Organization Fund – Overview and Guidelines
General Support, Creation of New Work, Music for Dance
About
The New Music Organization Fund offers grants to music organizations, performance groups, dance organizations, festivals, presenters, and venues who need support to sustain their programming of new music, nurturing of music creators, and other services. This program is for outstanding organizations which work regularly with, and support the development of, music creators and artists and offer a crucial resource to their community. The main criteria for this fund are: artistry, impact, need, equity, and inclusion.
Approach
This year, we have made some minor changes to the Organization Fund, in response to your feedback, to better highlight our support of music for dance and to enable applicants who prefer funding for commissions to apply alongside those who are seeking general support for ongoing new music programs. This means that all applicant organizations will be asked to select their preferred funding opportunity from the following: General Support, Creation of New Work, or Music for Dance projects. Please note applicants may only apply for one.
We are particularly interested in supporting organizations that have a deep and consistent impact on their community of artists and music lovers. For this reason, we ask applicants to submit an endorsement from a member of their community. For organizations seeking general support, this could be an artist, stakeholder, or audience member (see below). For creation of new work and music for dance grants, this should be a letter of support from the composer, musician, and/or choreographer.
Successful applicant organizations, to any of the opportunities offered, will exhibit some or all of the following traits:
- Committed to relationship building and collaboration with artists, other organizations, and the community
- Commitment to commissioning new work
- Commitment to programming new music and providing opportunities for creators throughout the year/season
- Offers learning, engagement, and/or development opportunities and is committed to building future audiences for the organization’s work
- Demonstrated artistic merit and performance history of the applicant institution
- Committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in their organization, engagement, and programming
- Committed to cultivating creativity, as well as, leveraging new music in service of individual and community transformation
Funding Areas (select only one)
General Support
This option is for outstanding organizations which work regularly with, and support the development of, music creators and artists and offer a crucial resource to their community. Funds are to be used for general costs which support year-round programming and new music activities. It does not need to be tied to any specific project, but we are asking you to tell us about the programs, events, and initiatives that New Music USA’s support best aligns with. Organizations applying for this option should have a general operating budget of under $2 million.
Organizations seeking general support will be asked to present their year-round work on or offline, including:
- Music program planned
- Opportunities provided to artists and music creators
- Community of artists served (we support music creators/artists based in the US and US territories)
- Audiences the activity will reach
- Equity, diversity, and inclusion within their organization and programming
- Impact on their community
Creation of New Work
This option is for organizations that are interested in funding the creation and/or commissioning of new work. The organization must produce, co-produce, perform or otherwise present event(s) in which new music serves a central role. Projects must take place anytime between July 2023 and June 2025. There are no restrictions on the organization’s general operating budget.
Music for Dance
This option is for dance organizations that work regularly with music creators and musicians. This option aims to support and encourage the use and creation of new and live music for dance performances, support collaborations between music creators/composers and choreographers, foster meaningful collaborations between musicians and dance companies, and to create performance opportunities for musicians.
Funds would be used to support live music for dance, musician fees, commissioning new work, collaboration with composer, etc. Projects must take place anytime between July 2023 and June 2025. There are no restrictions on the organization’s general operating budget.
Awards
This year we aim to fund approximately 60 to 70 organizations with an average award of $7,000. You may apply for up to $20,000. Awarded organizations will be required to credit New Music USA’s support.
Funding Transparency
Our Creator Fund and Organization Fund are made possible by the generous funders who either donated to our endowment or generously donate to New Music USA annually. Some of these funders had or have specific requests regarding the kinds of work we support because of their geographical location or specific area of interest. We are providing the facts and figures below so that all applicants have a better insight into these restrictions, which influence the applications our advisors select. Please note that applications may cover a number of the categories listed below; others may not fit with any.
- Award rates are generally between 5% and 10% of the overall applicant pool (this means we support around 1/10 of the applications we receive each year)
- Roughly 25% of the applications we fund must include the creation of new work (e.g. commissions and the facilitation of brand-new pieces of music)
- Roughly 25% of the applications we award must include creation or programming of live music for dance (creation, performance, choreographer, and dancer fees) a
- Roughly 50 to 60% of the applications we award is unrestricted
- Roughly 10 to 12% of the applications we award will be engaged in their community and its transformation
- Geographical restrictions are as follows:
- 52% of our grants budget is available without geographical restriction
- 35% is restricted to New York City-based artists/organizations
- 11% is restricted to New York State-based artists/organizations
- 2% is restricted to California Bay Area-based artists/organizations
Review Process
Applications will be screened first by staff for eligibility and completeness. Applications will then move forward to a peer review process completed by approximately 20 panelists working from around the country. Panelists will review each application against the criteria listed below providing a score that will then be averaged to create a ranked list. Award determinations will be made using the ranked list and will consider funding restrictions as necessary.
