General FAQs (applies to all programs)
What is the Fund’s definition of a ‘music service organization’?
Organizations that support composers and performers through activities such as grants, residencies or training programs, or aid in the preservation and dissemination of contemporary American music, are considered music service organizations. Music service organizations may seek support from the Supplemental Program.
Our proposal was not funded. Can you tell us why?
Programs are very competitive. Unfortunately, each year many worthy projects cannot be funded. You are welcome to email the Grants Manager to schedule a feedback call to discuss how your proposal could be improved in the future.
Can our organization apply to more than one of the Fund's programs?
Applicants to the Recording Program may also apply to either the Performance Program or the Supplemental Program, if the applicant satisfies the program eligibility requirements.
Generally, applicants to the Performance Program may not apply to the Supplemental Program, and vice versa, except in instances approved by the Fund in advance. Please contact the Fund directly for further information regarding application to multiple grant programs.
What is the Copland Fund’s definition of ‘contemporary music’?
For all programs, the Fund is primarily interested in supporting works written within the last 40 years.
Projects featuring American music of particular importance to the field but outside the Fund’s definition of contemporary will only be considered on a case-by-case basis; please contact the Grants Manager for more information.
Does the Fund support jazz music?
Yes, jazz is supported. For examples of projects and ensembles that have been supported in the past, please see the lists of grantees from recent grant rounds.
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.
Does the Fund support musical theater?
How should I account for in-kind contributions in my annual or project budgets?
Only the donation of goods that have a fair market value are allowable as a budgetary item, consistent with IRS regulations for filing Form 990.
If you wish to show the value of the donation of services, you may do so in a supplementary note to the budget, but only if the contributed services:
- create or enhance nonfinancial assets, or
- require specialized skills, are provided by individuals possessing those skills and would typically need to be purchased if not provided by donation.
In this case, indicate the full value of the donated services in the supplementary note. Within the budget itself, indicate the actual amount of money paid for the services. If the services were completely donated, the amount of the expense should be $0.
Donated services that do not meet either of the two criteria should not be represented anywhere in the budget.
Does the Fund support popular music?
Popular music is not supported. The Fund’s emphasis is on contemporary American concert music and jazz.
Our organization is located outside the U.S., but we are proposing a project featuring contemporary American music. May we apply?
Yes. Submit a letter from a lawyer confirming your organization’s equivalence to a publicly funded 501(c)(3) organization. All financial figures in the proposal should be converted to U.S. dollars.
Who is on your review panel?
In order to ensure a fair review process, the Fund does not release the names of the panelists.
For the Recording and Performance Programs, panelists are otherwise unaffiliated with the Copland Fund and are generally nominated by panelists who have previously served on a panel for the Fund. Panelists are experts in the field, rotate with each grant cycle, and are selected by a program advisor, who works independently of the Fund’s board to assemble the panels.
Panels for the Supplemental Program are made up of a combination of members of the Copland Fund’s board and administration and experts from the field who are otherwise unaffiliated with the Copland Fund.
Are community, volunteer, and amateur ensembles eligible for support?
Contact the Grants Manager for advice before beginning an application.
Are universities and other educational institutions eligible for support?
Educational institutions may not apply directly, but they may serve as the fiscal sponsor for projects that involve professional musicians (including faculty). Projects including student ensembles are generally not eligible for support. Projects that primarily involve professional musicians are eligible even if some students also participate.
Our organization performs/presents pops and holiday programming. Is this repertoire eligible for support?
Generally, no. The Fund’s emphasis is on contemporary American concert music and jazz. However, programs of this nature do not have an adverse effect on your application as long as there is sufficient eligible contemporary concert music activity.
Are youth choruses eligible for support?
Projects involving youth choruses performing at an exceptionally high level are eligible for support, provided that they are performing contemporary American concert music intended for young voices.
What is the Fund’s definition of a ‘performing ensemble’?
Performing groups such as orchestras, opera companies and chamber music groups with a consistent core membership, as well as ‘flexible’ ensembles with consistent artistic leadership and identity, are considered performing ensembles. Dance companies are also eligible to apply for projects that involve live performances of contemporary American music. Performing ensembles may seek support from the Performance Program.
A university is serving as our fiscal sponsor, and they want us to include indirect costs in our budget. May we do so?
The Copland Fund will not fund indirect costs on a project, so it is advised that you do not include them in the budget.
What is the Fund’s definition of a ‘presenter’?
Music festivals, music venues, and any other organization that organizes and presents live musical performances by a variety of performing groups can be considered a “presenting organization”. Presenters may seek support from the Performance Program.
