Fundraising, Advocacy & Partnerships Catalog
3 IDEAS FOR BAND FUNDRAISERS | Featured Resource
Save The Music loves bands but does not award monetary grants to individual school bands or ensembles. We work at the school district level, jump starting new school music programs by providing musical instruments, technology and teacher professional development. BUT since we are asked this question every day, we’ve compiled three categories of the most effective music fundraising ideas and links for further research.
FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDING FOR THE MUSIC CLASSROOM | Featured Resource
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, also called the COVID-19 Stimulus Package, is a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by Congress and signed into law on March 11, 2021. The bill includes over $120 billion for K-12 education, as well as a number of other provisions that will affect schools. Did you know that this money can be used to support music education programs? Save The Music has collected the best resources for you to use to secure COVID relief funding for your school’s music classroom. Learn more!
ADOPT A CLASSROOM.ORG
This site provides flexible and accountable funding for teachers and schools through a proprietary, easy-to-use fundraising platform. Register a classroom or school to fundraise for classroom materials such as instruments, books, and equipment as well as opportunities like field trips for students. You may also support a teacher, school, or a passionate mission here.
AMERICAN ORFF-SCHULWERK ASSOCIATION
This organization provides elementary music resources and methods in the Orff-Schulwerk pedagogy. Consider joining your local AOSA chapter to access more resources, content, and advocacy tools.
AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS
Americans for the Arts aim to build recognition and support for the extraordinary and dynamic value of the arts. They also lead, serve, and advance the diverse networks of organizations and individuals who cultivate the arts in America. Connecting the best ideas and leaders from the arts, communities, and business, together we can work to ensure that every American has access to the transformative power of the arts. Check out advocacy, research, and dozens of educational programs.
ARTIST CORPS NEW ORLEANS
From the earliest days of public education in New Orleans, musicians and teachers have embedded in schools to provide students with access to comprehensive, well-rounded music instruction. Artist Corps honors this legacy by supporting today’s artist educators – cultivating a robust community of practice, providing tools to navigate a complex educational landscape, and securing the resources, training, and support they need.
ARTS ARE EDUCATION
Arts ARE Education is a new national campaign in support of arts education for all students. All PreK-12 students have the right to a high-quality school-based arts education in dance, music, theatre, and visual arts taught by certified professional arts educators in partnership with community arts providers. See suggested talking points for arts education advocacy, sign the pledge, and send the resolution to your local school board and administrators. These resources and more are free to the public.
ARTS ED NEWARK
Arts Ed Newark is an alliance advocating for equity in high-quality arts education for all youth in Newark, New Jersey. The alliance is composed of arts education champions who believe in the power of arts education, its ability to transform young people and help them thrive. A combination of voices from different sectors, Arts Ed Newark demonstrates the connection between the arts and the positive vision for Newark.
ARTS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP
The Arts Education Partnership (AEP) is a national network of more than 100 organizations dedicated to advancing arts education. AEP is the nation’s hub for arts and education leaders, building their leadership capacity to support students, educators and learning environments. Through research, reports, convenings, and counsel, leaders gain knowledge and insights to ensure that all learners receive an excellent arts education.
THE ASCAP FOUNDATION
The ASCAP Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to nurturing the music talent of tomorrow, preserving the legacy of the past and sustaining the creative incentive for today’s creators through a variety of educational, professional, and humanitarian programs and activities which serve the entire music community.
BLACK MUSIC ACTION COALITION
The Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) is an advocacy organization formed to address systemic racism within the music business. The Coalition advocates on behalf of Black artists, songwriters, producers, managers, agents, executives, lawyers, and other passionate industry professionals.
CHANGE.ORG
Take action and advocate for your cause by creating a free online petition with Change.org. Learn how to create your petition using the website’s powerful online tools, amplifying your message and making an everlasting impact.
CHORUS AMERICA
Chorus America is the advocacy, research, and leadership development organization that advances the choral field. They support and serve choral conductors, administrators, board members, and singers with tools, training, peer networking, and access so that choruses are better able to contribute to their communities.
