As Tipitina’s gears up to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the iconic New Orleans music venue is reclaiming a piece of its history. The owners have officially rebranded their charitable nonprofit back to the “Tipitina’s Foundation,” a name they had abandoned eight years ago following a scandal involving the organization’s previous administration.
For the past several years, the club’s nonprofit arm operated under the moniker “Tip-It Foundation.” This distancing move was initiated by the members of the local funk band Galactic when they purchased the historic Uptown venue in 2018. At the time, the band sought to avoid any association with the foundation’s former leader, Roland Von Kurnatowski, who had faced public scrutiny over allegations of funneling charitable assets into his private business ventures.
With the original foundation’s legal status now lapsed and years of distance established, Galactic bassist and co-owner Rob Mercurio noted that the time was right to bring the name home. “We purposefully changed the name… just to really set some distance,” Mercurio explained. “We tested the waters and decided that it was time to kind of relaunch it and go back to the Tipitina’s Foundation name, because of name recognition alone.”
A Shift Toward Active Programming
The rebranding is more than just a cosmetic change. Under the guidance of the New York-based organization Music’s Promise, the foundation is shifting from a passive grant-making entity into a hub for active, hands-on programming.
In 2024, the owners transferred $74,000 in assets to the new management, sparking a surge in community engagement. This revitalization was recently highlighted by a successful Stevie Wonder tribute concert, which generated $30,000 to support local youth and music organizations, including the MiNO Foundation and the Roots of Music.
Leveraging Modern Digital Strategies and Documentation
As the foundation expands its footprint, it is increasingly utilizing digital tools and modern production standards to secure the venue’s legacy. Production is currently underway on a feature-length documentary detailing the club’s first half-century, slated for a 2027 release.
In the digital sphere, the foundation is also embracing the power of connectivity through its new “Sunday Youth Music Labs.” By organizing these master classes—which pair aspiring musicians with established legends like George Porter Jr. and Anders Osborne—the foundation is using the venue’s brand to foster talent in a way that parallels the digital age’s push for collaborative, accessible educational content.
Honoring the Past, Empowering the Future
The focus on music education is deeply personal for the members of Galactic. Drummer Stanton Moore frequently cites his own participation in these workshops as a child as a defining moment in his career. The legacy of these programs is evident, as the workshops have historically served as a creative incubator for major local acts, including members of The Revivalists.
By reclaiming the Tipitina’s Foundation name, the current ownership is signaling that they have successfully stabilized the business and are now ready to fully commit to the cultural mission that has defined the club for half a century.
“When we first took over the business, taking over the foundation at the same time seemed kind of daunting,” said Mercurio. “We really just wanted to focus on getting the business going… I think that we feel like we’ve had enough time. The business is going well, and now it’s time to try to get the foundation going.”
As the club approaches its milestone anniversary, the foundation stands ready to ensure that the music, culture, and heritage of New Orleans continue to thrive for the next fifty years.
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