Best Grants for Musical Instruments

The Reel Change Film Fund is a five-year initiative aimed at supporting underrepresented film composers in the industry. It provides grants averaging $20,000 to assist US-based projects in production or post-production. Created by Christophe Beck and SESAC, this fund addresses the lack of diversity in film scoring, promoting inclusivity for diverse composers. Through mentorship and financial support, it seeks to elevate the careers of talented individuals from various backgrounds, enhancing the overall landscape of film music.

The Nicholas Dahl Visiting Artist Scholarship, offered by the Provincetown Art Association and Museum, supports LGBTQIA+ artists aged 30 and under with a passion for various art forms. This one-week scholarship, available from November to April, includes lodging, workshop materials, and studio access. It aims to foster creativity and connections within the vibrant Provincetown arts community while promoting educational opportunities in the arts.

The Bottomley, Peter R. Scholarship Fund, managed by the Noble County Community Foundation, offers a scholarship to an East Noble High School senior who has participated in the school band for four years and is pursuing a four-year degree in instrumental music education or performance. Applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00. This initiative aims to support aspiring musicians in their educational journey and further enrich the community's cultural landscape.

The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund Grant, established by the L&L Nippert Charitable Foundation, aims to support organizations enhancing musical and cultural arts, education, environment, and health in the Tri-State Area. Eligible organizations must be verified 501(c)(3) charities and demonstrate their impact on local residents. The foundation continues the philanthropic legacy of Louis and Louise Nippert, focusing on community enrichment through the arts and education.

The Arnold Shultz Fund, established by the IBMA Foundation, aims to enhance diversity in bluegrass music by providing $30,000 annually in grants. This initiative supports individuals, schools, and organizations dedicated to inclusivity, particularly among underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. The fund honors Arnold Shultz, a pivotal African American musician who mentored Bill Monroe, and continues his legacy by funding educational opportunities for young musicians and promoting bluegrass music in diverse communities.

Our Story

The IBMA Foundation was created by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2007 with a bequest from the Richard Barnhart estate. Mr. Barnhart was a musician from northern Virginia who loved bluegrass and wanted to support educational programs for children. Since the beginning, our goal has been to support bluegrass-music-related educational, literary, artistic and historic preservation activities.

In our early years we produced Discover Bluegrass, an educational video that has been used in thousands of classrooms and libraries around the world. We have hosted dozens of teacher workshops and artist trainings. We created a bluegrass lesson plan competition and provided a network for leaders of after-school bluegrass programs.

Our project grants, which now total $25,000 a year, support bluegrass-related initiatives throughout the world. We also fund Bluegrass in the Schools Mini-grants ($7,000/year) which help schools to hire bluegrass bands for school programs. The Rosenberg Bluegrass Scholar Award recognizes excellence in academic research. Six college scholarships are granted for students working in various areas of the bluegrass music industry. The Arnold Shultz Fund supports increased participation of people of color in bluegrass music with grants that total $30,000/ year. Fletcher Bright Memorial Grants for Young Musicians (age 18 and younger) help young people go to bluegrass music camps and workshops, take lessons, and purchase educational materials. 

Bill Breen Bluegrass Youth Education Fund

The Bill Breen Bluegrass Youth Education Fund was initially financed by friend and colleague, Susie Stephenson. The fund is an option for donors who want to help young people experience and learn to play bluegrass music. Instead of funding a specific scholarship or grant, the Breen Fund will be used by the IBMA Foundation where needed most, in a variety of ways that benefit individuals age 21 and younger. Based in Chicago, Illinois, Bill was an Associate Professor and Professor of Finance at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University from 1971-2002, going on to serve as Chairman of the Finance Department and Head of Doctoral Studies for the Kellogg School. In addition to playing the banjo, Bill was an avid sailor and fly fisherman, and he never met a dog he didn’t like. His friends and family say it’s fitting that a man so passionate about the banjo, bluegrass music, and education is memorialize with a bluegrass youth education fund.

Schools and educational organizations in the U.S. can apply for the IBMA Foundation’s Bluegrass in the Schools Mini-Grants, awarding US $500 to support live, educational bluegrass ensemble presentations. Funding helps pay bands to deliver programs on bluegrass history, instruments, vocal harmony, and today’s bluegrass for K-12, college, camp, or festival settings.

Young bluegrass musicians age 21 and under in the U.S. can apply for IBMA Foundation’s Fletcher Bright Memorial Grants, awarding up to US $500 for lessons, workshops, camps, instruments, or educational materials. Individuals seeking support to learn or improve on bluegrass instruments may benefit from this funding.

Students in the U.S. studying bluegrass music or a related major at the college level can apply for the IBMA Bluegrass College Scholarship, which awards up to US $2,000 for fall semester studies. Aspiring professionals in the bluegrass music industry connected with school or nonprofit music programs may benefit.

Individual musicians in the U.S. planning to study five-string banjo at the college level or perform in college bluegrass ensembles can apply for the J. D. Crowe Banjo Scholarship from the IBMA Foundation. This award supports advanced banjo students pursuing professional careers in the bluegrass music industry, which may benefit those needing help with instruments or related music education costs.