Review criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria.
New Music USA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We strive for our applicants and awardees to represent a broad spectrum of diversity across size, genre, race, ethnicity, gender, age, ability, sexual orientation, religious belief, and geography. We encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, People of Color led, LGBTQIA+ led organizations, and organizations representing persons with disabilities.
- Artistry – as demonstrated by submitted media; artistry of the organization, creators, and/or musicians involved
- Impact – the impact the organization has on its community of artists and audiences served; this includes a history of the regular and ongoing performing, programming, and engagement of diverse living US/territories-based music creators and/or impact on the creators and musicians involved
- Need – how you’d use the support and why it is important now
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion – as demonstrated by the diversity of artists presented and/or the organization’s commitment to equity and inclusion
Please see the FAQS for a breakdown of the Review Criteria.
Eligibility
General Support
Applicant organizations must:
- be based and doing work in the US
- have a commitment to producing, performing, and/or commissioning the work of living, US/territories-based music creators
- be committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in their organization, engagement, and programming
- be committed to working and performing in their community
- have a minimum of three years of performing, programming, and budget activity at the time of the application
- not have an average annual budget of over $2 million over the last 3 years
- not be a university
Creation of New Work/ Music for Dance
Applicant Organizations must:
- be a presenting organization based and doing work in the US
- have a minimum of three years of performing, programming, and budget activity at the time of the application
- confirm any newly created work be entirely new work; proposals for expansions, arrangements or re-staging of existing works are not eligible
Applicant creators/musicians must:
- be based and doing work in the US and remain so for the duration of the project
- not be enrolled in a degree-giving program
- have completed any and all previous awards from New Music USA including the Creator Fund, Next Jazz Legacy, Reel Change, and Amplifying Voices at the time of notification
This fund is for organizations only; individuals may not apply
Deadline and Timeline
The deadline will be March 30, 2023, at 11:59 pm Eastern. Decisions will be made in June 2023. Funds for General Support are to be used for the 2023-24 season (July through June). Creation of New Work and Music for Dance funds are to be used between July 2023 and June 2025 based on the project timeline.
Application requirements
The application will be submitted online. Please provide the following:
Endorsement Letter (all applicants)
- General Support – Community Endorsement Letter
- A statement of endorsement from an artist or other member of your community (e.g. audience member, stakeholder, partner, performer). Please highlight:
- Why your organization is important to different groups within your community
- What’s unique about your programs and activities?
- Why New Music USA’s support would be important to your organization in this current climate
- A statement of endorsement from an artist or other member of your community (e.g. audience member, stakeholder, partner, performer). Please highlight:
- Creation of New Work and Music for Dance – Artistic Letter of Support
- A statement of endorsement/commitment from the creator and/or musicians on the project and their role
- A statement of endorsement/commitment from the choreographer on the project and their role (Music for Dance only)
Information About Your Organization (all applicants)
- Organizational bio (max. 150 words for including on our website if you are awarded)
- Your mission statement.
- A brief outline of all your upcoming programming (on and/or offline) highlighting your commitment to new music, the new music program planned, any artist development opportunities.
- Tell us about your community and the impact you have. Please consider the community you are seeking to serve including creators, artists, audiences, participants, partners and the broader community. Let us know any ways you are cultivating creativity and leveraging new music in service of individual and community transformation.
- A summary in just a few sentences of any specific aspects of your program and work with music creators that New Music USA’s funding would help to advance (this will be used on our website if awarded)
- Why this funding is so important to you now
Information about the Project (Creation of New Work/Music for Dance only)
- Creator/musician bio (max. 150 words for including on our website if awarded)
- Project description including an outline of the project describing what it is, who is involved, and the anticipated timeline
Equity and Inclusion (all applicants)
- A brief outline of how you address equity, diversity, and inclusion within your organization and programming
- An outline of your policy for paying artists and creators including in the context of canceled performances or commissions
Music Examples (all applicants)
- 2 to 3 samples of music you have commissioned or programmed; you may provide links to YouTube, Vimeo, Soundcloud, or upload mp3 files
- For Creation of New Work/Music for Dance
- Be sure to include a work sample of the music creator and/or musicians you are planning to work with
Finances (all)
- Amount requested (all applicants)
- A budget for your current financial year (please include your request to New Music USA in your income projections) - for all applicants
- Organizational budget totals representing the last three years (for General Support only)
- Most recent audit or financial statement (for General Support only)
- Budget of the project (for Creation of New Work and Music for Dance only)
Further questions or information
- Please see the FAQs here
- Sign up for New Music USA’s webinar on 3/15/23, 2pm ET, here
- Please email grants@newmusicusa.org; please note that due to the high volume of inquiries please allow 48 to 72 hours for a response.
