Martha Lee Cain Tranby Music Enrichment Fund Grant

Martha Lee Cain Tranby Music Enrichment Fund Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Martha Lee Cain Tranby Music Enrichment Fund
Amount: Up to US $5,000
Last Updated: January 06, 2026

Summary

The Martha Lee Cain Tranby Music Enrichment Fund provides grants to 501(c)(3) organizations in the greater Kansas City area, aimed at enhancing local music and cultural experiences. Grants, ranging from $500 to $5,000, support public performances and specific projects, not exceeding 25% of an organization's budget. The Fund favors applications that reach diverse audiences and demonstrate high-quality performances. It does not fund capital campaigns, construction, or music education primarily focused on workshops.

Overview

Purpose The Martha Lee Cain Tranby Music Enrichment Fund exists for the purpose of making modest grants to performing music organizations in the greater Kansas City, Missouri area so that these organizations may enrich the music and cultural lives of people living in this area. The language of the governing trust document states that the Fund assets must be used for “the promotion of music education, composition, performance, or any other music endeavor by individuals, groups or institutions.” For practical reasons and based upon past years’ experience, the Trustees of the fund have elected to direct the Fund grants specifically to music performing organizations for purposes of supporting public music performances. Funding The maximum grant amount is $5,000, with most grants ranging between $500 and $5,000.  The Fund reserves the right to make grants for less than the amount requested.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The Fund considers applications only from Federally tax exempt 501(c)(3) organizations whose performances are in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area.The Fund makes grants for specific performing projects and also for general operating expenses.An applicant organization should have at least a three-year operation history, although exceptions will be made upon presentation of strong arguments that this requirement should be waived.Although the Fund primarily supports performing music organizations, the Fund may make grants to organizations primarily engaged in other arts activities (for example, dance or theater) if the purpose of the grant is to specifically promote the performing music component of these activities.The Fund requires that any projects or operations for which a grant is made be completed within one year after the making of the grant. Grants from the Martha Lee Cain Tranby Music Enrichment Fund are not matching grants and do not require matching funds. If the budget for your project(s) shows financial requirements exceeding the amount of your request, however (as many do), we would like to have a reasonable idea of how you intend to raise the additional funds to produce your project. There is no prohibition against a successful applicant applying for a grant in the following year, or in any number of following years.

Ineligibility

The Fund does not make grants for capital campaigns or endowment campaigns.The Fund does not make grants for the construction of buildings or acquisition of equipment or materials (other than those used in the process of music performances).The Fund does not make grants for the primary purpose of music education (such as attendance at music camps or workshops) as opposed to public performance.The Fund does not make grants for scholarship purposes, but may make grants to organizations which themselves make scholarship grants.The Fund does not make grants in an amount exceeding 25% of the organization’s annual operating budget.