Individuals in the U.S. studying broadcast media or sound engineering with a bluegrass focus can apply for the Katy Daley Scholarship from the IBMA Foundation; awards US $2,000 for tuition or related educational costs. Students or adults in radio, television, digital media, or sound engineering programs may benefit, alongside music-focused nonprofits they work with.

College students in the U.S. studying Dobro (resonator guitar), steel guitar, or acoustic guitar can apply for the Mike Auldridge Memorial Scholarship, awarding US $1,000 - US $2,000 for their music education. While this is an individual scholarship, it may benefit aspiring musicians connected with school or nonprofit music and instrument programs.

Developing academic scholars researching bluegrass music in the U.S. can receive funding for conference papers and related scholarly work. With a mission to support music education and scholarship, IBMA Foundation provides a US $1,000 Neil Rosenberg Bluegrass Scholar Award, including a cash honorarium and admission to an IBMA business conference and awards show.

Students planning to study songwriting at the college level can apply for $2,000 from the IBMA Foundation to further their music education. Focused on supporting emerging bluegrass songwriters, this annual scholarship helps aspiring musicians in the U.S. deepen their craft, which may benefit those involved with school or nonprofit music and instrument programs.

Music educators and bluegrass musicians in the U.S. can receive up to US $500 to cover lessons, educational materials, instrument repair, or tuition for workshops and camps. The IBMA Foundation’s Terry Baucom Bluegrass Education Grant supports music and music education activities, which may benefit nonprofits and programs focused on musical instruments and access to music education.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, hospitals, clinics, and tribal organizations in the Midwest can apply for Arts Midwest’s GIG Fund: Arts and Wellness, awarding US $2,000 - US $15,000 for arts-and-wellness projects. Eligible activities include performances, workshops, creative aging, and arts programs engaging veterans, which may include purchasing or using musical instruments within broader programming.

Nonprofit organizations and Sioux City public schools in Iowa can receive $1,000 - $5,000 to help low-income students and their families participate in instrumental and choral music, including individual lessons. Grants from Siouxland Community Foundation can cover instruction fees, instrument rental or repair, and other costs that remove financial barriers to music education.

Local 501(c)(3) arts organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area can apply for Greater Cincinnati Foundation’s David C. Herriman Fund, awarding US $15,000 - US $350,000 for regional performing arts projects. Funding may support performances, guest artists, new works, or youth performing arts education, which can include instrument-related needs for music-focused groups.

Native-led performing arts organizations and individual Native performing artists in the U.S. can receive $30,000 for live music, theater, dance, or other performance productions in active development. Grants from First Peoples Fund help music-focused groups stage Native-centered concerts, festivals, or multi-artist performances that feature multiple Native performers and honor Native culture and heritage.

Organizations and individuals in Minnesota planning community, music, or cultural festivals can apply for Minnesota Humanities Center’s Community Identity & Heritage Festival Grants, with awards up to US $300,000. These funds support community events, music and jazz festivals, and arts-focused cultural celebrations that may complement music education and performance initiatives.

Allentown, Pennsylvania 501(c)(3) organizations supporting music programs can apply for grants of US $2,000 - US $5,000 to enhance understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of music among local residents. The Florence Y Flach Music Appreciation Fund supports arts, culture, and humanities initiatives that cultivate and advance music in the Allentown community.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations running cultural arts, education, or health and wellness programs in the Greater Cedar Rapids, Iowa area may be eligible for support, including music-focused initiatives. Focused on programmatic impact, the Carleen and Eugene Grandon Charitable Foundation funds charitable programs benefiting Linn County and nearby residents rather than building projects or endowments.

U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations promoting music and the arts in Omaha can receive support for performances, education, and community arts programming. Whitmore Charitable Trust provides $3,500 grants to eligible arts, culture, and humanities nonprofits, which may include initiatives expanding access to musical instruments or music participation. Applications are accepted year-round, with a January 31 review deadline.

San Francisco 501(c)(3) nonprofits and exempt governmental units can receive US $3,000 - US $5,000 to support music, education, or services for economically disadvantaged residents. The Charles N. Felton and Charlotte Ashley Felton Endowment provides one to three annual grants, which may help organizations expand music education or instrument access in the city.

Rhode Island individual practicing artists seeking unrestricted support for their music or other art disciplines can access funding through the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. Awards up to US $18,000 ($6,000 per year for three years) help artists pursue large, self-identified goals, which may include creating or enhancing music-related work or programs.

The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County is dedicated to enhancing educational experiences through the Arts in Education Grants. These grants support the integration of arts into school curricula for Pre-K to grade 12. Open to public and nonprofit-private schools, the program encourages creativity and cultural enrichment. Schools may apply for up to two grants annually, with a focus on Title I schools. The initiative fosters collaboration among students, teachers, and artists to create vibrant learning environments.

The Anna Paulina Foundation, established in 1961, is dedicated to supporting public charities in Michigan, particularly in the Flint area. With a focus on the arts, youth leadership, urban beautification, and human services, the Foundation aims to make a positive impact on the community. Grants range from $100,000 to $300,000, with larger awards available in special cases, ensuring support for specific programs and projects.