Music Research Grants

We award research grants that improve practices for music education, support music makers, and enhance workforce development. These grants also seek to increase public and private resources and focus on unique, non-duplicative research topics. Grant awards range from $5,000-$25,000. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2026.

Funding Priorities

Participatory Music Learning. High-quality, hands-on music-training and music-making that creates lifelong music makers.

Career Mobility. Career Mobility is workforce development for groups of people typically underrepresented in the music industry. The music industry is defined as any business, professsion, or trade dedicated to live music creation. Some examples include: Music production, teaching, performing, music technology, live entertainment, touring, entrepreneurship, retail, manufacturing, supply chain, publishing, instrument making, instrument repair, small enterprise, etc.

Eligibility Requirements

Research that improves practices and increases public/private resources for music education and workforce development in the US.
Principal investigator must have a demonstratable research track record. We welcome applications from early-career researchers and emerging investigators pursuing innovative ideas in music research.
Does not duplicate existing research.
Must have a well-developed conceptual framework and research design.
Analytical models must be well-specified and research questions and hypotheses (where applicable) must be clearly stated.
Government agencies are not eligible.
Non-US organizations are not eligible.

Download Guidelines

Download Application

Elibility Quiz

Timeline


Date	Milestone
January 2026	Application Live
April	Round 1 Application Due
September 30	Award Notifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Application Period?

Music Program and General Operating Grants:

January 23: Round 1 Full online application, panel reviewed
June -July: Round 2 Selected organizations are invited to submit additional information, and foundation staff conduct virtual site visits.
September 30: Notification

Research Grants:

January 23: 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?

K-12 school districts, public, private, independent, charter schools, are only eligible for research grants. 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

Opening my trumpet case for the first time, I didn't know that I was actually opening a door to other things...

- Student, Age 13

Did you know?

Early Childhood is critical time to support children's natural desire to sing, move and play with sound. Furthermore, research shows that music and music experiences support the formation of important brain connections that are being established over the first three years of life (Carlton, 2000).