Music Community Foundation launches as national nonprofit hub for artist philanthropy

The Music Community Foundation has launched as a national nonprofit hub aimed at coordinating music-driven philanthropy across the country. Led by music industry veteran Rondal Richardson, the new organization is the national extension of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s entertainment philanthropy work.

For nearly 30 years, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has built a network of more than 120 industry partners and supported charitable efforts from artists including Trisha Yearwood, Lainey Wilson, Kelsea Ballerini, Lauren Daigle and Chris Stapleton. Those efforts have ranged from animal shelters and nonprofits to mental health awareness initiatives. With the launch of MCF, that work will now flow through a national platform with reach across all 50 states, along with support for national and international giving.

Rondal Richardson
Molly Lins / Courtesy Music Community Foundation

Richardson, previously director of entertainment philanthropy for the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, has been named executive director of the new organization. The foundation said its entertainment philanthropy program has long given artists, managers and other industry figures the infrastructure and tools to organize charitable giving. It has generated more than $300 million in impact through over 140 charitable funds, including $206 million in new gifts since 2018.

“For years, the music community has been the first to show up when it matters,” Richardson said in a statement. “This launch is about turning that influence into something lasting by giving artists and their teams a smarter way to build real impact. We’ve spent decades earning trust and understanding what works, and now we’re bringing that forward into the next era of music-driven philanthropy.”

The Music Community Foundation’s founding advisory committee includes executives from CAA, the Grand Ole Opry, UTA, Red Light Management and WME, along with artists Yearwood and Charlie Worsham.

“Since first partnering with the Foundation during the 2010 flood relief concerts, I’ve been proud to be part of the work they’re doing,” Yearwood said in a statement. “Through the Dottie’s Yard Fund, we’ve been able to support animal nonprofit organizations and shelters in all 50 states over the past five years. This is just one example of what’s possible when you have the right structure behind the heart, and it’s how you create meaningful, lasting change in communities everywhere.”

The launch also coincides with a new website and a broader push for artists and industry members looking to expand their charitable work.