Apply for the 2026 Arnold Shultz Scholarship

Apply for the 2026 Arnold Shultz Scholarship

Application deadline: January 31, 2026.

"*" indicates required fields

Arnold Shultz (1886 – 1931) was an African American musician from western Kentucky. Shultz, best known as an extraordinary guitarist and fiddle player, often played guitar with Bill Monroe’s fiddle-playing uncle, Pendleton (“Pen”) Vandiver. It was at these gigs that Monroe met Arnold Shultz and began to emulate Shultz’s backup guitar style. Shultz was impressed enough with Monroe’s progress that he hired Monroe to play guitar with him at dances, thereby giving Monroe his first professional music jobs. Arnold Shultz was a mentor to Bill Monroe, who also credited Shultz with influencing his approach to playing music in multiple ways.

Arnold Shultz Fund Awards

The IBMA Foundation’s Arnold Shultz Fund will award grants for one or more qualified activities that increase participation in bluegrass music by people of color.

Applicants may be individuals, schools, groups, organizations, or government entities. People of color are people with racial/ethnic backgrounds that are underrepresented in bluegrass: Black, Asian, Hispanic/Latino, Indigenous First People, Indigenous Pacific Islander, etc.

Priority will be given to programs, activities, or individuals that demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity and serving diverse, underrepresented populations in bluegrass music.

DEADLINE:

The Arnold Shultz Fund Application Form and all required supporting documentation specified in the Application Form must be received by January 31. Download, fill in, sign, and email the Application Form and all required materials to info@bluegrassfoundation.org. Email is preferred, but materials mailed to IBMA Foundation, 1183 University Drive #105-215, Burlington, NC 27215.

Please keep a back up copy of your application entries on your own computer in case you accidentally delete entries before you hit “Submit” to complete the grant application.

RECIPIENT INFORMATION:

Whenever possible, the IBMA Foundation will make direct payments such as to a school to pay for tuition. If a grant is not paid directly but is paid to the applicant to pay for expenses such as supplies, equipment, instruments, etc., the recipient will submit receipts for these expenditures to the IBMA Foundation.

Recipients are required to submit a brief written report on how the award was used, outcomes, and benefits no later than 30 days after the project is completed.

The recipient understands and agrees that the report they submit (or highlights of the report) may be shared in a press release, on the IBMA Foundation website, and/or in the IBMA Foundation’s e-newsletter, The Cornerstone.

Recipients will also submit one or more photographs of themselves and, if applicable, of the project or activity they were involved with. If applicable, one or more videos may also be submitted. The recipient understands and agrees that any photograph or video that they submit may be used by the IBMA Foundation for publicity, press releases, articles, social media, etc.

APPLICATION SUMMARY:

This application is for the following (check all that apply):*

Application, Category A - Individual

Application, Category B - Organization or Group

Application, Category C - Scholarship

Application, Category D - Grant for a Project or Program

(D) Grant for a Project or Program - Briefly describe:*

Application, Category A - Individual

APPLICANT - NAME*

Address*

Street Address City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Phone*

Email*

3. If Applicant is an individual: Are you a person of color?*

Yes

4. What is your ethnicity (or ethnicities, if multiple)?*

5. If Applicant is less than 18 years old*, please provide the following:

Age:

*Note: Your parent or legal guardian must also approve and sign this application.

Application, Category B - Organization or Group

Organization Name:*

Organization Website:

Federal ID number (EIN or SS):*

Are you a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization?*

Yes

Are you a school, college, or other educational institution?*

Yes

Are you another entity?*

Yes

If you are another entity, please describe*

Organization’s Contact Person’s:Address:*

Street Address City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Phone*

Email*

Application, Category C - Scholarship

C Name of school or program where scholarship is needed:*

1. How much financial assistance are you requesting and why?*

2. If you should be awarded a scholarship, how do you plan to use it? Please check all that apply:*

College tuition

Other tuition

Instructional materials/supplies

Instrument or equipment rental or purchase

Room/board

Travel expenses

Other

Describe:other tuition*

Describe:other*

3. Have you received other scholarships or financial aid?*

Yes

If yes, please list from whom and how much money you were granted:*

4. In 500 words or less, please describe your involvement with bluegrass and what your goals are. (You can write this on a separate document and attach it to this application.)*

5. In 500 words or less, please describe what impact a scholarship will have on you. (You can write this on a separate document and attach it to this application.)*

6. Please provide contact information (including email) for three references. These individuals should know you well enough to evaluate your financial need, involvement/interest in bluegrass, and personal responsibility, and should not be direct relatives (e.g. parent, spouse, or sibling)*

Application, Category D - Grant for a Project or Program

1. Project or Activity Title:*

Amount requested:*

Total cost of project or activity:*

2. Have you received other grants or financial aid for this project or activity?*

Yes

If yes, please list from whom and how much money you were granted:

3. Provide a brief description of the proposed project or activity.*

4. If you get a grant from the Arnold Shultz Fund, how will the money be used?*

5. Briefly explain how the project or activity will help to increase participation in bluegrass by people of color.*

6. Please provide contact information for three references. (name/ email address/ tel number) These individuals should know you well enough to evaluate your financial need, involvement/interest in bluegrass, and personal responsibility, and should not be direct relatives (e.g. parent, spouse, or sibling):*

Upload File Attachments:*

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 32 MB, Max. files: 4.

AGREEMENT

I have read, understand, and agree to all the conditions for getting an award from the Arnold Shultz Foundation, and hereby agree that all information submitted in this application is accurate and truthful. I give permission for the IBMA Foundation to use my name and image for any publicity, articles, press releases, social media, and related activities regarding the Arnold Shultz Fund. If I am signing for an organization, I agree that I am authorized to sign this agreement and have the authority to submit this application for the organization.

Signature*

Date*

Organization (if applicable):

If applicant is less than 18 years old, a parent or legal guardian must sign this agreement. By signing below, I, the Applicant’s parent or legal guardian, agree to the terms and conditions in the Agreement above and as specified in this Application and its Additional Information.

Parent or Legal Guardian’s Signature:*

Date*

Parent or Legal Guardian’s Address:*

Street Address City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Email

Phone*

Digital Signature;*

Note: Filling in the name above will constitute a signature on a digital version of this form. Please submit this completed grant application form along with the information requested at the top of this document to
info@bluegrassfoundation.org. OR you mail (with a January 31. postmark) to: IBMA Foundation Arnold Shultz Fund, 1183 University Drive #105-215, Burlington, NC 27215. The deadline for Arnold Shultz Fund grant applications is January 31.

If you have questions, please call IBMA Foundation executive director Nancy Cardwell at 615.260.4807 or email info@bluegrassfoundation.org