At the D’Addario Foundation, we are not the champions. Our job is to find the champions. We support focused teams deeply trusted by the communities they serve executing immersive and enduring music education and youth development programs. We provide services, resources (instruments and accessories), and development opportunities constantly.

APPLYING FOR SUPPORT

GRANT GUIDELINES

• If you are applying for the first time or have not re-applied in over two years, carefully read our funding objectives below before completing the eligibility quiz. 
• If you’ve completed our eligibility quiz and have met all of our requirements, you will receive an email with a link to submit a full grant proposal.
• If you have been invited to submit a full grant proposal in the past two years, please contact us to obtain the application link.
• Organizations are eligible to apply for support once per year.
• All applicants must reapply each year for continued support unless they have been told otherwise. Organizations will not receive a reminder from the Foundation about proposal deadlines.
• Proposals submitted for the October 31 deadline will receive status between February 1 - 15 of the following year. Proposals submitted for the March 14 deadline will receive status between June 15 - 30. Organizations who have been notified that they will be receiving a cash grant can expect to receive their funding within approximately 2 months.
• The D'Addario Foundation prefers not to provide funding for the purpose of purchasing equipment or instruments. If you have instrument needs, we recommend reaching out to the following organizations: Hungry for Music, Instruments in the Cloud, Todd Rundgren's Spirit of Harmony Foundation, Guitars 4 Gifts, Reverb Gives, DW Music Foundation, or the Guitar Center Music Foundation.
• Grantee organizations that have been told they've reached term limit may re-apply for support after a 3-year grace period if they continue to meet funding objectives.
• Please also review our FAQs before taking our eigibility quiz or submitting a full grant proposal.

FUNDING OBJECTIVES

Does your organization meet the following criteria?

• 501(c)(3) non-profit status (or international equivalent)
• Offers free or affordable instrument instruction
• Addresses a need in the community it serves
• Provides frequent instruction where students are participating multiple times per week, throughout the year, and for as many years as possible throughout their primary & secondary education

We do NOT provide funding for the following:

• Individuals
• Companies or for-profit entities
• Religious, veteran, fraternal organizations
• Telethons, benefits, galas, or fundraisers
• Capital campaigns, endowments, or building funds
• Political or lobbying organizations
• Performances, masterclasses, festivals, workshops, competitions, etc.
• Summer camps not supported by academic year programming
• Band boosters, parent organizations, or private schools
• School-affiliated music, band, and/or orchestra programs
• Music therapy initiatives
• Instruments or equipment requests

TAKE THE ELIGIBILITY QUIZ

FULL PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

Seeking Support 1st Half of Year

• Grant Proposal Deadline: October 31
• Grant Decisions Made By: February 1 - 15 (of following year)

Seeking Support 2nd Half of Year

• Grant Proposal Deadline: March 14
• Grant Decisions Made By: June 15 - 30