ACFM Project Support Program Grant

The ACFM Project Support Program offers funding between $2,000 and $20,000 for special projects that enhance public appreciation of contemporary American concert music and jazz. Eligible applicants include performing ensembles and music organizations with a minimum of two years of programming history. Projects must focus on contemporary works by American composers and can involve live performances, recordings, or educational initiatives. This support is pivotal for fostering innovation and creativity in the American music scene.

The Project Support Program provides funding for special projects and initiatives of exceptional importance to contemporary American concert music, jazz, or both. Restricted grants through this program are available for performing ensembles, presenters, music service organizations, and record companies for discrete, standalone activities that encourage and improve public knowledge and appreciation of contemporary concert music and contemporary jazz by American composers.
Funding Provisions
In general, grants will range between $2,000 and $20,000, although larger grants may be awarded to larger organizations with an extraordinary commitment to contemporary American concert music, jazz, or both. The Fund does not award grants larger than the amount requested by the applicant.
Applicants should be aware that support in one year does not imply continuation of that support in subsequent years.

Eligibility

A minimum of 2 years of programming history (or, for record companies, release history)501(c)(3) non-profit status (or foreign equivalent), or fiscal sponsorship from an organization with 501(c)(3) non-profit statusFor recording projects only: Record companies are eligible to apply with or without non-profit status so long as they have a Federal Tax ID (EIN).Operations conducted at a professional levelEligible types of organizations:Ballet/danceChamber EnsembleChamber OrchestraChoral or VocalFestivalJazz EnsembleLibrary/archiveMusic service organizationOperaOrchestraPresenterProfessional DevelopmentRadio/TVRecord companyEligible activity must include or support music that meets all of the following criteria:Contemporary: For the Fund’s purposes, music composed within the last 40 years is considered contemporary. For jazz submissions, only original works or substantially original, non-derivative arrangements composed within the last 40 years are considered contemporary.American: Music by composers with U.S. citizenship, wherever they may live, as well as non-citizen composers who have lived and worked in the U.S. and/or its territories for a significant period of time.Concert Music or Jazz: For the Fund’s purposes, concert music includes opera, orchestral and chamber music for instrumental and/or vocal ensembles, as well as experimental genres and similar formats. For jazz submissions, the music must include improvisation; applications featuring through-composed works without improvisation will be evaluated with concert music applications if otherwise eligible.Eligible types of projects include:Live music performancesRecordings and/or live streamsDance or theater performances with live musicSound installationsProfessional development programsArtist-in-residence programsRadio/podcast programsArtist support programsJournalism/criticismLibrary/archive programs

Ineligibility

The following types of activity are not considered eligible for support through this program:Programming outside of contemporary American concert music or contemporary American jazz, including commercial, pops, folk, Broadway-style musical theater, sacred, holiday, and traditional concert band music.Music publishing projectsStudent ensemblesVolunteer, community, and amateur ensemblesK-12 or collegiate educational activityComposer commissioning fees or honorariaCompetitionsArtist residencies/retreatsEndowment fundsCapital projectsCapacity building