What The Sona Foundation does

The Sona Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity founded in 2022 and headquartered in Encino, California, dedicated to supporting songwriters and music creators with resources, programs, and funding in three areas: mental health, career development, and financial wellness. The foundation was co-founded by members of Songwriters Of North America (SONA), the advocacy organization responsible for passing the Music Modernization Act, and shares executive leadership (Kellie Brown serves as Executive Director/COO across both entities). It operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees and is governed by a board that includes Peabody/Emmy-winning songwriter Kay Hanley (Chair), award-winning songwriter Anne Preven (Vice-Chair), entertainment business manager Mark Pariser (Treasurer), transactional attorney Jared Brenner (Secretary), and former City National Bank senior banker John Bitrick.

The foundation's portfolio comprises grant programs (TAP Grants for mental-health therapy, the Songwriter Fund for career/financial wellness, and LA Fire Relief for emergency assistance) alongside educational programming delivered through Music & Money seminars (presented with City National Bank), Fireside Chats (mental health programming co-hosted with Backline), In Session conversations, Career Corner mentorship, and Between the Notes. All programming is delivered digitally (website, email newsletter, YouTube) and through virtual/in-person events such as the Songs in Stages Broadway Brunch Gala. The foundation operates exclusively in the United States, with TAP Grants restricted to songwriters living in the US.

The foundation's revenue model is donation-driven and includes individual charitable contributions at tiers from $10 to $1,500 (one-time and recurring), corporate partnerships (City National Bank as the anchor named partner), stock and ACH donations, and grant-funded program budgets. No revenue figures are publicly disclosed. The foundation accepts donations through its website and provides multiple donation channels including direct contributions, stock transfers, and emergency-relief fundraising. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging the board's industry standing to attract songwriters, corporate sponsors, and individual donors.

Name

The Sona Foundation

Legal name

The SONA Foundation

Website

https://sonafoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Sona Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity, founded in 2022 and based in Encino, California, that provides grants, educational programming, and resources to support songwriters' mental health, career development, and financial wellness, primarily in the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Industry Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)

Keywords

• Songwriter mental health support
• Music creator grants
• Nonprofit songwriter services
• Music industry education
• Songwriter financial wellness

Headquarters

HQ city

Encino

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals supporting music creators. Accepts one-time and monthly donations at various levels ($10-$1,500+).
2. TAP Grants: Therapy Assistance Project grants providing financial assistance for mental health therapy to songwriters living in the United States.
3. Songwriter Fund: Grants specifically designed to support songwriters with career development and financial wellness needs.
4. LA Fire Relief: Emergency relief grants for songwriters impacted by Los Angeles fires.
5. Corporate Partnerships: Support from organizations including City National Bank for programs and events.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The SONA Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity created by songwriters for songwriters that provides grants (TAP Grants, Songwriter Fund, LA Fire Relief), educational programming (Music & Money seminars, Career Development, Financial Wellness resources), and community programs (Fireside Chats, In Session, Career Corner, Between the Notes) targeting the mental health, career development, and financial wellness of music creators in the United States.

Product overview

The Sona Foundation operates as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization offering a portfolio of grant programs and educational initiatives for songwriters and music creators. The core offerings include TAP Grants (Therapy Assistance Project) for mental health support, the Songwriter Fund for general funding, and LA Fire Relief for emergency assistance. The Foundation also delivers educational programming through Music & Money seminars (covering financial planning, catalog management, and business branding), Career Development resources, Fireside Chats (mental health discussions in partnership with Backline), and In Session (conversational programming). The organization functions as a platform connecting music creators with resources, grants, and community support rather than a technology product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TAP Grants (Therapy Assistance Project) A grant program providing financial assistance for mental health therapy to songwriters and music creators living in the United States.
• Songwriter Fund A grant program supporting songwriters with funding for career development and professional growth.
• LA Fire Relief Emergency relief initiative providing support to music creators affected by Los Angeles wildfires.
• Music & Money An educational seminar series presented in partnership with City National Bank covering financial topics specific to music creators including catalog management, business branding, and payment structures.
• Fireside Chats Monthly virtual conversations centered on mental health for songwriters, hosted in partnership with Backline, exploring the unique challenges songwriters face in the music industry.
• In Session Conversations with songwriters about music, career, and life journeys, featuring interviews and discussions with industry professionals.
• Financial Wellness Program Educational resources and seminars helping songwriters understand financial planning, intellectual property value, and long-range wealth building.
• Career Development Program Resources and programs supporting songwriters at every level of the industry with career guidance and professional development.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• City National BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity National Bank serves as a key partner for the Music & Money educational seminar series, presenting sessions on financial planning for music creators. Their entertainment banking expertise provides credibility and content for songwriter-focused financial education programs.
• BacklinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBackline is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit connecting music industry professionals with mental health and wellness resources. Partners with SONA Foundation to host monthly virtual Fireside Chats focused on mental health for songwriters, providing case management services and therapist referrals.
• BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerBMI hosts Music & Money seminars at their Beverly Hills, CA location, providing venue and promotional support for songwriter education programs.
• Dunn, Pariser & PeyrotsupportingOthersAccounting and business management firm serves as the administrative address for The SONA Foundation and provides financial services for songwriters.
• Songwriters Of North America (SONA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSONA is an advocacy organization focused on preserving the value of music and songwriter rights through legislative policy. SONA was instrumental in passing the Music Modernization Act. The SONA Foundation and SONA share leadership (Kellie Brown as COO/Executive Director for both) and missions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• BMI Foundation: BMI Foundation supports songwriting education and career development through scholarships, workshops, and grants. Directly comparable songwriter-focused grantmaking mission; SONA already partners with BMI on the Music & Money seminar series.
• MusiCares Foundation: MusiCares, a charitable arm of the Recording Academy, provides financial, medical, and mental-health assistance to music people in need. Operates the closest analog to SONA's TAP Grants and emergency-relief model, but at substantially larger scale.
• Sweet Relief Musicians Fund: Sweet Relief provides financial assistance to musicians and music-industry workers facing illness, disability, or age-related hardship. Directly comparable grantmaking and emergency-relief model targeting the same donor and beneficiary pool.
• ASCAP Foundation: The ASCAP Foundation administers grants, scholarships, and music-education programs for songwriters and composers. Operates in the same songwriter-support niche as SONA, with a longer track record and PRO-backed funding.
• Backline: Backline is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit connecting music-industry professionals with mental-health and wellness resources. SONA explicitly partners with Backline to deliver Fireside Chats, making it both a peer and a strategic collaborator.
• VH1 Save The Music Foundation: VH1 Save The Music Foundation supports music education and access through grants to schools and communities. Comparable music-focused grantmaking organization with broader education angle; competes for similar corporate-sponsor dollars.
• Hard Rock Heals Foundation: Hard Rock Heals Foundation supports music-based programs globally, including mental-health and disaster-relief initiatives. SONA's Executive Director Kellie Brown created this foundation; it serves as a direct analog of SONA's model at larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• The Recording Academy: The Recording Academy is the larger music-industry membership organization behind the GRAMMYs and operates MusiCares. While it serves a much broader constituency than SONA, it is the dominant incumbent in music-industry charitable work and a key competitor for donor mindshare.
• Songwriters Hall of Fame: Songwriters Hall of Fame honors songwriters and runs educational and career-development programs. Closely related songwriter-support mission but emphasizes recognition and induction rather than grantmaking; overlaps with SONA's board-level connections (Kay Hanley).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLsyeI35swEgOcBt4ytTMue1tPLsI-hrkw
• Facebookfacebook.com/thesonafoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Sona Foundation