In 1963, the 60th anniversary year of Mu Phi Epsilon, the Mu Phi Epsilon Memorial Foundation was registered in the state of Nebraska as a nonprofit corporation, authorized and established by the Fraternity for charitable and educational purposes. In 1993, the word "Memorial" was deleted, and the said Foundation was then known as the Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation, herein referred to as the Foundation. The Foundation is operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, for the promotion and advancement of music throughout the world and for the benefit of philanthropic projects consistent with the philosophy of the Mu Phi Epsilon Fraternity.
The Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization to receive contributions and administer the scholarships and philanthropic activities of Mu Phi Epsilon. The Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation is administered by a volunteer board of directors, who determine the type and level of giving and perform administrative functions. Funding for the Foundation comes from members of the Fraternity, patrons, and other supporters of the arts. More than forty-two scholarships and grants are offered by the Foundation each year covering doctoral grants, foreign experience, composition, theory, conducting, sacred music, world music, chamber music, music business, music education, music technology, music therapy, voice, and all instruments.
Summer philanthropies include Aspen, Banff, Brevard, Chautauqua, Music Academy of the West, Tanglewood, and Lyra Summer Music. Numerous music outreach grants to settlement schools throughout the United States include Cleveland Music School Settlement; Music Outreach Project at CSU, Sacramento; International Music Camp in Dunseith, North Dakota; Los Angeles Music and Arts School; MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis, MN; Marrowstone Music Festival in Bellingham, WA; Neighborhood Music Settlement in Los Angeles; Project STEP in Boston; Rocky Ridge Music Center in Estes Park, CO; and University of Indianapolis Community Music Center.
Every three years, coinciding with the fraternity's convention, the Foundation sponsors the Mu Phi Epsilon International Competition. Created in 1964 as the Sterling Staff Competition, the Mu Phi Epsilon International Competition offers the winner the opportunity to be presented in concerts and recitals by chapters of Mu Phi Epsilon for a period of two years.
A copy of the MPE Foundation's Financial Report is available upon request.
Foundation at our Annual Meeting in Dallas, TX (2019)
Foundation at our Annual Meeting in Omaha, NE (2018)
OUR MISSION
The Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation was authorized and established by the Mu Phi Epsilon Fraternity as a nonprofit corporation operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, for the promotion and advancement of music throughout the world, and for the benefit of philanthropic projects consistent with the philosophy of the Mu Phi Epsilon Fraternity.