Are music education projects eligible for funding?
Education projects focused on pre-college age children are generally not eligible. The Fund will consider professional level performance projects with an education component, as well as training programs for professional and emerging professional-level musicians or composers, provided that they have a focus on contemporary American music.
Getting started with the application process
How do I get started with my application?
If you are setting up an account for the first time, upon logging in, you will be directed to a page to enter a password for your account. Choose a password and save it.
Then, in the "Grant Programs" menu, select the program you wish to apply for. Read the guidelines and have the required information readily available.
If the grant cycle is open, you will see the "Apply Now" button. Click on it to begin the process.
If this is your first application, or if you have not updated your organization's information in a while, you will be directed to your account information to update this data.
Begin the application by completing the requested information and following the instructions. It is not necessary to complete the application in any particular order, although most applicants will find it useful to proceed in the suggested order.
Be sure to save your work often by clicking the "Save" button. You may save your work at any time. It is not necessary to complete the application in one sitting; you can return to it over a period of days or weeks, as long as you submit it by the deadline.
When you are ready to submit your application, click "Submit Application" button. If the system detects missing items, you will be asked to complete those items. If the application is complete, you will be taken to a final preview of your application. If you are satisfied with your application, click the red button to submit it; if you would like to make further changes, click the white button.
Once an application is submitted, it is not possible to make further changes to it, so please review your work carefully.
To access all your applications at any time, both in progress and completed, click on "My Account" in the upper-right hand corner of the page.
Performance Program FAQs
What is the Fund looking for in a proposal narrative?
A proposal narrative should be a general description of your organization’s activities, plans for the upcoming season, and any other significant points to make your case for support. Applicants applying for general operating support are required to submit only a proposal narrative. Applicants applying for project support are required to submit a proposal narrative and a project description.
Our organization regularly presents concerts of contemporary American music, but we don't have a "core ensemble." May we apply to the Performance Program?
Yes.
We are a performing ensemble that presents our own concerts as well as other performers. May we apply to the Performance Program?
Yes, the Performance Program accepts applicant ensembles that are self-presenting as well as hybrid presenter-ensemble organizations.
When will decisions be announced?
Award decisions will be announced in or about November of the application year. Please do not contact the Fund for updates about grant decisions.
Please also see the General FAQs.
Our organization does not have non-profit status. Can we apply?
Organizations without non-profit status may seek support with the sponsorship of a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status. You must submit a letter from the sponsoring organization describing the nature of the arrangement, and undertaking to be responsible for disbursement of funds if a grant is awarded. In addition, you must include the sponsor’s IRS tax-exempt determination letter. Create one PDF that contains both items.
How long should my proposal be?
Please do not exceed the maximum number of characters for each section of the proposal.
We are applying with a fiscal sponsor. For ‘organizational budgets’ should we submit our ensemble's budgets or the fiscal sponsor's?
Submit your ensemble's budgets. Do not include personal income and expenditures or other information not related to the activities of the performance entity for which you are applying. We will follow up with you if we need more information about your fiscal sponsor.
What is the difference between organizational budgets and financial statements (in the supporting materials section)?
Organizational budgets refer to three consecutive years of revenue and expense statements:
- the actual statement from the preceding fiscal year
- a projected statement (budget) for the current fiscal year
- a projected statement (budget) for the fiscal year for which support is requested
We strongly recommend using our Excel template to create your statement, which indicates the format level of detail we generally like to see. However, we will accept other formats.
Financial statements refer to statements, often prepared by an accountant and sometimes audited, that reflect a more complete picture of an organization's financial details, including statements of activity, cash flow, balance sheets, and accompanying notes. Not every organization is required to have an audited financial statement, however, if your organization has one for any of the past three fiscal years, you are required to submit the latest one.
Our organization is applying with a fiscal sponsor. Whose information do I use to create the account?
Organizations applying with a fiscal sponsor should create the account using their own contact information, not that of the fiscal sponsor.
What is the Fund looking for in a project description?
The project description should be a detailed description of the specific project for which you are requesting support. For example, applicants should include information about the performers, repertoire, venue(s), timeframe and audiences served for a proposed concert series. For non-concert projects, applicants should supply details about the personnel and participants involved, timeframe for completion, and end goal of a proposed project.
Recording Program FAQs
We see that only 15 minutes of audio samples are required. May we submit more than that?
Due to the enormous amount of music under review, we can only allow 15 minutes of audio samples per application. Each example may be of any length, but the total timing of all submitted examples must not exceed 15 minutes. If an application includes more than 15 minutes of audio examples, panelists will be instructed to review only the first 15 minutes of examples.
