Funding search
Find who already funds work like yours.
Private foundations don’t post open calls, so nobody can search them. We read IRS filings instead — 9.6 million grants from 174,053 foundations and grantmaking charities, searchable by what the money was actually for.
12 funders with a record of paying for “musician”
Where the money went
Largest: $300,000 to M3 MUSICIANS INC — to support a mentorship and musical collaboration model that empowers, elevates, normalizes, and gives visibility to women and non-binary musicians
Largest: $182,000 to MacPhail Center for Music — for the mcknight artist fellowships for musicians
Thomas Dubois Hormel FoundationFort Lauderdale, FL
9 matching grants · $480,000 · through 2025Largest: $100,000 to JUILLIARD SCHOOL FUND — to provide support for the highest caliber of artistic education for gifted musicians, dancers, and actors from around the world.
The Gibson FoundationNashville, TNCharity · may take applications
17 matching grants · $112,221 · through 2025Largest: $2,500 to MUSICIAN'S ON CALL — foundation giving to another foundation or for scholarships
The Community Foundation of MiddleNashville, TNCharity · may take applications
12 matching grants · $103,775 · through 2024Largest: $20,000 to CENTENNIAL PARK CONSERVANCY — cpc supports nashvilles centennial park while providing access to arts-based community events including musicians corner, kidsville, at the parthenon, and nashville earth day.
Ascension SetonSt Louis, MOCharity · may take applications
5 matching grants · $974,250 · through 2024Largest: $250,000 to HEALTH ALLIANCE FOR AUSTIN MUSICIANS — donation in support health alliance for austin musicians for access to care
John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation (Consolidated)Chicago, IL
6 matching grants · $705,440 · through 2024Largest: $160,000 to Martha Gonzalez — macarthur foundation fellow award - musician, scholar, and artist/activist
Largest: $60,000 to CHILDRENS ORCHESTRA SOCIETY — to provide support in teaching and nurturing young musicians
Largest: $30,000 to EQUITY IMPACT CENTER — to support blknvmbr, a cohort model for the advancement of black r&b and r&b-adjacent musicians in pittsburgh
Largest: $70,000 to BAY STREET THEATRE — support of musicians and other artists
Largest: $10,000 to Health Alliance for Austin Musicians — to provide access to affordable healthcare for greater austin's low-income, working musicians, with a focus on prevention and wellness
The Chicago Community TrustChicago, ILCharity · may take applications
8 matching grants · $124,500 · through 2023Largest: $27,000 to Sweet Relief Musicians Fund — general support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes
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Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV and Form 990 Schedule I, tax years 2019–2025. These are grants already paid, a record of what an organization funds rather than an open call. Private foundations rarely accept unsolicited applications and the route in is usually a program officer; grantmaking charities and associations more often run real application cycles, so check their website. How this data is built, and its limits →