Faq -Our Programs

How can my school apply for a Save The Music grant?

Save The Music Foundation (STM) partners with public school districts in communities across the United States that show an immediate need for support and the resources to build their in-school music education programs. These school districts often serve Title I schools, a high percentage of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch, own limited instrument inventory and music education materials prior to an STM partnership and have the readiness to receive an STM grant.

Save The Music partner school districts and communities are committed to investing in and building in-school music education programs for the benefit of student achievement and access to a well-rounded education. Learn more about our grants for music education.

After a series of community and school district-level steps to establish a strategic, collaborative, and long-term grant partnership, STM grant applications are distributed to specific school sites by invitation only. There is no public Save The Music Grant application online. Please direct all questions regarding grant partnerships to the STM Program Team at [email protected].

Save The Music is currently focused on the following community and state-wide partnerships to increase equity and access to music education for all students. If you know or work for a school in need in one of these communities, please feel free to contact the STM Program Team at [email protected].

 

  • Atlanta (GA)
  • Baltimore (MD)
  • Metropolitan Detroit (MI)
  • Miami (Southern FL)
  • Philadelphia (PA)
  • New York City (NY)
  • Northern California (CA)
  • Southern California (CA)
  • Minneapolis-St. Paul (MN)
  • Mississippi (MS)
  • Northern New Jersey (NJ)
  • New Orleans (LA)
  • Ohio (OH)
  • Tennessee (TN)
  • West Virginia (WV)
What types of grants are offered by Save The Music?

STM does not provide cash grants to schools. Instead, STM’s program model combines the one-time capital investment of instruments, technology, and resources to start and build music programs in qualifying schools – with ongoing support for music teachers’ day-to-day work, including guidance on creating policies, procedures, and curriculum, and advocacy tools to help expand and sustain the school’s music program.

Please learn about our music education grants here.

What are Save The Music's grant requirements?
  • The school is a traditional public school in the United States or a United States territory.
  • The school needs an in-school music program or needs inventory to support the music program (instruments, equipment, etc.).
  • The school or school district will or has hired at least one, full-time certified music teacher for the music program.
  • The school includes music as part of the regular school day schedule.
  • The students in the music program receive a minimum of 45 minutes of instruction per week.
  • The school has a dedicated classroom for music instruction.
  • The school has adequate and secure storage space for musical instruments and equipment.
  • The school must complete annual progress reports about the music program for STM and allow representatives from STM to visit as scheduled.
  • The school and school district accept full responsibility and budget accordingly for the normal maintenance of instruments (anything outside of the manufacturer’s warranty) and necessary supplies (i.e. strings, reeds, sheet music).

STM creates a partnership with a school district before any school is awarded a grant. If you have any questions, please email Save The Music at [email protected].

Where has Save The Music donated grants?

Since its inception, STM has donated over $75M worth of instruments and technology to over 2,700 schools in 300+ districts nationwide – increasing access for millions of students.

Check out our impact map here.

How does Save The Music measure success?

We measure our success first by the number of students and schools with access to sustainable in-school music education programs.

As students’ access to music education grows in a partner community, we look to measurable outcomes including student academic success, student emotional well-being, and teacher satisfaction, as well as the overall success of the school and the community.

Read more about our impact in partner communities:

Newark

New Orleans

West Virginia

Read more about the impact of our J Dilla Music Tech Grant.

Read more about the research into the benefits of music and music education.

Can Save The Music sponsor my arts based organization or event?

Save The Music does not sponsor other organizations, events, or initiatives.

Learn more about other organizations that may be able to help.

 

Can Save The Music donate an instrument to my child?

No, Save The Music does not make grants to individuals.

Learn more about our approach here and read more about our Grant Types here