CLASSICS FOR KIDS FOUNDATION
The mission of Classics for Kids Foundation is to empower young people to shape positive futures through music, build sustainable stringed instrument music programs, and provide grants for high-quality instruments.
If your school or non-profit organization believes in the role of fine instruments in your program, and can show evidence of need and commitment to raising matching funds, you are a strong candidate for the Classics for Kids matching grant program.
CONN-SELMER
Conn-Selmer’s Division of Education has a specialized team of Educational Support Managers (ESMs) committed to providing personalized solutions and practical educational knowledge to help organizations sustain and grow their instrumental music programs. See their Educational Support Resources for articles and a library of teaching and learning videos.
CREATE CA
The goal of Create CA is to advocate for high-quality arts education for all students by providing policy expertise and by mobilizing a statewide network of advocates and allied partners. The organization amplifies the incredible work of its partners and hopes to add more wind to their sails. With public pressure and increased passion, they believe every student can gain access to a quality arts education. “Arts education is a student right!”
DONORSCHOOSE
DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a classroom in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education. Teachers, in need of funding a school project, books, materials, instruments, or equipment? Connect to a thriving community of donors that is eager to fund your classroom projects. DonorsChoose will match donations from every donor you refer to your first project. Get started!
EDUCATION COMMISSION OF THE STATES
The Education Commission of the States tracks policy, translates research, provides advice and creates opportunities for state policymakers to learn from one another. Check out the 50-State Comparisons, recent reports about education and COVID-19, trends in K-12 policy, work-based learning, and read about all the key issues educators face today.
ELEVATE ARTS ED
Led by long-time champion for arts education Laurie Schell, ElevateArtsEd is a blog site featuring articles on how to be an effective advocate for arts education, including coalition building, strategic communications, cultivating influence, using research and data, sustainability, and funding.
GIBSON GIVES
Founded in 2002, the Gibson Foundation is committed to making the world a better place through music by creating, developing, and supporting programs, and other non-profit organizations, in their efforts to advance youth-focused or healing music initiatives by growing the ‘share of sound’ for everyone.
Gibson Gives donates the necessary instruments and inspiration to fuel the next generation with the gift of music. If you feel your music program would make a good partnership or you have a cause that you feel they should consider for support, please visit this link.
GIVE A NOTE FOUNDATION
Founded in 2011 in partnership with the National Association for Music Education, Give A Note Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization created to strengthen music education opportunities for all students. Give A Note strategically focused on developing partnerships with business leaders and decision makers and providing the resources necessary to nurture new and existing school programs. They highlight the importance of music education and provide grants to programs in need. Learn more about the initiatives at Give A Note Foundation.
You may now request instrument bell covers and masks for your classroom.
GRAMMY MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD
Presented by GRAMMY in the Schools, the annual Music Educator Award says thank you to the teachers who put in all the hours to make sure that all of us love and play music!
10 finalists are selected, including one winner, each year to be recognized for their remarkable impact. The winner receives the Music Educator Award at a ceremony during GRAMMY Week, plus pick up a $10,000 personal honorarium. All finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium, while semifinalists receive a $500 honorarium.
GUITAR CENTER MUSIC FOUNDATION
The Guitar Center Music Foundation supports music education programs nationally by providing those in need with instruments and by advocating the benefits of music education. The Foundation awards instruments and equipment to eligible music instruction programs. These items are lightly used, blemished or otherwise imperfect and have been collected from manufacturers and retailers. Learn more and apply for a grant.
HERBIE HANCOCK INSTITUTE OF JAZZ
The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is a nonprofit education organization with a mission to offer the world’s most promising young musicians college level training by internationally acclaimed jazz masters and to present public school music education programs for young people around the world. The Institute preserves, perpetuates and expands jazz as a global art form, and utilizes jazz as a means to unite people of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities. All of the Institute’s programs are provided free of charge to students, schools and communities worldwide.
