation-only grantmaking model to support mission-aligned organizations in music education and talent development, ASCAP Foundation maximizes impact and ecosystem coherence, because targeted, trust-based funding ensures resources flow to high-potential programs that collectively sustain creative incentives for current and future creators.
- Talent Development Through Commissioning and Workshopsmethodology: talent_development_through_commissioningBy commissioning new works and offering genre-specific workshops, ASCAP Foundation provides emerging composers and creators with professional development and visibility, because early investment in creative talent strengthens the long-term health of the music ecosystem.