Grant Programs

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.

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.

Popular music is not supported. The Fund’s emphasis is on contemporary American concert music and jazz.

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.

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.

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.

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:

1. create or enhance nonfinancial assets, or
2. 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.

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.

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.

Contact the Grants Manager for advice before beginning an application.

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.

The Copland Fund will not fund indirect costs on a project, so it is advised that you do not include them in the budget.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.