Spread Music Now
/OVERVIEW: Spread Music Now makes grants for music education with a strong focus on urban areas of the state of Connecticut.
IP TAKE: An offshoot of the BeFoundation, Spread Music Now aims to bring high-quality music education to underserved students across the U.S. Recent grants have prioritized organizations that partner with public school districts in urban areas and programs that offer free out-of-school enrichments. Connecticut is a clear geographic priority, and grantseekers from outside the region will likely find it difficult to secure funding. Potential grantees should fill out Spread Music Now’s inquiry form.
PROFILE: Spread Music Now was established in 2014 by BeFoundation, a Connecticut-based family foundation. It aims to support high-quality music education across the U.S. “that foster continual learning and that put students on a clear path to college, career, and life success.” The organization’s strategic priorities include expanding access, building awareness and building the capacity of high-quality nonprofit music education. Grantmaking is national in scope, but this funder has a strong record of supporting music education in urban areas in the state of Connecticut.
Grants for Music
Spread Music Now supports music organizations, groups and community centers that offer music education and recreation programs for children and teens. Organizations that work with underserved populations are prioritized, and a significant portion of funding has gone to organizations in Spread Music Now’s home state of Connecticut. One recent grantee, BackCountry Jazz, is a Bridgeport, Connecticut-based organization that presents concerts, educational programs and summer camps for children and teens. Another recent grant went to the Stamford Symphony, another Connecticut-based group that offers performances and educational events to public school students in Fairfield County. Other grantees include the Trombone Shorty Foundation, the Charter Oak Cultural Center and Intempo, which runs free music summer camps for children in Connecticut.
Grants for K-12 and Arts Education
In addition to its grantmaking for music organizations working that perform for and educate young people, Spread Music Now has supported several public, charter and performing arts schools that run high-quality music programs. In Bridgeport, the foundation has provided ongoing support to Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County, “a community school of the arts,” and Turnaround Arts: Bridgeport, which runs arts programs for Bridgeport Public Schools. Other education grantees include Hartford Performs, which partners with public schools in Hartford, and Stamford’s Project Music, which offers after school music enrichments.
Important Grant Details
Spread Music Now’s grants range from $4,000 to about $20,000. This funder mainly works with music education organizations, schools and community groups in Connecticut’s urban areas. Organizations that partner with public schools or offer free out-of-school enrichments are prioritized. For additional information about grantmaking, see the foundation’s grantees page.
Spread Music Now invites organizations working in its areas of interest to fill out its inquiry form and sign up for the organization’s newsletter.
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