May we apply for more than one project per round?
Because this program is extremely competitive, the Fund will not accept multiple proposals in the same round from organizations other than recording companies. Recording companies are limited to 3 proposals per round.
How likely is it that my proposal will be funded?
On average, fewer than 15% of applications are successful in the Recording Program. In recent years there have been an average of 125 preliminary applications per grant round and an average of 18 grantee projects per grant round.
When will award decisions be announced?
Award decisions will be announced on or about June 30 of the application year. Please do not contact the Fund for updates about grant decisions.
What should we submit for the project rationale?
This should be the place where you “make the case” for funding your project. Explain why you have chosen to record the proposed works, the significance of your recording, the quality and appropriateness of the performers and recording personnel, and any other information that would assist the panel in its review.
I am an individual (performer or composer) seeking funding for my recording project. (Or, I represent an ensemble without non-profit status.) Can I (we) apply?
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. You must submit a letter from the sponsoring organization describing the nature of the arrangement, and undertaking to be responsible for disbursement of funds if a grant is awarded. In addition, you must include the sponsor’s IRS tax-exempt determination letter.
Alternatively, 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.
Our project will be ready for release before the Fund announces award decisions in June. May we apply?
As long as the recording has not been released by the time of the full application deadline (March 31), you are eligible to apply. We understand that some projects may be released before funding decisions are announced.
Please also see the General FAQs.
We are only requesting support for some of the works on the total project (other works have been funded). How do we address this with our works list, samples and budget?
It is not necessary to list the works for which you are not requesting support in the Works to Be Recorded section, nor is it necessary to provide scores or audio samples for these works. Please mention these works briefly in your proposal narrative so that the review panel fully understands the context of the project.
We prefer to see the budget for the entire project, but you may decide to either provide us with the full budget or an abbreviated budget that only covers the works for which you are requesting support. Indicate which of these two options you have chosen in the Notes section of the budget form.
We would like to apply, but the composer has not finished the piece yet. May we apply with a sketch?
Only works that are complete by the time of the full application deadline (March 31) are eligible for support.
I am an individual and I run my own record company. May I apply?
In order to be considered a commercial record company for the Fund's purposes, your company must have a Federal Employee Identification Number (EIN) and a business checking account in your company's name. In addition, you will be responsible for completing annual IRS expenditure responsibility forms if you are awarded a grant.
Our project includes the music of American and non-American composers. May we apply?
Yes, but only the music by American composers would be eligible for support.
My recording will be distributed digitally online. May I apply?
Yes. Recordings that will be distributed primarily or solely digitally, whether by download or streaming, are eligible. For all projects distributed digitally, grantees will be required to post liner notes and credits on an appropriate page of their web sites and to provide a permanent copy of the funded recording for the Fund’s archive.
Does the Fund support archival recordings?
I am an individual or an ensemble applying with a fiscal sponsor. Whose information do I use to create the account?
Individuals or ensembles applying with a fiscal sponsor should create the account using their own contact information, not that of the fiscal sponsor.
Supplemental Program FAQs
What is the difference between organizational budgets and financial statements (in the supporting materials section)?
Organizational budgets refer to three consecutive years of revenue and expense statements:
- the actual statement from the previous year
- the actual statement or a projected statement (budget) for the current year
- a projected statement (budget) for the year for which support is being requested (the Support Year)
We require the use of our own Excel template that can be downloaded from the Supporting Materials section of the application.
Financial statements refer to statements, often prepared by an accountant and sometimes audited, that reflect a more complete picture of an organization's financial details, including statements of activity, cash flow, balance sheets, and accompanying notes. Not every organization is required to have an audited financial statement, however, if your organization has one for any of the past three fiscal years, you are required to submit the latest one.
When will decisions be announced?
Award decisions will be announced during or about the end of February after the application deadline. Please do not contact the Fund for grant decisions.
What three years of organizational budgets should I submit if my current fiscal year is the same as my “support year”?
Please submit organizational budgets for your support year and the two previous years. For the 2019 round, this means FY 2019, FY 2018 and FY 2017.
Please also see the General FAQs.
What is the Fund looking for in a project description?
The project description should be a detailed description of the specific project for which you are requesting support. For example, presenters should include information about the performers, repertoire, venue(s), timeframe and audiences served for a proposed concert series. Music service organizations should supply details about the personnel and participants involved, timeframe for completion, and end goal of a proposed project.
Our organization does not have non-profit status. Can we apply?
