Global Grantmaking

Our 2026 Impact

We are proud to announce an $800,000 expanded investment to 57 organizations across music programs in the U.S. and abroad. From classrooms and community centers to innovative research, these grants share a common goal: making music learning accessible and opening new doors to careers in the music industry. Together, our grantees advance the Foundation’s two core funding priorities: participatory music learning and career mobility.

Image of 2026 Grantmaking Programs Served

Meet Our Grantees

About our Grantmaking

Inspired by the generosity of the music products industry, The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) established The NAMM Foundation in 2006 to make charitable investments that create more music makers across the lifespan. Since then, the foundation has awarded $20 million in nonprofit and music research grants.

Today, the foundation seeks to understand the systemic barriers that prevent youth and adults from participating in music-making and music careers. We then invest in big ideas and bold solutions that help eliminate these barriers.

Our Global Grantmaking invests in charitable organizations worldwide that demonstrate a significant impact on music career mobility and the creation of more music makers across the lifespan of learning.

What We Fund

We award grants to high-impact organizations worldwide that create more music makers by eliminating barriers for underrepresented communities and groups of people in two areas.

Participatory Music Making: High-quality, hands-on, relevant music-making, music-training, that is, or will be, a permanent part of an organization’s annual programming and serve, or will serve, an established cohort of participants that engage with the program regularly.

Career Mobility: Career development for youth or adults in any area of the music industry. Commercial (e.g. production, recording, live event, instrument makers, retail, etc.) musicians, and teaching artists.

Grant Tracks

Within these given priorities, we offer three grant tracks:

Music Program Grants for US and International Organizations
General Operating Grants for US Music Organizations
Music Research Grants for US Organizations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Application Period?

Music Program and General Operating Grants:

Spring 2026: Round 1 Full online application, panel reviewed
June -July 1, 2026: Round 2 Selected organizations are invited to submit additional information, and foundation staff conduct virtual site visits.
September 30: Notification

Research Grants:

Spring 2026: Round 1 Full online application, panel reviewed
September 30: Notification

What is the average award amount?

The NAMM Foundation grant range is between $5,000 and $25,000.

Can I apply for multi-year funding?

The NAMM Foundation grant period is 12-months.

Do you provide event sponsorships?

From time to time, the foundation will provide event sponsorships, but these are by invitation only. We do not accept unsolicited requests for event sponsorship.

Do you provide funding for schools?

With the exception of our grantmaking program does not fund public, private, independent, or charter schools directly. 501(c)(3) community music schools are eligible to apply.

Do you provide funding for fundraisers?

No, the foundation does not provide financial support for fundraisers.

What requests are not eligible for NAMM Foundation funding?

Grants for individuals.
Endowments, capital campaigns, annual appeals.
Conferences.
Deficit financing.
Purchase of tickets, ads, sponsorships, parties, conferences, fairs, fundraisers or one-time events
School districts, public, private, independent, charter schools, or higher education institutions, except for research grants.
Publications.
Legal services.
Re-granting organizations or programs.
Private foundations.
Political candidates or lobbying organizations.
Programs or organizations that discriminate based on race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, veteran status, disability or other characteristics protected by law.

What are the reporting requirements?

Grantees are expected to submit an interim report in March and a final report in August.

Who can I contact with questions?

Please contact Sharon Bryant, sharonb@namm.org, with any questions or concerns.

Community Spotlight

It is through interaction within and through the arts that we are human. We are fortunate to provide our students learning opportunities through music. The designation of a Best Communities for Music Education award has validated the relentless work our music educators, administrators, and board of education have put forth to support the arts in our district.

- Pat Toben, Arts and Community Engagement Program Coordinator, Sioux City Community Schools

Did you know?

"When we sing or create music, we use all the parts of the brain: left, right, front, and back. All these parts collaborate. That is very unique! Music is complex; that is, it uses so many aspects of a person's being." Hanne Deneire, composer.

Quoted in "Appreciating Music as a Foundational Aspect of Creativity" by Joanne Foster. Feb. 3, 2018