Community Partnership Grants: Jazz & Heritage In-School Education Programs in Music, Arts, and Cultural Traditions

The Community Partnership Grants by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation support music and arts education in Louisiana's K-12 schools. Grants of up to $7,500 are available for instruments, supplies, and instruction. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and local nonprofits. The program aims to enhance cultural traditions and foster artistic expression, continuing a legacy of over $13.5 million in funding for community projects since 1979.

Since 1979, the Jazz & Heritage Foundation has invested proceeds directly into the community with grants to fund projects that support the Foundation’s mission.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation is now accepting requests for funding of up to $5,000 to support music and art education programs, cultural events put on by Louisiana arts-based nonprofits, new artistic works that interpret Louisiana culture, and other projects that support the Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s mission.
Through the Community Partnership Grants program, the Foundation provides grants to schools, artists, and arts-based nonprofit organizations throughout the state. Over the last decade, more than $13.5 million in grants have been distributed to Louisiana communities.
Jazz & Heritage In-School Education Programs in Music, Arts, and Cultural Traditions
This category supports music and arts education in the schools by funding music and art instruction that takes place at Louisiana K-12 schools during the regular school day or after school. Schools (public or private) may apply for money to pay for instruments, instrument repair, sheet music, visual art supplies, or other needed materials to support arts instruction as part of the school’s curriculum. Only one application per school is allowed- teachers must verify with their principal, CEO, or School leadership and colleagues before submitting an application to make sure that no one else in the school is submitting one.
Funding
The maximum grant amount is $7,500. Grant awards may be – and frequently are –for less than the amount requested. All Jazz & Heritage grant funds must be spent in Louisiana.

Eligibility

• This grant category is open to 501(c)(3) organizations or registered Louisiana nonprofits who may use a 501(c)(3) nonprofit as a fiscal agent.
• Individuals and commercial organizations are not eligible.
• Only applications to fund programs and activities that align with the mission of the Jazz & Heritage Foundation will be considered. Mission: The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc. promotes, preserves, perpetuates, and encourages the music, culture, and heritage of communities in Louisiana through festivals, programs, and other cultural, Neducational, civic, and economic activities

Ineligibility

Applicants may submit no more than one CPG application – and in only one of our five grant categories – per grant cycle.Applicants who have received grant awardsin past grant cycles, but have not yet submitted CPG Final Report, may submit an application for the 2025-2026 grant cycle. Any outstanding CPG Final Reports from 2024-2025 or previous grant cycles must be submitted no later than Sept. 1, 2025, to be eligible for CPG awards in the current grant cycle. Applicants with outstanding CPG Final Reports risk forfeiting GPG awards in the future. Individuals (please see guidelines for the Louisiana Cultural Equity Arts and Creation category)Commercial OrganizationsNon-profit organizations that are not based in LouisianaEvents that do not take place in LouisianaPerformance fees for artists that are not Louisiana residents
Events or projects that have already taken place
Events or projects that do not take place within the defined time (September 1, 2025 –August 31, 2026). Fees or expenditures other than artist performance fees, as outlined in these guidelines
Grants by the applicant to other organizations for programming activities(“re-granting”)
Contingency funds
Projects used for academic degreesTuition for academic studyPayment of administrative staff for any school or school system
Operational costs
Food or beverages for hospitality or entertainment functions