Music Grants and Funding Directory 2025

Funding is one of the biggest challenges for independent musicians. This directory covers grants, crowdfunding platforms, and other funding opportunities to support your music career.

National Grants (United States)

1. National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

Amount: Varies, typically $10,000-100,000+ Eligibility: US-based artists and organizations Deadline: Varies by program

Programs:

• Art Works grants
• Challenge America grants
• Research grants
• Partnership agreements

What It Funds:

• Recording projects
• Tours
• Commissions
• Educational programs
• Community engagement

Application:

• Detailed proposal
• Budget
• Work samples
• Support materials
• Organizational info (if applicable)

Website: arts.gov

2. ASCAP Foundation

Amount: $500-5,000 Eligibility: ASCAP members (various programs) Deadline: Varies by program

Programs:

• Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards
• Morton Gould Young Composer Awards
• Leiber & Stoller Fund
• Harold Adamson Lyric Award
• Many genre-specific grants

What It Funds:

• Composition
• Recording
• Education
• Career development

Application:

• Varies by program
• Usually requires work samples
• ASCAP membership

Website: ascapfoundation.org

3. BMI Foundation

Amount: Varies by program Eligibility: Varies by program Deadline: Varies by program

Programs:

• John Lennon Scholarships
• Peermusic Latin Scholarship
• Nashville Songwriting Scholarship
• Various composer awards

What It Funds:

• Songwriting
• Composition
• Education
• Career development

Application:

• Program-specific
• Work samples required
• Some require BMI affiliation

Website: bmifoundation.org

4. Foundation for Contemporary Arts

Amount: $40,000 (Grants to Artists) Eligibility: US-based artists Deadline: Rolling applications

Programs:

• Grants to Artists
• Emergency Grants

What It Funds:

• Recording
• Touring
• Equipment
• Living expenses
• Emergency needs

Application:

• Nomination-based (Grants to Artists)
• Direct application (Emergency Grants)
• Work samples
• Project description

Website: foundationforcontemporaryarts.org

5. MAP Fund (Multi-Arts Production Fund)

Amount: Up to $40,000 Eligibility: US-based artists Deadline: Twice yearly

What It Funds:

• Touring
• Presenting work
• Multi-disciplinary projects
• Experimental work

Application:

• Detailed proposal
• Budget
• Work samples
• Support materials

Website: mapfund.org

State and Regional Grants

State Arts Agencies

All 50 States Have Arts Councils:

• Individual artist grants
• Project grants
• Touring support
• Professional development

How to Find:

• Google "Your State Arts Council"
• Visit nasaa-arts.org for directory
• Check eligibility requirements
• Note application deadlines

Typical Amounts: $500-15,000

Common Programs:

• Artist fellowships
• Project grants
• Career development
• Touring grants
• Emergency relief

Regional Arts Organizations

Examples:

• New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA)
• Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation
• South Arts
• Arts Midwest
• Western Arts Alliance

What They Offer:

• Touring grants
• Residencies
• Professional development
• Networking opportunities

Genre-Specific Grants

Jazz

Organizations:

• Jazz Road (South Arts)
• Chamber Music America
• Doris Duke Foundation
• New Music USA

Typical Support:

• Touring
• Recording
• Commissions
• Residencies

Classical/New Music

Organizations:

• New Music USA
• American Composers Forum
• Chamber Music America
• Fromm Music Foundation

Typical Support:

• Commissions
• Recording
• Performances
• Residencies

Folk/Traditional

Organizations:

• Folk Alliance International
• Americana Music Association
• Regional folk organizations

Typical Support:

• Touring
• Recording
• Archiving
• Education

Hip-Hop/Urban

Organizations:

• Hip Hop Congress
• Various local organizations
• Some state arts councils

Typical Support:

• Recording
• Community programs
• Education
• Performance

International Grants

Canada

Organizations:

• Canada Council for the Arts
• FACTOR
• Musicaction
• Provincial arts councils

Support:

• Recording
• Touring
• Marketing
• Professional development

United Kingdom

Organizations:

• Arts Council England
• PRS Foundation
• Help Musicians UK
• Scottish Arts Council

Support:

• Recording
• Touring
• Emergency relief
• Career development

Europe

Organizations:

• Creative Europe
• National arts councils
• Regional programs
• EU cultural programs

Support:

• International touring
• Collaboration
• Recording
• Distribution

Australia

Organizations:

• Australia Council for the Arts
• APRA AMCOS
• State arts organizations

Support:

• Recording
• Touring
• International development
• Indigenous music

Crowdfunding Platforms

1. Kickstarter

Model: All-or-nothing Fee: 5% + payment processing (3-5%)

Best For:

• Album recording
• Music videos
• Tours
• Equipment

Pros:

• Large audience
• All-or-nothing creates urgency
• Established platform
• Good for creative projects

Cons:

• All-or-nothing risk
• Fees
• Competitive
• Requires marketing

Website: kickstarter.com

2. Indiegogo

Model: Flexible or fixed funding Fee: 5% (fixed) or 9% (flexible) + payment processing

Best For:

• Various music projects
• Flexible funding needs

Pros:

• Flexible funding option
• Keep what you raise
• International
• Various project types

Cons:

• Higher fees for flexible
• Less traffic than Kickstarter
• More work to promote

Website: indiegogo.com

3. Patreon

Model: Ongoing membership Fee: 5-12% depending on plan

Best For:

• Ongoing support
• Regular content creation
• Building community

Pros:

• Recurring revenue
• Build community
• Sustainable income
• Various reward tiers

Cons:

• Requires consistent content
• Monthly fees
• Need to maintain engagement
• Takes time to build

