Competitive Grants

The Mockingbird Foundation's primary competitive grant program for music education funding. The Foundation funds perhaps several dozen competitive grants each year from typically over 1,000 initial inquiries, with a funding rate of fewer than 1%.

Geographic Scope: U.S. only, with interest in geographic diversity. Has funded in all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.

Focus Areas:

• Music education for children (ages 18 and younger)
• Creative expression through instrumentation, vocalization, composition, and improvisation
• Diverse or unusual musical styles, genres, forms, and philosophies
• Programs serving disenfranchised groups (low income/education/skill levels, disabilities, terminal illnesses, foster homes, shelters, hospitals, prisons, isolated situations)
• Unconventional instruction settings: hospitals, shelters, foster homes, prisons, churches, camps, community centers (not limited to schools)

Grant Categories Include:

• Instruments ($1,111,975 across 204 grants)
• Staffing ($310,693 across 53 grants)
• Equipment ($160,444 across 34 grants)
• Scholarships ($158,500 across 29 grants)
• General Support ($83,500 across 18 grants)
• New Program ($25,000 across 6 grants)
• Curricula ($8,500 across 2 grants)
• Mixed Needs ($144,789 across 33 grants)
• Other ($207,758 across 32 grants)

Eligibility:

• Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
• Sponsored institutions with 501(c)(3) status
• Government entities (public elementary schools)
• Public schools eligible (must be school-based, take place at school, supervised by municipality)
• Organizations operated without discrimination in hiring or service provision

What They Don't Fund:

• Grants to individuals
• Research
• Fundraising organizations or events
• Programs promoting or engaging in religious or political doctrine
• Organizations outside the United States
• Music therapy separate from education
• Music appreciation without participation
• Musical performances for observation only (preference for direct student participation)

Award Structure:

• Grants range from $100 to $10,000
• One-time basis, non-renewable and non-transferable
• 411 competitive grants totaling $2,211,159 (79.2% of total grant dollars awarded)

Special Interests:

• Organizations with low overhead
• Innovative approaches
• Collaborative elements
• Serving disadvantaged populations

Application Process

Two-Tiered Competitive Process:

1. Initial Inquiry Submission (June 15 - January 15)
   • Complete the Initial Inquiry Form online only
   • No inquiries via postal mail or other channels will be considered
   • Provide organizational details and brief narrative elements
   • Read all funding guidelines before completing form
   • Do not send supplemental materials (brochures, newsletters, recordings, etc.)
   • Do not put Foundation on any mailing list
2. First-Stage Review (January 17 - ~February 21)
   • Inquiries randomly assigned to multiple volunteer reviewers
   • Each reviewer receives 20-200 submissions
   • Reviewers select three inquiries from their docket
3. Second-Stage Review (~February 22 - ~March 13)
   • Subset of reviewers collaboratively considers all selections
   • Final slate of ~15 applicants determined
4. Proposal Invitations (March 15)
   • Selected organizations invited to submit full proposals
   • Submission deadline: ~April 15
   • Full proposals by invitation only; unsolicited proposals will not be considered
5. Proposal Review (April 16+)
   • Volunteer review with final dockets integrating full proposals and inquiry elements
   • Two-stage review by Grantmaking Committee then full Board
6. Final Funding Decisions (Mid-June)
   • Final decisions announced (typically mid-June)
   • Proposed slate may include amounts different from those requested

Important Notes:

• Complete inquiries using Chrome or Safari (avoid Firefox on Mac)
• Do not include punctuation when asked for amounts
• No status updates provided prior to proposal invitation
• Contact only via email if selected for proposal stage
• Few questions can be answered regarding likelihood of funding
• Reference past recipients and funding guidelines for best guidance