The New Music Organization Fund offers grants to non-profit organizations, performance groups, dance organizations, festivals, presenters, and venues that need support to sustain their programming of new music, nurturing of music creators, and other artists.
Donor Name: New Music USA
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/27/2025
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
This program is for outstanding organizations that work regularly with and support the development of music creators and artists and offer crucial resources to their community. The main criteria for this fund are:
- Artistry of applicant organization and/or supported artists.
- Impact on the community of artists and/or audiences served.
- Need for funding now.
- The organization’s commitment to inclusion and belonging.
Funding Areas
Organizations can apply for funding through one of the following strands: General Operating Support, Creation of New Work, or Live Music for Dance projects. Dance organizations are only eligible to apply for Live Music for Dance funding.
- General Operating Support
- This strand is for outstanding organizations that work regularly with, and support the development of, music creators and artists and offer crucial resources to their community. The fund area is to be used for general operating costs which support the organization’s regular programming of, and collaboration with US/territories-based composers and artists. It does not need to be tied to any specific project, but they are asking you to tell them about the programs, events, and initiatives that best align with New Music USA’s support.
- General Operating Support funds must be used between July 2025 and June 2026.
- Creation of New Work
- This strand is intended to fund specific new music projects/programs. They are particularly interested in funding the creation and/or commissioning of new work.
- Special Focus for 2025 Cycle – Creation of New Work Strand: In recognition of the upcoming United States Semiquincentennial in 2026, they encourage applicants to the Creation of New Work strand to propose commissions that help audiences to explore, celebrate, and consider multiple perspectives on this major historical moment; but this is not a requirement.
- Live Music for Dance
- This strand is for dance organizations that work regularly with music creators and musicians. The fund aims to support and encourage the use and creation of new and live music for dance performances, support collaborations between music creators/composers and choreographers, foster meaningful collaborations between musicians and dance companies, and create performance opportunities for musicians.
- Projects must take place between July 2025 and June 2027.
Funding Information
This year they aim to fund approximately 70 to 80 organizations with an average award of $7,000. You may apply for up to $10,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- All applicants must:
- Be based and doing work in the US.
- Have a minimum of three years of performing, programming, and budget activity at the time of the application.
- Have an average annual budget between $5,000 and $3 million over the past three years.
- Have a dedicated organizational bank account.
- Not be a university.
- Not be an individual. This fund is for organizations only. Individuals may not apply.
- Must have completed all previously awarded activities through New Music USA and submitted all required reporting.
- Be committed to inclusion and belonging through their activities and programming.
- General Operating Support applicants must:
- Have a commitment to producing, performing, and/or commissioning the work of living, US/territories-based music creators on a regular basis.
- Demonstrate commitment to working and performing in their community.
- Creation of New Work/ Live Music for Dance applicant organizations must:
- Confirm that any newly commissioned work is an entirely new work. Proposals for expansions, arrangements or re-stagings of existing works are not eligible.
- Creators/musicians collaborating with Creation of New Work/Live Music for Dance applicants must:
- Be based and doing work in the US and remain so for the duration of the project.
- Not be enrolled in a degree-giving program.
- Have completed any and all projects associated with previous awards from New Music USA including the Organization Fund, Creator Fund, Next Jazz Legacy, Reel Change, and Amplifying Voices.
For more information, visit New Music USA.
