News from the Foundation
Bookmark this page to check out new reports, articles, and announcements from the IBMA Foundation!
IBMA Foundation 2024-2025 Year End Report
They say, “It’s all about the numbers,” and the IBMA Foundation numbers for the past fiscal year were pretty great! But more important are the names and faces, programs, stories, and wonderful bluegrass music behind each number. We’ll share some of both with you below.
Since the beginning of the Foundation in 2007, more than $530,000 has been awarded for grants, scholarships and programs.
This past year we awarded more than $74,400 in grants, scholarships, and program support.
More than 500 supporters shared in our mission to support the future of bluegrass music, with donations totaling $198,000.
We ended the 2024-25 fiscal year with $644,326 in net assets.
The Foundation’s agency endowment funds totaled $539,431
Latest Info
China’s bluegrass journey: a report from Eric Shi
“I have completed the video series on discovering bluegrass musicians in China, which has been a truly rewarding experience,” reports bluegrass musician and educator Eric Chi, in China. “This project has given me the opportunity to connect with many bluegrass...
Project and Shultz Fund grant applications due Dec. 1, Jan. 31
Applications for project grants awarded by the IBMA Foundation are due December 1, 2025. The Foundation awards project grants annually to nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) status or qualified governmental agencies such as public schools and...
Guitar Raffle at Blue Highway Fest to benefit Foundation
Blue Highway Fest in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, named IBMA Bluegrass Event of the Year in 2023, is holding an on-site guitar raffle October 8-12 to benefit the IBMA Foundation. Built by luthier Rufus Thames of Bristol, Virginia, the prize guitar known as “Ole Rufus”...
First Biscuits for Bluegrass raises $22,000 for IBMA Foundation
One of the most unforgettable highlights for 100 people attending IBMA’s World of Bluegrass week last week took place at the top of the North Rotunda of the Chattanooga Convention Center on Saturday morning, September 20: the Biscuits for Bluegrass breakfast and...
Pisgah Banjo Company raffle to benefit Shultz Fund open
Pisgah Banjo Company is proud to sponsor an annual raffle in support of the IBMA Foundation’s Arnold Shultz Fund, which provides opportunities for people of color pursuing careers and passions in bluegrass, traditional, and old-time music. “As a banjo manufacturer...
IBMA Foundation announces job opening
The IBMA Foundation has announced a job opening for executive director beginning July 1, 2026. The mission of the IBMA Foundation is to build a brighter future for bluegrass music. The Foundation accomplishes this through fundraising, grantmaking, awarding college...

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