Each year, large companies and organizations across North America award sizable grants to community-based programs that demonstrate the ability to serve the needs of specific groups in their region. Grants can often range from $50,000–$100,000. To secure such significant funding, a program must prepare an extensive grant application that often requires high-level writing skills and a well-produced video or other project as evidence of past success. Too often, deserving programs that lack the resources or skills to create such materials can never qualify.

With this situation in mind, MTNA awards Program Enrichment Grants that provide “seed funds” to assist in the creation of application materials that can lead to larger funding from other organizations. The ideal applicant organization has an existing program that:

• Has a history of success in creating new music makers
• Reaches adult learners as well as young people
• Is not solely “achievement-based” (that is, designed to encourage life-long music participation rather than high-level performance)
• Can be reproduced in other places with other leadership
• Is capable of attracting greater funding from larger organizations.

An applicant organization does not have to meet all the above criteria to be awarded a Program Enrichment Grant. Any organizations with innovative new programs are encouraged to apply.

• Funds are to be used for the development of promotional materials(e.g. CDs or DVDs), grant proposals or other materials/documents required to make a compelling case for larger funding from other organizations.
• Grant amounts will typically range from $2,000–$5,000, but are not limited to this range.
• Applicants should submit a list of organizations it plans to target for larger funding, along with descriptions of the grant requirements for these organizations and the ways MTNA funds will be used to meet these requirements.

To apply for a Program Enrichment Grant, download the application on the right side of this page.