The Institute’s programs use jazz as the medium to encourage imaginative thinking, creativity, a positive self-image, and a respect for one’s own and others’ cultural heritage. Learn more about incorporating jazz in the classroom.
INSTRUMENTS IN THE CLOUD
Instruments in the Cloud was created to help teachers build and grow their music programs. Their goal is to help equip all music programs with the instruments and supplies necessary for every student to engage and benefit from studying music.
Teachers — sign up to create a wish list of musical instruments you’d like to request from donors
Donors — submit information about musical instruments you are able to donate to a music teacher and students in need
KHS AMERICA ACADEMIC ALLIANCE
KHS America has created a community of retailers, educators, students and parents. Learn more about their artists, membership opportunities, and check out their multitude of free resources.
KHS America Academic Alliance also awards grants to help schools cover the costs of professional development clinics for music educators.
LIVE OUT L!VE FOUNDATION
Live Out L!ve Foundation is a non-profit 501c3 organization that connects Black and Latinx teens and young adults from marginalized communities to free educational resources, experiences, and job opportunities in the live music industry—beyond the main stage. LOL is committed to uplifting the community, providing access, and setting the stage for the next generation to pursue careers in touring and booking.
THE MOCKINGBIRD FOUNDATION
The Mockingbird Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Phish fans in 1996 to generate charitable proceeds from the Phish community and beyond. The foundation provides funding for music education for children and schools, through competitive grants, emergency-related grants, and tour-related grants.
THE MR. HOLLAND’S OPUS FOUNDATION
The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation donates musical instruments to schools nationwide with a focus on low-income communities. In collaboration with committed school districts, the Foundation’s investments are strategically placed as part of K–12 district-wide plans. Learn more about their instrument grant guidelines.
MUSIC ConstructED
A new collaborative community for music educators! Music ConstructED, made possible by West Music, is a free platform designed to support the professional growth and development of music educators through a collaborative community of teachers. They provide the foundation – you construct the classroom experience.
Created by teachers for teachers, this platform includes lesson inspirations, articles on music education, a networking forum, and professional development opportunities. Materials are dynamic, responsive, and relevant to today’s general music teacher and created by leading educators from around the globe.
MUSIC FORWARD FOUNDATION
Music Forward is a national nonprofit organization inside the Live Nation family with a mission to transform young lives, inspire careers, and champion a more inclusive music industry. Focusing on young people, ages 12-24, in underserved communities, Music Forward sets the stage for success by providing workshops and showcases to inspire the next generation of music industry leaders, innovators, and artists. Music Forward inspires ambition and creates momentum to redefine what’s possible for the young people and industry they serve.
MUSIC RISING
Music Rising was launched to rescue the musical culture after the catastrophic hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 by replacing the musical instruments lost or destroyed in the deluge. Co-Founded by U2’s the Edge and legendary producer Bob Ezrin, along with a host of music industry partners, the organization provided instruments for thousands of musicians and students and many churches and community music and cultural programs in the Gulf South. Music Rising is now committed to helping to replace instruments in schools affected by the devastation caused by recent catastrophic hurricanes and fires in the United States and U.S. Territories.
NAMM FOUNDATION
The NAMM Foundation promotes and supports music education and music making for people of all ages and abilities, actively supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. Attention Music Teachers! Create community and expand your network by joining the Facebook group Music Educators Creating Online Learning.
Save The Music highly recommends school districts apply for NAMM Foundation’s Best Communities for Music Education every year.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MUSIC EDUCATION
The association known as NAfME has been advocating for music education for over 100 years and offers memberships, lesson plans, and various ways to engage in music education in your community. Watch the latest webinars and learn more in their Online Professional Learning Community.
NFHS ARTS ADVOCACY
The NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) has launched this Arts Advocacy website to provide resources to advocate for arts programs across the country. The website is designed to be used in multiple different ways, as there’s no cookie-cutter way of supporting the arts. The NFHS Arts Advocacy website highlights all performing arts activities and the work the NFHS does to help students, educators, and administrators throughout the US. This website includes Dashboards for Performing Arts Educator Surveys, social media graphics free to download, helpful articles, NFHS Learn courses, and more.
