The Alice M. Ditson Fund: Recording Projects Grant

The Alice M. Ditson Fund: Recording Projects Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Alice M. Ditson Fund
Last Updated: January 27, 2025

Summary

The Alice M. Ditson Fund supports recording projects that aim to document and promote the music of younger, lesser-known American composers. The fund prioritizes living composers of classical concert music, especially those in the early stages of their careers, while also recognizing established composers who deserve greater visibility. Eligible applicants include organizations with a fiscal sponsor or non-profit status, and projects must involve significant contemporary American music.

Overview

Recording Projects This program’s objectives are to document and provide wider exposure for the music of younger and relatively unknown, living American composers. What is the Ditson Fund’s definition of ‘younger and relatively unknown composers’? The Fund only supports the work of living American composers of classical concert music with an emphasis on supporting important works of composers who are younger and at the beginning stage of their career as well as music by more mature composers who deserve wider recognition and support. During each meeting the Advisory Committee will determine who best deserves support among the current applicants. What is the Fund’s definition of ‘American’? Composers with U.S. citizenship, as well as composers that have lived and worked in the U.S. for a significant period of time, are eligible. The Fund does not set rigid parameters but considers any questionable situations on a case-by-case basis. For the Fund’s purposes, “American” refers to the United States, its territories, and possessions.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Organizations without non-profit status may seek support with the sponsorship of a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status.Organization's located outside the U.S. are eligible to apply if they are proposing a project featuring contemporary American music.The application will require an American fiscal sponsor with 501(c)3 status. Any awards will be paid to that fiscal sponsor. All financial figures in the proposal should be converted to U.S. dollars.Individuals (and ensembles without non-profit status) may request that their record company apply for the project directly. For the Recording Program, record companies may be either non-profit or commercial.The Ditson Fund supports contemporary American classical concert music.Educational institutions may not apply directly, but they may serve as the fiscal sponsor for projects that involve professional musicians (including faculty). Projects that primarily involve professional musicians are eligible even if some students also participate.Project that includes the music of American and non-American composers are eligible only if the music of the living American composer would be eligible for support.Applicants to the Recording Program may also apply to the Performing Ensembles, Institutions, Summer Festivals and Conferences Program, if the applicant satisfies the program eligibility requirements.As long as the recording has not been released by the time of the application deadline, you are eligible to apply.Only works that are complete by the time of the application deadline are eligible for support.

Ineligibility

Individuals (and ensembles without non-profit status) may not apply directly, but may seek support with the sponsorship of a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status. In general jazz is not supported.Projects including student ensembles are generally not eligible for support. The Ditson Fund does not support music education programs.Recordings intended purely for archival or study purposes are not supported.The Ditson Fund will not fund indirect costs on a project, so it is advised that you do not include them in the budget.The Fund will not accept multiple proposals in the same round from organizations other than recording companies.