Programs We Seek to Support
Does Music Drive You?
Music Drives Us is a New England nonprofit organization supplying grants to music programs designed to effect positive change for people of all ages. MDU seeks out organizations and individuals interested in using music as a tool to better the lives of people in all segments of society.
What Kinds Of Grants Can Qualified Applicants Apply For?
The Music Drives Us grant cycle accepts applications for Performance Grants and Organizational Grants. The Performance Grants provide qualified applicants with the opportunity to use music as an educational tool that brings communities together. The Organizational Grants help support existing music programs to ensure their long-term sustainability.
What Kinds Of Grants Can Qualified Applicants Apply For?
The Music Drives Us grant cycle accepts applications for Performance Grants and Organizational Grants. The Performance Grants provide qualified applicants with the opportunity to use music as an educational tool that brings communities together. The Organizational Grants help support existing music programs to ensure their long-term sustainability.
Musical Performance Grant: Funding for individuals who want to share their passion for music through free concerts in the community – at schools, after school programs, in town halls, and on town greens.
Music Drives Us strives to support musicians who have a passion for the shared musical performance experience. Throughout New England, talented musical groups are struggling to find the money to bring their music to interested listeners through free concert series in schools, after school programs, and town public spaces.
Music Drives Us will work with New England musicians to build a program by which the musicians are compensated for their time and expenses through grants.
In order to be eligible for a grant, the individual must:
Type of Concert Series
Application Process
Music Drives Us strives to support musicians who have a passion for the shared musical performance experience. Throughout New England, talented musical groups are struggling to find the money to bring their music to interested listeners through free concert series in schools, after school programs, and town public spaces.
Music Drives Us will work with New England musicians to build a program by which the musicians are compensated for their time and expenses through grants.
In order to be eligible for a grant, the individual must:
- Provide concerts in New England.
- Provide free access to their concerts for all patrons.
- Include a musical education component to their concerts.
- Hold a concert series in areas that could not otherwise afford to pay for the event.
- Submit a completed grant application before the grant deadline indicated on the application.
Type of Concert Series
- Music Drives Us supports varied musical genres such as jazz, classical, blues, rock and roll or international music.
Application Process
- Individuals or organizations must submit a completed Music Drives Us grant application on line by the grant deadline, including two references.
Organizational Grant: Funding and support for music education through assistance in creating dedicated music rooms in which others can learn music. Music Drives Us
strives to accomplish its mission by soliciting grant applications from organizations that are interested in using music as an educational tool for all segments of society and all age groups.
Through organizational grants, MDU will provide support to institutions, such as public and private school systems, charter schools, hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs and similar institutions that have seen dramatic cuts in funding for musical education or are unable to fund a music program within their institutions.
Due to the volume of applications received by the Music Drives Us Foundation we ask you to only apply once within a given year.
Eligibility Criteria:
strives to accomplish its mission by soliciting grant applications from organizations that are interested in using music as an educational tool for all segments of society and all age groups.
Through organizational grants, MDU will provide support to institutions, such as public and private school systems, charter schools, hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs and similar institutions that have seen dramatic cuts in funding for musical education or are unable to fund a music program within their institutions.
Due to the volume of applications received by the Music Drives Us Foundation we ask you to only apply once within a given year.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The organization must be located in New England.
- The grant must provide musical opportunities to a group, for example, support of a school marching band, a musical education series, a new music classroom, musical instruments etc.
- If the organization is a recognized 501 (c)(3), it must be in good standing with the IRS.
- The organization must complete the entire Music Drives Us grant application, including a minimum of 2 references by the grant deadline indicated on the application.
- The organization must be willing to provide Music Drives Us with statistics regarding the number of individuals aided by the grant money; and, when possible, provide Music Drives Us with anecdotal stories.
- Within one year of the grant period, the organization must be willing to provide Music Drives Us with a full accounting of how the grant money was used.
Instrument Grant: This grant application is open year round, and will be serving schools and organizations throughout New England. We ask that you only apply for this grant once within a given year.
Through its Instrument Grants, Music Drives Us will provide instruments to institutions that have an immediate need for support. These institutions include public & private school systems, charter schools, hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, YMCAs, and Boys & Girls Clubs.
Due to the volume of applications received, we kindly ask for your understanding should we waitlist you and consider your application during our Organizational and Performance Grant Cycle, which is open May 1 through August 1.
Eligibility Criteria:
Through its Instrument Grants, Music Drives Us will provide instruments to institutions that have an immediate need for support. These institutions include public & private school systems, charter schools, hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, YMCAs, and Boys & Girls Clubs.
Due to the volume of applications received, we kindly ask for your understanding should we waitlist you and consider your application during our Organizational and Performance Grant Cycle, which is open May 1 through August 1.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The organization must be located in New England.
- The grant must provide musical opportunities for a group. For example, support of a school marching band, a musical education series, a music classroom, or an after-school music program.
- If the organization is a recognized 501(c)(3), it must be in good standing with the IRS.
- The organization must be willing to provide Music Drives Us with statistics regarding the number of individuals aided by the grant and, when possible, provide Music Drives Us with anecdotal stories.
Types of eligible programs include:
Music Therapy: Music therapy is a proven form of treatment for those with psychosocial, affective, cognitive, and communicative needs. As an alternate form of communication, music therapy helps individuals establish relationships and address problems in their lives. Research has shown that due to the familiarity and comfort associated with it, music helps to evoke responses. In fact, music therapy has even proven successful with those who resist other forms of treatment.
(American Music Therapy Association, Inc.)
(American Music Therapy Association, Inc.)
Music Education/Enrichment: Music Drives Us proudly funds music programs within New England schools, community centers, and after school facilities. We believe that students’ exposure to music at an early age will help them secure a bright future. Through our site visits, we have witnessed incredible changes firsthand.
Years of scholarly and scientific research have also confirmed that music positively changes lives:
Years of scholarly and scientific research have also confirmed that music positively changes lives:
- Learning to play a musical instrument can improve children’s academic performance (TIME Magazine).
- Schools with music programs have a higher graduation rate than those without them (National Association for Music Education).
- Music training helps with children’s emotional and behavioral maturity (The Washington Post).
