Private foundation · New York, NY (gives in Tennessee from out of state)
The Elma Music Foundation (us)
In 2025 it gave 2 grants worth $75,000 to Tennessee groups, 2 of them in Shelby County. A typical grant was $25,000 to $50,000.
Invitation only: it picks who to fund. Don't send a proposal. Look for a connection through its board. See its board and officers below: do you or your board know any of them?
Key facts
- Grants in Tennessee
- 2 totaling $75,000 · 2 in Shelby County
- Typical grant How we figure this
- $25,000 to $50,000 (the middle half of its Tennessee grants)
- A realistic first ask How we figure this
- About $37,500, its middle Tennessee grant. First-time winners usually get less than repeat ones.
- Where it gives
- Shelby County · plus 22 grants outside Tennessee
- Buildings & equipment
- None of its Tennessee grants in this filing were for buildings or equipment
- Funds new groups? How we figure this
- Rarely: every Tennessee group it funded in 2025 had also been funded in 2023–2024. Build a relationship before asking.
- Total giving that year
- $1.9 million
Giving by year
| Tax year | Total grants paid | To Tennessee | Tennessee grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1.9M | $75K | 2 |
| 2024 | $3.1M | $225K | 2 |
| 2023 | $3.4M | $225K | 2 |
All grants paid To Tennessee
How to apply
The foundation's filing doesn't describe how to apply. Look for a website, or send a short letter asking whether it accepts requests.
Board and officers
Does your board know anyone here?
Checked in your browser only. The names are kept on this device for other foundation pages and are never sent to GrantMe.
- Thomas McpartlandCeo/director
- Robyn CalderPresident/director
- Meron MakonnenSecretary/director
- Simbarashe JairosiTreasurer
- Clive CalderDirector
- Paul KatzDirector
- Tarik WardDirector
As listed in its 2025 IRS filing. Many foundations decide through their board, so a personal connection often matters more than a perfect application.
What it funds most often
- Project support for sub-grants and capacity building to three-to-four community based, music oriented... (1 grant)
- Project support for stax music academy, which provides extended day and after-school music instruction and... (1 grant)
Tennessee organizations it funded
Shelby County grants are listed first, then the largest. Past winners are good people to ask what the foundation looks for. Select a group to see who else funds it.
| Past winner | Where | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soulsville Foundation Inc. | Memphis, Shelby County | Project support for stax music academy, which provides extended day and... | $50K |
| Memphis Equity Through Arts (meta) Incorporated | Memphis, Shelby County | Project support for sub-grants and capacity building to three-to-four... | $25K |
Foundation website All its IRS filings (ProPublica) Sign in to save