Organizations without non-profit status may seek support with the sponsorship of a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status. You must submit a letter from the sponsoring organization describing the nature of the arrangement, and undertaking to be responsible for disbursement of funds if a grant is awarded. In addition, you must include the sponsor's IRS tax-exempt determination letter. Create one PDF that contains both items.
It is not necessary to submit board or financial information for the fiscal sponsor unless we follow up with you with a request for more information.
What is the Fund looking for in a proposal narrative?
A proposal narrative should be a general description of your organization’s activities, plans for the upcoming season, and any other significant points to make your case for support. Applicants applying for general operating support are required to submit only a proposal narrative. Applicants applying for project support are required to submit a proposal narrative and a project description.
We are applying with a fiscal sponsor. For ‘organizational budgets’ should we submit our organization's budgets or the fiscal sponsor's?
Submit your organization's budgets. We will follow up with you if we need more information about your fiscal sponsor.
Technical FAQs
How do I navigate the different parts of the application?
You can either click the vertical tabs on the left and side or click the previous and next links at the bottom of the page. It is not necessary to complete the application in any particular order.
I don't see the “Copy into New Application” feature. Where has it gone?
The "copy into new application" feature has been removed. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Where can I view all of my applications?
To access all of your applications, both in progress and completed, click on "My Account" on the upper-right hand corner of the page. Your applications and their statuses will appear on the right hand side of the page.
What do the little crosses mean on the audio sample boxes?
You can click on the cross to re-order your work samples. Be advised, however, that the panel may elect to listen to one or more of your work samples in a sequence other than the order in which you provide them.
I registered for the site, but haven't received a confirmation e-mail. What do I do?
Immediately upon registering on the site, you should receive a confirmation e-mail at the address that you provided. Normally, you should receive a second e-mail approving your registration within three business days, which will contain instructions about how to log into the site. If you don't receive either of these messages, first, check your junk e-mail folder. Be sure to add onlinegrants@coplandfund.org to your address book or whitelist. If the message is not in your junk e-mail box, call us at 212-461-6956 or send an email to onlinegrants@coplandfund.org so that we can assist you further.
What does "Path" mean in the text editor?
"Path" is a technical detail and simply shows the type of HTML formatting that the text editor is using. It can be helpful if you are trying to format your text in a particular way, but otherwise may be ignored.
Is there a limit to the amount of text I can input into the text boxes, such as the one for Proposal Narrative?
No, the text boxes have unlimited capacity. Drag the bottom right hand corner of the text box down to increase the viewable area. However, it is recommended that you make your answers as concise as possible while still making the case for your application.
I have a question that isn’t answered here. What do I do?
Please send us an email at onlinegrants@coplandfund.org and we will reply. If the question is of sufficient general interest, we will post it to this page, however, you will not be identified.
I'm unable to see portions of the screen (or experiencing other display problems).
Be sure to update your browser to the latest version. We support the latest versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Chrome. If the problem persists, please contact us.
What does the red star (*) mean?
Fields marked with a red star are required.
How do I update my organization information?
Click on "My Organization" on the upper-right hand corner of the page, then update your information.
The system is warning me that my password has low security. What does this mean?
For optimal security, it is recommended to choose a password that contains at least six characters. It should include numbers, punctuation, and both upper and lowercase letters. However, passwords with a low security rating will still be accepted. You are responsible for keeping your password secret. You can change your password at any time by going to the "Username & Password" section of "My Account".
Please note that our personnel do not have access to your password. However, we can assist you to change it if necessary.
How do I update my username and password?
Click on "My Account" on the upper-right hand corner of the page, then click "Username & Password" to update your information.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA") Policy
Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA") Policy
If you believe that content available by means of this web site infringes one or more of your copyrights, please notify us by means of an emailed notice (“Infringement Notice”) providing the information described below to the email address listed below. If The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc. takes action in response to an Infringement Notice, it will make a good faith attempt to contact the party that made such content available by means of the most recent email address, if any, provided by such party to The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc. Please be advised that you will be liable for damages (including costs and attorneys’ fees) if you materially misrepresent that a product or activity is infringing your copyrights. Thus, if you are not sure content located on or linked-to by this web site infringes your copyright, you should consider first contacting an attorney.
All Infringement Notices need to include the following:
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- An identification of the copyright claimed to have been infringed;
- A description of the nature and location of the content that you claim to infringe your copyright, in sufficient detail to permit The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc. to find and positively identify that content;
- Your name, address, telephone number and email address; and
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Infringement Notices should be sent to info@coplandfund.org.