NJPAC ARTS EDUCATION
“Every performer who steps onto the New Jersey Performing Arts Center stage has one thing in common: arts education made a difference in their lives.” One of the largest arts education providers in America, at NJPAC, you’ll experience the joy of jazz, dance, acting, musical theater, film, and hip hop taught by inspiring artists in a warm, supportive environment. See opportunities for the classroom in-school programming and a calendar of diverse professional development sessions for teachers.
NYC ARTS IN EDUCATION ROUNDTABLE
The New York City Arts in Education Roundtable is a service organization and a community of arts education practitioners sharing information, providing professional development, and communicating with the public to promote our work in schools and beyond. Established in 1992, the Roundtable serves major cultural institutions as well as smaller, community-based organizations. The member-driven organization began as a grassroots effort to provide support and networking opportunities for the staff of arts education service providers, as well as to improve and advance the state of arts in education.
NYSSMA BEST PRACTICES
New York State School Music Association has created an easy-to-navigate website after reviewing and collecting a database of lesson activities and resources that have been tested and vetted with the goal of supporting K-12 decision makers and music educators. The information has been compiled using current, developed practices of music educators. This resource list is ever growing and should be considered a fluid resource. Educators may also submit their own lesson activities and resources to be included in the collection.
Find lessons and activities for elementary, middle, and high school in all kinds of musical subjects as well as resources for technology and social emotional learning.
A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR RECRUITMENT & RETENTION
NAMM Foundation’s manual for student recruitment and retention in beginning instrumental music ensembles. Includes a collection of best practices and materials including check lists, surveys, and progress reports for music educators to use.
SHE IS THE MUSIC
She Is The Music (SITM) is a nonprofit organization increasing the number of women working in music – songwriters, engineers, producers, artists and industry professionals. It is an independent, global network that operates as a unifying organization for women from across the industry, creating strength and impact on a global scale. As an umbrella nonprofit, they also provide resources and support for female-focused initiatives that are working to create meaningful change – both through their own programs, as well as external efforts around the world. Programs include an all-female songwriting series, industry database of women creators and mentorship program, with more to come.
SEADAE
The State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) supports the professional effectiveness of individual members and provides a collective voice for leadership on issues affecting arts education. They aim to achieve quality, comprehensive, sequential, standards-based education in the arts for all students PreK-20.
TEACH MUSIC
In response to the teacher shortage, a Music Educator Workforce Coalition has been formed to help find resources and solutions to the immediate, short-term, and longer-term challenges facing the music educator workforce, working to retain, shepherd, and recruit the next generation of music educators. This coalition is made up of many industry partners, including the American Choral Directors Association, the American String Teachers Association, Music for All, the National Association for Music Education, the National Federation of State High School Associations, the NAMM Foundation, and many others.
Check out resources for students, parents, school counselors, and teachers that can unlock pathways for young people to become the next generation of music educators.
TITLE I ARTS
This site provides resources for school leaders who wish to embrace arts programming among their strategies for achieving Title I goals. It is intended, in particular, for schools with school-wide Title I programs, and includes tools for planning, implementing, and evaluating arts-based strategies in alignment with state and federal Title I regulations. Watch this short, interactive film about Title I and the Arts
TITLE IV-A COALITION
The Title IV-A Coalition is an alliance comprised of dozens of national organizations working together to advocate for full funding and the successful implementation of the Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) grants under Title IV-A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This flexible block grant, authorized at $1.6 billion through fiscal year 2021, is designed to ensure that districts have access to programs that foster safe and healthy students, provide students with a well-rounded education, and increase the effective use of technology in our nation’s schools.
YOUNISON
Created by music students for music students, YOUnison is a student-centered community empowering YOU to achieve musical excellence based around self-directed learning, creativity, and collaboration. YOUnison’s mission is to redefine lifelong individual development through music, leadership and social-emotional learning.