Website: patreon.com

4. GoFundMe

Model: Keep what you raise Fee: 2.9% + $0.30 per donation

Best For:

• Emergency funding
• Specific needs
• Community support

Pros:

• Low fees
• Easy to use
• Keep all funds
• Good for emergencies

Cons:

• Less for creative projects
• Requires personal network
• No built-in audience
• Can seem desperate

Website: gofundme.com

5. Bandcamp

Model: Direct sales + subscriptions Fee: 10-15% on sales

Best For:

• Music sales
• Fan subscriptions
• Direct support

Pros:

• Music-specific
• Fan-friendly
• Fair fees
• Own your relationship

Cons:

• Need existing fanbase
• Not traditional crowdfunding
• Requires content
• Marketing needed

Website: bandcamp.com

Specialized Funding

Recording Grants

Organizations:

• Kickstarter/Indiegogo
• State arts councils
• Genre-specific organizations
• Local arts councils

Typical Amounts: $2,000-25,000

What They Fund:

• Studio time
• Producer fees
• Mixing/mastering
• Musicians
• Manufacturing

Touring Grants

Organizations:

• Regional Arts Organizations
• State arts councils
• MAP Fund
• Jazz Road
• Folk Alliance

Typical Amounts: $2,500-40,000

What They Fund:

• Transportation
• Lodging
• Per diems
• Marketing
• Equipment rental

Equipment Grants

Organizations:

• Local arts councils
• Community foundations
• Some state programs

Typical Amounts: $500-5,000

What They Fund:

• Instruments
• Recording equipment
• PA systems
• Software

Emergency Relief

Organizations:

• MusiCares
• Sweet Relief
• Jazz Foundation of America
• Help Musicians UK

What They Provide:

• Emergency financial assistance
• Medical support
• Housing assistance
• Addiction recovery

Corporate Sponsorships

Music Companies

Potential Sponsors:

• Instrument manufacturers
• Music software companies
• Audio equipment brands
• Music retailers

What They Offer:

• Equipment
• Cash sponsorship
• Product endorsements
• Marketing support

How to Approach:

• Professional proposal
• Show mutual benefit
• Demonstrate reach
• Offer value

Local Businesses

Potential Sponsors:

• Restaurants/bars
• Retail stores
• Professional services
• Community businesses

What They Offer:

• Cash sponsorship
• In-kind support
• Venue space
• Promotion

How to Approach:

• Local connection
• Community benefit
• Marketing value
• Clear proposal

Application Tips

Research Thoroughly

Before Applying:

• Read all guidelines
• Check eligibility
• Note deadlines
• Review past recipients
• Understand priorities

Strong Applications

Include:

• Clear project description
• Detailed budget
• Timeline
• Work samples
• Artist bio/CV
• Support materials
• Impact statement

Writing Tips:

• Be specific
• Show impact
• Demonstrate need
• Explain uniqueness
• Professional presentation
• Proofread carefully

Budget Preparation

Include:

• All project costs
• In-kind contributions
• Other funding sources
• Contingency (10%)
• Realistic numbers

Categories:

• Personnel
• Equipment/materials
• Space rental
• Marketing
• Travel
• Administrative

Work Samples

Best Practices:

• High quality
• Representative of project
• Follow guidelines exactly
• Proper format
• Clear labeling
• Backup copies

Crowdfunding Success Tips

Campaign Planning

Before Launching:

• Set realistic goal
• Plan rewards carefully
• Create compelling video
• Write strong description
• Build email list
• Plan marketing strategy

Goal Setting:

• Calculate actual needs
• Add platform fees
• Add reward costs
• Add shipping
• Add buffer (10-15%)

Rewards Structure

Tiers:

• $5-10: Digital thank you
• $15-25: Digital album
• $30-50: Physical album + digital
• $75-100: Exclusive merch
• $150-250: Special experiences
• $500+: Major perks

Tips:

• Limit reward complexity
• Calculate costs carefully
• Offer digital options
• Create urgency
• Make it special

Marketing Your Campaign

Strategies:

• Email list first
• Social media daily
• Personal outreach
• Updates regularly
• Thank supporters publicly
• Create urgency
• Share milestones

Timeline:

• Week 1: Push hard (30-40% of goal)
• Weeks 2-3: Maintain momentum
• Final week: Final push

Alternative Funding

Music Contests

Types:

• Songwriting competitions
• Battle of the bands
• Online competitions
• Genre-specific contests

Prizes:

• Cash awards
• Recording time
• Equipment
• Performance opportunities

Residencies

What They Offer:

• Time and space to create
• Stipends
• Housing
• Community
• Networking

How to Find:

• Alliance of Artist Communities
• Res Artis
• Genre-specific organizations

Fellowships

What They Offer:

• Financial support
• Time to create
• Professional development
• Networking
• Prestige

Examples:

• Guggenheim Fellowship
• MacArthur Fellowship
• State arts fellowships

Conclusion

Funding opportunities exist at every level, from local grants to national programs. Start with smaller, local opportunities and build up to larger grants as you gain experience.

Quick Start Steps:

1. Research state arts council
2. Join PRO (ASCAP/BMI) for foundation access
3. Build email list for crowdfunding
4. Prepare strong work samples
5. Create project budget template
6. Set up grant calendar
7. Start applying

Resources:

• National Endowment for the Arts: arts.gov
• NASAA (State Arts Agencies): nasaa-arts.org
• ASCAP Foundation: ascapfoundation.org
• BMI Foundation: bmifoundation.org
• Foundation Center: foundationcenter.org

Remember: Grant writing is a skill that improves with practice. Don't be discouraged by rejections—keep applying and refining your approach.