New Music Organization Fund
Organization Fund – Overview and Guidelines
General Support, Creation of New Work, Music for Dance
About
The New Music Organization Fund offers grants to music organizations, performance groups, dance organizations, festivals, presenters, and venues who need support to sustain their programming of new music, nurturing of music creators, and other services. This program is for outstanding organizations which work regularly with, and support the development of, music creators and artists and offer a crucial resource to their community. The main criteria for this fund are: artistry, impact, need, equity, and inclusion.
Approach
This year, we have made some minor changes to the Organization Fund, in response to your feedback, to better highlight our support of music for dance and to enable applicants who prefer funding for commissions to apply alongside those who are seeking general support for ongoing new music programs. This means that all applicant organizations will be asked to select their preferred funding opportunity from the following: General Support, Creation of New Work, or Music for Dance projects. Please note applicants may only apply for one.
We are particularly interested in supporting organizations that have a deep and consistent impact on their community of artists and music lovers. For this reason, we ask applicants to submit an endorsement from a member of their community. For organizations seeking general support, this could be an artist, stakeholder, or audience member (see below). For creation of new work and music for dance grants, this should be a letter of support from the composer, musician, and/or choreographer.
Successful applicant organizations, to any of the opportunities offered, will exhibit some or all of the following traits:
- Committed to relationship building and collaboration with artists, other organizations, and the community
- Commitment to commissioning new work
- Commitment to programming new music and providing opportunities for creators throughout the year/season
- Offers learning, engagement, and/or development opportunities and is committed to building future audiences for the organization’s work
- Demonstrated artistic merit and performance history of the applicant institution
- Committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in their organization, engagement, and programming
- Committed to cultivating creativity, as well as, leveraging new music in service of individual and community transformation
Funding Areas (select only one)
General Support
This option is for outstanding organizations which work regularly with, and support the development of, music creators and artists and offer a crucial resource to their community. Funds are to be used for general costs which support year-round programming and new music activities. It does not need to be tied to any specific project, but we are asking you to tell us about the programs, events, and initiatives that New Music USA’s support best aligns with. Organizations applying for this option should have a general operating budget of under $2 million.
Organizations seeking general support will be asked to present their year-round work on or offline, including:
- Music program planned
- Opportunities provided to artists and music creators
- Community of artists served (we support music creators/artists based in the US and US territories)
- Audiences the activity will reach
- Equity, diversity, and inclusion within their organization and programming
- Impact on their community
Creation of New Work
This option is for organizations that are interested in funding the creation and/or commissioning of new work. The organization must produce, co-produce, perform or otherwise present event(s) in which new music serves a central role. Projects must take place anytime between July 2023 and June 2025. There are no restrictions on the organization’s general operating budget.
Music for Dance
This option is for dance organizations that work regularly with music creators and musicians. This option aims to support and encourage the use and creation of new and live music for dance performances, support collaborations between music creators/composers and choreographers, foster meaningful collaborations between musicians and dance companies, and to create performance opportunities for musicians.
Funds would be used to support live music for dance, musician fees, commissioning new work, collaboration with composer, etc. Projects must take place anytime between July 2023 and June 2025. There are no restrictions on the organization’s general operating budget.
Awards
This year we aim to fund approximately 60 to 70 organizations with an average award of $7,000. You may apply for up to $20,000. Awarded organizations will be required to credit New Music USA’s support.
Funding Transparency
Our Creator Fund and Organization Fund are made possible by the generous funders who either donated to our endowment or generously donate to New Music USA annually. Some of these funders had or have specific requests regarding the kinds of work we support because of their geographical location or specific area of interest. We are providing the facts and figures below so that all applicants have a better insight into these restrictions, which influence the applications our advisors select. Please note that applications may cover a number of the categories listed below; others may not fit with any.
- Award rates are generally between 5% and 10% of the overall applicant pool (this means we support around 1/10 of the applications we receive each year)
- Roughly 25% of the applications we fund must include the creation of new work (e.g. commissions and the facilitation of brand-new pieces of music)
- Roughly 25% of the applications we award must include creation or programming of live music for dance (creation, performance, choreographer, and dancer fees) a
- Roughly 50 to 60% of the applications we award is unrestricted
- Roughly 10 to 12% of the applications we award will be engaged in their community and its transformation
- Geographical restrictions are as follows:
- 52% of our grants budget is available without geographical restriction
- 35% is restricted to New York City-based artists/organizations
- 11% is restricted to New York State-based artists/organizations
- 2% is restricted to California Bay Area-based artists/organizations
Review Process
Applications will be screened first by staff for eligibility and completeness. Applications will then move forward to a peer review process completed by approximately 20 panelists working from around the country. Panelists will review each application against the criteria listed below providing a score that will then be averaged to create a ranked list. Award determinations will be made using the ranked list and will consider funding restrictions as necessary.
