The Presser Foundation Special Projects Grant

The Trustees of The Presser Foundation created the Special Projects Committee in 1998 to consider requests for grants for innovative and special projects in music. The Grant Guidelines were re-established in 2019 in order to clarify the nature of what is truly special versus normal operations or programming of grantee organizations. Grants are typically between $5,000 and $30,000 annually (grant contribution not to exceed 50% of Special Project’s budget). Special Project grants will be given to music organizations for:

• Pilot programs and first-time collaborations between existing music organizations and other artistic organizations (the music organization must be the applicant and grant recipient);
• Significant anniversary celebrations of an organization and not of organizational personnel (must be a quarter century milestone – 25, 50, 75 years, etc.);
• Initial grant funding for newly established music organizations (within 3 years); and
• Efforts that the Trustees of the Foundation may encourage or initiate through a request for proposals to the field or to specific organizations (consistent with the Foundation’s Conflict of Interest Policy).

The Trustees look to fund innovative ideas that advance the love of music in new ways and/or to new communities. Activities that are a regular part of an organization’s operation including annual festivals or other events, and/or larger than normal music productions or programming considered standard repertoire will not be considered for special project funding. Multi-year requests will be considered and should be submitted for projects that are greater than a year in duration. Second grants for subsequent years of a project will not be considered.

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