D’Addario Foundation Awards $487,500 in Monetary & Product Grants

The D’Addario Foundation is thrilled to announce the award of $487,500 in monetary and product grants to 170 music education programs across 104 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada for 2021.

With a 13% increase from 2020, The D’Addario Foundation set an ambitious goal to keep music for social change thriving through the difficulties of the past year. A majority of their grantees have reported that they’re back to in-person music-making; although these programs effectively reached students in a virtual format, the vital communal element has been restored and students can once again experience & reap the benefits of making music in-person alongside their peers & mentors.

This year, a big focus for the D’Addario Foundation is to highlight the diverse ways their partner programs provide music education to their students. For example:

• Organizations breaking down barriers for historically under-represented BIPOC students in classical music, including Sphinx Performance Academy, Cleveland Institute of Music, Buffalo String Works, Atlanta Music Project, HARPS Foundation, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Nouveau Program

• Schools incorporating immersive music education into their curriculum, including Academy of Arts and Knowledge, WHIN Music Community Charter School, Kaufman Music Center’s Special Music School, The Chicago High School for the Arts, and Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music

• Percussion-focus and drumline programming, including BandWith Chicago, Boys and Girls Club of St. Lucie County’s Infinity Clubhouse Drumline, Brooklyn Steppers, and MissionSAFE’s Steel Pan Band

• Mentorship-focused programming, including My Voice Music, Quest Center for Art & Development, and Zumix, Inc

“A grant like this means that kids who may never have thought about music before get a chance to take part in something meaningful,” says Tom Gariepy of the Boys & Girls Club of St. Lucie County. “The days when kids get weekly music lessons in their schools – especially at-risk kids in underserved neighborhoods – seem to be long gone. We’re trying to take up the slack, and your grant will help us do it.”

The D’Addario Foundation conducts two grant cycles per year where non-profit organizations may apply for support after first submitting an initial letter of inquiry. Prospective non-profits must clearly illustrate critical elements for success including intensity & need, leadership strength, sustainability, and community commitment.

100% of donations to the D’Addario Foundation go directly to supporting & expanding their initiatives including their grant-making, college scholarship fund, Girls in Music initiative, and more. To make a contribution, visit https://daddariofoundation.harnessapp.com/wv2/donate