The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation was created and funded in 1993 by Ella Fitzgerald, the First Lady of Song, in order to fulfill her desires to use the fruits of her success to help people of all races, cultures and beliefs. Ella hoped to make their lives more rewarding, and she wanted to foster a love of reading, as well as a love of music. In addition, she hoped to provide assistance to the at-risk and disadvantaged members of our communities – assistance that would enable them to achieve a better quality of life. The Board of Directors of the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation seeks to continue Ella Fitzgerald’s goals by making charitable grants serving four major areas of interest:

  1. creating educational and other opportunities for children
  2. fostering a love and knowledge of music, including assistance to students of music
  3. the provision of health care, food, shelter and counseling to those in need
  4. specific areas of medical care and research with an emphasis on Diabetes, vision problems and heart disease

The Foundation operates to help the disadvantaged, the at-risk and the needy, whether these conditions have arisen because of financial, medical or other circumstances. The Foundation strives to help this target population help themselves to make a better and more meaningful lives for themselves and for their families.

The Foundation also makes grants to organizations that assist disadvantaged and at-risk children of all backgrounds. A strong emphasis is placed on after-school enrichment activities, learning and reading programs, and other activities that help children go on to achieve rewarding and meaningful futures. 

The Foundation may also make grants (although not directly to individuals) to fund scholarships for college.

The Foundation, through its donations, assists numerous organizations that provide free or low-cost health and dental care to those who have no health care coverage, as well as providing funding for organizations that provide shelter and food for those in need. The Foundation also funds medical research in the areas of diabetes, heart disease, vision/eye problems and childhood illnesses.

The Foundation makes grants to promote a love of music, to provide music education for children and young adults, and to provide exposure to the joys and beauty of music for children and adults. In making all the above-mentioned grants, the Board of Directors strives to fulfill the charitable goals established by the beloved First Lady of Song, Miss Ella Fitzgerald.

  • Richard D. Rosman, President
  • Perry Maguire, Director
  • Fran E. Morris Rosman, Executive Director
  • Irene Romero, Director
  • Alan Watenmaker, Director
  • Sharon B. Maguire, Education Consultant
  • Paul Migdal, Music Outreach Consultant
  • Randal Rosman, Vice President – Programs

Please keep in mind that the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation is a small, private foundation. 
We are not able to accept unsolicited grant requests, nor do we have applications.

Contact Us

By Mail:
The Ella Fitzgerald
Charitable Foundation

P.O. Box 1587
Pacific Palisades, California 90272
Click here to send an email.