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General Operating Grants

Unrestricted support for music organizations based in the US.
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General Operating Grants 

We accept General Operating Grant applications from 501 (c)(3) nonprofit music organizations whose entire mission aligns with our giving priorities and demonstrate strong management practices and high programmatic standards. The application period for Round 1 opens on March 3 and closes on April 4, 2025.   

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. 

Timeline 

  • March 3: Application Live 
  • March 5 and March 19 (9:30 am PT): Virtual information sessions 
  • April 4: Round 1 Application Due 
  • June 6: Invitation to submit a Round 2 Application 
  • July 1: Round 2 Application Due 
  • Sept 30: Award Notification 

Virtual Information Sessions 

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. 

Eligibility Quiz

Round 1.  Interested nonprofit organizations or international equivalents are encouraged to apply through our online portal by the April 4 deadline. Download the full guidelines to review the requirements. 

Round 2. Selected organizations from Round 1 will be invited to submit a Round 2 proposal by the July 1 deadline. 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 (link below) 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 following all the provided instructions carefully. Proposals must be submitted through the online grant portal.  

Application Documents

 

Guidelines

Application

Online Portal Instructions