PRN Alumni Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The PRN Alumni Foundation is an organization created by former employees of the musician Prince. This funder makes grants for music, arts, technology and other educational programs for underprivileged youth. It also supports initiatives for urban farming.
IP TAKE: This funder has made only a few grants since its inception in 2017. With giving remaining under $5,000 according to a recent year’s tax filings, it is unclear what the future of grantmaking might be here. Reach out via email with questions or network with PRN via the foundation’s social media accounts, which are linked to the organization’s website.
PROFILE: Founded in 2017, the PRN Alumni Foundation was established by former employees of Paisley Park and Prince to honor the philanthropic legacy of the Minneapolis-based rock star, who died in 2016. It seeks to “continue the generosity of their late boss who supported opportunities for underprivileged youth to grow in music, tech, arts and education, and helped alumni members in need.” While the foundation prioritizes funding for music-related arts education, it also provides grants for urban farming initiatives in communities where access to healthy foods is limited.
Prince was most famous for his string of hit songs in the 1980s and 1990s, but he was also a consequential philanthropist. He gave to a variety of causes throughout his career, particularly within his hometown of Minneapolis, MN and to organizations focused on uplifting the black community. While some of his charity work was high profile, including his Love 4 One Another Charities foundation and the Rally 4 Peace benefit concert following the 2015 death of Freddie Gray, Prince preferred to give anonymously. He helped create #YesWeCode and donated $12,000 to the Louisville Free Public Library to help keep its doors open. He gave $250,000 each to the Uptown Dance Academy and Eau Claire Promise Zone and $1 million to the Harlem Children’s Zone.
Grants for Music and Arts Education
The PRN Alumni Foundation does not have clear grantmaking programs or funding initiatives; however, support for music-based arts education is a stated priority. The foundation’s first grant was an arts education grant and went to The Music Settlement, which “provides early childhood education, music instruction, and music therapy to people of all ages and levels of experience in Northeast Ohio.” PRN has also partnered with Minneapolis School of New Music, “a tuition-free, college prep liberal arts music immersion school.”
Grants for Sustainable Agriculture and Community Development
In addition to arts education, the foundation also supports urban farming initiatives, because “Prince was a generous supporter of Urban Farming.” Foundation grants supported the Urban Farming Edible Wall at Project Healthy Community in Detroit.
Important Grant Details:
The PRN Alumni Foundation made under $5,000 in grants in a recent year. This funder does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding. Inquiries may be directed to the foundation’s staff via email, and links to the foundation’s social media accounts are provided at the bottom of its webpage.
PEOPLE:
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