Nov 16
Foundation for Bluegrass Music Formed
With the encouragement and support of IBMA, a new non-profit charitable organization, the “Foundation for Bluegrass Music” has been created to serve as an “umbrella” under which funds can be placed and disbursed to support educational, literary and artistic activities of public benefit. The foundation was recently incorporated in Tennessee and is in the process of filing for 501c3 tax status. Such status means funds entrusted to the foundation are tax deductible as charitable donations.
According to the IBMA, “contributions may be designated to create or sustain a particular program, either one in existence if already created or one created at the wishes of the donor. Donations may also be unrestricted and left to the discretion of the board as to where they can best be used.”
At the recent World of Bluegrass event, Bill Taylor (executor of the Richard Barnhart Estate) announced a leadership gift to the foundation expected to be approximately $200,000.00 once the estate is settled. Barnhart was a lifetime member of the IBMA from northern Virginia who passed away in 1995. Richard Barnhart requested that a portion of his estate be used for programs that would expose young people to bluegrass music. According to Mr. Taylor, “Richard loved children but never married. He wanted his estate to do something for children and something for bluegrass at the same time.”
The Foundation’s leadership envisions a variety of programs that can grow under this umbrella. Some examples include:
- Bluegrass in the Schools (grants, workshops, other resources)
- Academic conferences
- Literary work and related efforts
- Public artistic presentations of an educational nature
- Historic preservation
- …and other works of a charitable nature
The foundation board includes: Richard Tucker (president), Carl Pagter (treasurer), Tom Kopp (secretary), Greg Cahill and Jed Malischke.
More information can be found on the IBMA website or by contacting the foundation:
The Foundation for Bluegrass Music
2 Music Circle South – Suite 100
Nashville, TN 37203
615-256-3222
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