General Operating Grants
General Operating Grants-Application Period Open
The Foundation funds General Operating Grants to 501 (c)(3) nonprofit music organizations whose entire mission aligns with our funding priorities and demonstrates strong management practices and high programmatic standards. Grant awards range from $5,000-$25,000. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2026.
Deadline: April 1, 2026
Award Notification: September 30, 2026
Funding Priorities
Participatory Music Learning: 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 Mobility is 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.
Eligibility
- Have a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) designation. Non-US organizations are not eligible for General Operating Grants.
- New or existing organizations are eligible.
- Any musical genres is eligible.
- Meet one or more of the foundation’s funding priorities.
- Prioritize historically underserved communities and groups of people.
- Measurable goals and outcomes.
- Excellent programmatic standards.
- Demonstrate strong organizational and fiscal management.
- Grants must be used for the organization's charitable purpose, but are not restricted to a program or cost center.
- Align with one or more music product industry segments: Band/Orchestra (wind, brass, strings, large/small ensembles); Fretted Instruments; Percussion; Electronic & Recording; Printed and Digital Music; Keyboard; Pro Audio & Lighting; Other Genres.
Application Process
To apply for Round 1, please review our guidelines and begin the application process by completing the short eligibility quiz. Organizations will apply through the foundation's Cybergrants Portal.
Review the instructions to submit an application via the Cybergrants Portal.
Round 1. Interested nonprofit organizations must apply through our online portal by April 1. Download the full guidelines to review the requirements.
Round 2. Selected organizations from Round 1 will be invited to advance to Round 2. Round 2 of the application process is designed to help us get to know your organization better and will include a virtual site visit.
To prepare your proposal, we recommend reviewing the application PDF before starting the online application. You may use this document as a working copy for your narrative, then copy and paste it into the portal. To ensure a strong and competitive application, we recommend carefully following all the provided instructions. Proposals must be submitted through the online grant portal.
Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| January 2026 | Application Live |
| February | Virtual Information Sessions (9:30 am PT) |
| April | Round 1 Application Due |
| June | Invitation to Submit a Round 2 Application |
| July 1 | Virtual Site Visits |
| September 30 | Award Notification |