Music Grants for Schools
Many music education programs operate on a limited budget. If your school is in need of funding so you can buy musical instruments or develop programs for you students, you may want to consider pursuing music grants for schools, which are available from private foundations as well as government programs.
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Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation
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The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation provides funding for K-12 music programs that occur during the school day. Schools must demonstrate financial need or be a Title 1 school. The school should already have instruments, as the foundation provides funding for instrument repair. The grant request should not exceed $10,000. The Opus Foundation also provides financial assistance for students who are in grades 8 through 12 who cannot afford an instrument. Students should already have at least five years of experience on the instrument before applying for financial assistance. Opus does not provide grants for programs outside of the United States, or funding for teacher salaries, events, concerts or summer camps. However, it does fund after-school music programs for low-income students.
Mockingbird Foundation
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The Mockingbird Foundation provides grants for schools and nonprofits. The programs focus on music and creative expression, education, including sheet music, office material and performance space, as well as instruments. The target population is children under age 18, however, the foundation still considers projects that fund college students, adults and instructors. Mockingbird focuses especially on those who are in low-income areas, are disabled or have terminal illnesses, or are in foster homes, shelter, prisons or hospitals.
Liberace Foundation
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The Liberace Foundation provides grants directly to schools, especially colleges and universities that are accredited. Grants should be used for tuition scholarships. Grants are not made directly to students and educational institutions select scholarship recipients. Applications are accepted in March of each year and should include biographical information of the student.
Reading, Writing, and Rhythm
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The Chely Wright Foundation, also called Reading, Writing, and Rhythm, provides musical instruments to rural school music programs. There is an online request form to help you request assistance for your school's music program.
Save the Music
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Save the Music Foundation, formed by VH1, is a nonprofit organization that provides music education and raises awareness about arts education. The focus is to provide music education for underprivileged children. The foundation restores music programs and engages school districts to provide grants of approximately $30,000 worth of new instruments for elementary and middle schools. Instruments might include strings, keyboards, guitars, band, and other instrumentation. The packages contain a specific number of instruments to provide the basics necessary to begin a solid music program.
Government Grants
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The National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities provide grants for community arts and education programs. The focus is on showcasing and enhancing arts programs and students. The government provides funds for arts education programs to give teachers and students the ability to experience art, study art, perform, and assess student learning.
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