Investing in the musical life and legacy of Philadelphia

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Institutional Grants

The Musical Fund Society actively invests in the musical life and legacy of Philadelphia by making limited funds available to incorporated, non-profit classical music organizations for projects which advance the foundational goals of the Society:

The Society will consider supporting projects in the Philadelphia area that focus on: 

  •   new music, with an emphasis on Philadelphia-area composers and their works
  •   innovative programs
  •   development of new audiences
  •   music education (specifically, music programs; not scholarships)
  •   recording projects involving new compositions performed by local artists

While the aggregate funds available for distribution from the Society are modest, it is our hope that the grant will play a significant role in the funded project. Grants generally range from $2,000 to $6,000 per year and should be an important, but not the sole, source of funding.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE:

  • We accept applications from 501(c)(3)organizations as well as organizations with 501(c)(3)fiscal sponsors.

  • The applicant organization’s legal place of business and the majority of project activities must be within the city of Philadelphia.   
  • Applicant organizations whose staff or board includes current Society members are eligible to apply for and receive grants; those members will be recused from any discussions or votes related to their organization’s application.

WHAT WE FUND:

  • The Society funds only specific projects. Applying organizations that sponsor multiple events within a given year, must identify the specific project for which funds are requested.

  • Applications for multi-year projects will be considered. Grant applications should include a very specific chronology of events to occur during the multiple-year timeframe. An organization that receives a multi-year grant should not expect further funding for the same project from the Society in the year following completion of the grant.

WHAT WE DON’T FUND:

  • Applications that rely on the MFS grant as the sole source of funding. The requested grant amount should not exceed 50% of the project budget. 

  • Applications for general operating support.

  • Non-production related expenses such as receptions or social events.

WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR IN AN APPLICATION?

Criteria for evaluation include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Artistic excellence: You should include information about the skill, expertise and experience of the artists involved in your project. Similarly, your description of your organization’s history should include some information about its artistic work.                                                                                        

  2. The project’s relevance to the mission of the applicant organization. We’ll ask you to explain how the proposed project is connected to and/or furthers the mission of your organization

  3. The organization’s capacity to complete the project. We look at capacity in terms of organizational budget size, staff background, and history of completing similar projects. (If you are a new organization and have questions about how you can help us assess organizational capacity, please reach out for help – our contact information is below.)

HOW TO APPLY:

  • Applications are accepted through our online portal; please see the link below to view and submit the required material.

  • Applications for FY 2024 grants must be submitted no later than 5:00 PM ET on March 1, 2023. Only complete applications will be considered.

  • Please note that while we have word limits for most questions, you will not be penalized for shorter answers.

  • The Musical Fund Society requires that all grantees submit a final report after the completion of the funded project. Additionally, when posting about Society funded projects on social media, grantee organizations are expected to tag MFS social media pages in relevant posts. Consideration of future proposals is contingent upon compliance with these requirements.

QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions about your application or the application process, we encourage you to contact us at info@musicalfundsociety.org. We’re happy to help!

Remember, don’t wait until the last minute to ask questions or submit your application – we’re not able to allow extensions to the deadline.

Please visit our FAQ page for answers to some commonly asked questions about the Musical Fund Society’s grant making process.

Begin your application below:

ONLINE GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications are now closed for the current cycle.