Grants
For immediate release: May 15, 2012
Contact: Nancy Cardwell, 615-256-3222, nancyc@ibma.org
FOUNDATION FOR BLUEGRASS MUSIC ANNOUNCES GRANTS TO HONOR BLUEGRASS MUSIC INNOVATORS
The world of bluegrass music lost two very important innovators in 2011 and 2012, Mr. Warren Hellman and Mr. Earl Scruggs. The Foundation for Bluegrass Music will be funding grants in their honor this year and has set August 15, 2012 as the deadline to apply for these resources.
Earl Scruggs was perhaps one of the only musicians in any genre who created the definitive sound of his instrument in the genre; banjo players around the world will forever identify the sound of the three-finger style of bluegrass banjo playing as “Scruggs style.” Warren Hellman was a visionary who created, funded and grew his California-based “Hardly Strictly Bluegrass” free event into one of the largest of its kind in the country. Mr. Hellman passed away on December 18, 2011, and Mr. Scruggs passed away on March 28, 2012.
“In remembrance of these two highly creative individuals—both who have left huge footprints in the performance and presentation of American music—we will allocate funds to foster innovation in the world of bluegrass music,” said Foundation president Greg Cahill. “We are very pleased to honor the memory of these brilliant men in this way.”
A fund of $8000 has been earmarked to support public projects that foster innovative development in the world of bluegrass music. Individual grants ranging from $2000-4000 will be given in memory of Earl Scruggs and Warren Hellman. Of special interest are bluegrass music-related projects and programs that involve education or youth. This is a competitive application process and candidates must meet the Foundation’s Grant Application Guidelines. Grants awarded will be announced no later than October 1, 2012 with funds available after January 1, 2013.
Donations to the Foundation for these and related efforts are welcomed in any denomination and these grants will be funded regardless of donations received.
The Foundation for Bluegrass Music is a non-profit (501c3) organization created to serve as an “umbrella” under which funds may be placed and disbursed to support educational, literary and artistic activities related to bluegrass music, of public benefit. Examples of programs that can grow under this umbrella include Bluegrass in the Schools (grants, workshops, programs); academic conferences; literary works and related efforts; public artistic presentation of an educational nature; historic preservation; and other works of a charitable nature. For more info, please go to http://bluegrassfoundation.org/Grants or write to The Foundation for Bluegrass Music; 2 Music Circle South, Ste. 100; Nashville, TN 37203.
Click here for a grant application form.
Origin and Purpose: The Foundation for Bluegrass Music, Inc. (the “Foundation”) is a non-profit charitable organization created in 2007 to serve as an “umbrella” under which funds can be placed and disbursed to support educational, literary, artistic and historic preservation activities of public benefit. The Foundation distributes funds to fulfill its mission. The Foundation has a broad, flexible purpose providing support to a wide variety of initiatives.
The Foundation for Bluegrass Music recognizes the need for flexibility in addressing needs and opportunities. In evaluating applications the Foundation for Bluegrass Music gives consideration to the following factors, among others:
- Does the program or project directly involve bluegrass music?
- Does the program or project address a priority need of or opportunity facing the bluegrass music community? What is its nature and scope and the number of people served by this project?
- Does the program or project duplicate any other existing initiative?
- Will the program or project have a significant impact on a need or opportunity in the bluegrass music community, what outcome will be achieved, and how will it be measured?
- Does the program or project have a demonstrated sound financial plan? The income and expense budget for the grant and balance sheets and income statements for the entire organization (for the two most recently completed fiscal years or pro forma statements if newly organized) MUST accompany the application, together with the most recent Form 990 for the applicant as filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
- Will this grant constitute matching funds?
- After this program or project is completed, how will funding continue? If not funded, what is the effect?
- Does the program or project have a broad base of support such as volunteer involvement, public participation, and/or collaboration with other organizations? Please elaborate on these issues.
Restriction: The Foundation generally makes grants to non-profit organizations with 501(c) (3) status and qualified governmental agencies such as public schools and colleges. Grants are not awarded in the following areas: projects which do not primarily involve bluegrass music, annual fund raising, organizational endowment funds, deficit financing, grants to be paid directly to individuals, or for sectarian purposes.
Procedures: As a general rule, an entity can only receive one grant per calendar year. The Foundation does not generally award multi-year grants. All proposal applications should include the Foundation’s “Grant Application Cover Page,” and applicants should submit six copies of their proposal on 8 ½” x 11” paper printed on one side only plus one digital copy which may be sent as an email attachment or on a CD. The Grant Application Cover Page is available on our website (download below). Hand written applications will not be accepted. Materials should not be bound, inserted in protective sleeves or prepared in other types of notebook form except with a single staple. Invest your time in content rather than presentation.
Applications will be acknowledged upon receipt. Those ineligible under the restrictions listed above will be denied without further consideration. Those eligible for consideration will be assigned to a board or staff member for review, further investigation, and presentation at a board meeting at which grant applications are considered. Eligible applicants will be notified of the board’s decision to fund at the requested amount, fund at a lesser amount, deny, or defer for future consideration.
When a grant check is cashed, the grantee is obligated to use it for the purpose given in the application. Grants awarded to entities which are not 501(c) (3) organizations will be paid to a qualifying fiscal agent organization, or directly to the vendor (such as an educational institution, travel provider, or equipment supplier). Grant recipients are required to acknowledge the funding support of The Foundation for Bluegrass Music in project publicity and any printed or other media materials generated by the project in accordance with the Foundation’s policy for use of its name, logo or mark. Grant recipients are required to file a written report describing the use of the funds after the project/program is completed or nine months after the grant has been received, whichever comes first. Subsequent applications will not be considered until the final report is received.
Application Information: Beginning in 2011, there will be an annual general grant request application deadline of August 15 for projects planned for the following calendar year.
Please include the following information in your proposal and compile your Grant Application in the order set forth below. The narrative should not exceed two single-sided pages (not including the financial information). Please use at least 11-point type font with 1” margins.
- Application cover page (downloadable form is available below)
- Income and expense budget for the grant request project.
- Narrative (detailed description of project and answers to the questions in the application guidelines)
- Income statement and balance sheet for the entire organization for the last two years.
- Most recent form 990 for the applicant as filed with the IRS.
Click here for a grant application form.