Review criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria.
New Music USA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We strive for our applicants and awardees to represent a broad spectrum of diversity across size, genre, race, ethnicity, gender, age, ability, sexual orientation, religious belief, and geography. We encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, People of Color led, LGBTQIA+ led organizations, and organizations representing persons with disabilities.
- Artistry – as demonstrated by submitted media; artistry of the organization, creators, and/or musicians involved
- Impact – the impact the organization has on its community of artists and audiences served; this includes a history of the regular and ongoing performing, programming, and engagement of diverse living US/territories-based music creators and/or impact on the creators and musicians involved
- Need – how you’d use the support and why it is important now
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion – as demonstrated by the diversity of artists presented and/or the organization’s commitment to equity and inclusion
Please see the FAQS for a breakdown of the Review Criteria.
Eligibility
General Support
Applicant organizations must:
- be based and doing work in the US
- have a commitment to producing, performing, and/or commissioning the work of living, US/territories-based music creators
- be committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in their organization, engagement, and programming
- be committed to working and performing in their community
- have a minimum of three years of performing, programming, and budget activity at the time of the application
- not have an average annual budget of over $2 million over the last 3 years
- not be a university
Creation of New Work/ Music for Dance
Applicant Organizations must:
- be a presenting organization based and doing work in the US
- have a minimum of three years of performing, programming, and budget activity at the time of the application
- confirm any newly created work be entirely new work; proposals for expansions, arrangements or re-staging of existing works are not eligible
Applicant creators/musicians must:
- be based and doing work in the US and remain so for the duration of the project
- not be enrolled in a degree-giving program
- have completed any and all previous awards from New Music USA including the Creator Fund, Next Jazz Legacy, Reel Change, and Amplifying Voices at the time of notification
This fund is for organizations only; individuals may not apply
Deadline and Timeline
The deadline will be March 30, 2023, at 11:59 pm Eastern. Decisions will be made in June 2023. Funds for General Support are to be used for the 2023-24 season (July through June). Creation of New Work and Music for Dance funds are to be used between July 2023 and June 2025 based on the project timeline.
Application requirements
The application will be submitted online. Please provide the following:
Endorsement Letter (all applicants)
- General Support – Community Endorsement Letter
- A statement of endorsement from an artist or other member of your community (e.g. audience member, stakeholder, partner, performer). Please highlight:
- Why your organization is important to different groups within your community
- What’s unique about your programs and activities?
- Why New Music USA’s support would be important to your organization in this current climate
- A statement of endorsement from an artist or other member of your community (e.g. audience member, stakeholder, partner, performer). Please highlight:
- Creation of New Work and Music for Dance – Artistic Letter of Support
- A statement of endorsement/commitment from the creator and/or musicians on the project and their role
- A statement of endorsement/commitment from the choreographer on the project and their role (Music for Dance only)
Information About Your Organization (all applicants)
- Organizational bio (max. 150 words for including on our website if you are awarded)
- Your mission statement.
- A brief outline of all your upcoming programming (on and/or offline) highlighting your commitment to new music, the new music program planned, any artist development opportunities.
- Tell us about your community and the impact you have. Please consider the community you are seeking to serve including creators, artists, audiences, participants, partners and the broader community. Let us know any ways you are cultivating creativity and leveraging new music in service of individual and community transformation.
- A summary in just a few sentences of any specific aspects of your program and work with music creators that New Music USA’s funding would help to advance (this will be used on our website if awarded)
- Why this funding is so important to you now
Information about the Project (Creation of New Work/Music for Dance only)
- Creator/musician bio (max. 150 words for including on our website if awarded)
- Project description including an outline of the project describing what it is, who is involved, and the anticipated timeline
Equity and Inclusion (all applicants)
- A brief outline of how you address equity, diversity, and inclusion within your organization and programming
- An outline of your policy for paying artists and creators including in the context of canceled performances or commissions
Music Examples (all applicants)
- 2 to 3 samples of music you have commissioned or programmed; you may provide links to YouTube, Vimeo, Soundcloud, or upload mp3 files
- For Creation of New Work/Music for Dance
- Be sure to include a work sample of the music creator and/or musicians you are planning to work with
Finances (all)
- Amount requested (all applicants)
- A budget for your current financial year (please include your request to New Music USA in your income projections) - for all applicants
- Organizational budget totals representing the last three years (for General Support only)
- Most recent audit or financial statement (for General Support only)
- Budget of the project (for Creation of New Work and Music for Dance only)
Further questions or information
- Please see the FAQs here
- Sign up for New Music USA’s webinar on 3/15/23, 2pm ET, here
- Please email grants@newmusicusa.org; please note that due to the high volume of inquiries please allow 48 to 72 hours for a response.