The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) offers music groups a variety of funding. Awards can start at $10,000 and go up to $150,000. Recipients of awards have included the American Symphony Orchestra League and Bang on a Can Inc. from Brooklyn, New York, a group that supports contemporary music and the Classical Recording Foundation Inc. NEA grants are open to U.S. organizations that have a tax-exempt, non-profit, 510(c)(3) status at the time of application for funding, are federally recognized tribal communities or tribes, or are divisions of local or state agencies. The organization must also have a history of three years of programming prior to requesting funding and must apply directly to the agency and not through a fiscal agent, among other criteria.
Musak Heart & Soul Foundation offers Music Matters grants to independent music organizations, as well as to schools, to aid their music education programs. Grant money ranges from $1,000 to $12,000 and is given on a one-time, annual basis. Outside of public schools, the organizations must be non-profit 510(c)(3) groups. A letter confirming this status is required for application. Public schools with at least 70 percent of their students coming from low-income households can participate in the program. The music programs supported can include vocal or instrumental instruction.
The Mockingbird Foundation, founded by fans of the musical group Phish, provides funds for schools and organizations with a focus on music education. The money is generally meant to aid programs for children 18 and younger. Grants range from $50 to $5,000 and are given to organizations that generally are classified as nonprofit 501(c)(3) groups. The groups that the foundation is interested in funding include those with collaborative projects, interesting ideas and low-overhead costs. It is also interested in funding projects that help children in disenfranchised groups, such as those in foster homes and low-income areas.