Two plus years later, and the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be ebbing into an endemic. No doubt has the pandemic been devastating to nonprofits in many ways; yet there are many lessons that funders can learn. The Presser Foundation adapted its own practices and requirements during the pandemic and continues to assess and analyze its efforts to determine how it can best serve its partners and communities. Outlined below are several actions the Foundation took and several ideas the staff and Board have to move the Foundation forward.
Providing Additional Unrestricted Funds to Advancement of Music Grantees
In early March 2020, The Presser Foundation announced that it would give $1,028,500 in total in its Advancement of Music grantmaking area to 80 music organizations. Scarcely three weeks later, COVID-19 hit the United States. With its arrival came the cancellation of performances, the closing of venues, and the pause on in-school and afterschool music programming.
For music organizations, the pandemic’s effects were devastating. In addition to the health concerns, music organizations’ operations had to completely and suddenly stop. As a result, many quickly and courageously adapted to offer livestreams, recordings, lessons, and other programming on Zoom. While organizations innovated and tried new ways of connecting with audiences and students, they still face enormous challenges regarding maintaining their earned revenue stream that is vital to them.
After conversations with many partners and recognizing the difficulties that nonprofits faced, The Presser Foundation staff and Board of Trustees realized that the Foundation could step in and provide additional funding from its endowment to help organizations at the time. The extra support would not require an application, would ask for a simple report (a five-question follow-up), and had no restrictions on how the grant was spent.
In late April 2020, the Foundation notified all Advancement of Music grantees that they would receive additional funding that equaled half of their original award. For example, an organization awarded a $10,000 grant for Advancement of Music would receive an additional $5,000 special grant.
With the release of these funds, the Foundation gave an additional $521,250 in support during a time when much of the country was in lockdown and music organizations had to adjust and adapt to connect with their audiences.
Reporting Requirements for 2020
The Foundation waived reporting requirements for Advancement of Music grants for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Many Special Projects grants from the year had their reporting deadlines pushed to a date of the grantee’s choosing, and Capital Support grants were paid or deferred as organizations needed/continued building or renovation projects.
As a side note, The Presser Foundation is evaluating its current reporting requirements, and looks forward to announcing several changes and updates soon.
Updated Grant Guidelines – Special Projects and Capital Support
As COVID continued to impact music organizations through 2020 and into 2021, The Presser Foundation realized that updating grant guidelines on a temporary basis for both its 2020-2021 Special Projects and Capital Support grantmaking areas could be helpful for music organizations continuing to face hurdles due to COVID-19.
The Special Projects grantmaking area traditionally funds pilot programs and first-time collaborations between existing music organizations and other artistic organizations, significant anniversary celebratory performances of an organization, and initial general operating funding for newly established (up to five years old) music organizations.
For 2020-2021 round of Special Projects grants, the Committee expanded the guidelines to receive creative proposals supporting music programming efforts which can be realized during the fiscal year. In total, 32 music organizations received $429,800 in total to support these efforts. Several examples of funded projects are below.
- Bucks County Choral Society + Philadelphia Heritage Chorale – Christmas Together in a Time of Isolation
- The Bucks County Choral Society partnered with the Philadelphia Heritage Chorale to create an hour-long Christmas program, filmed by a professional videographer, to the Bucks County community. The performance allowed for the Choral Society to engage their singers, and those of the Philadelphia Heritage Chorale, in celebrating the holiday season in a ‘traditional fashion’ by sharing the sounds of the season – voices singing together joyfully. The two choirs anticipate future collaborations.
- Chester Children’s Chorus – COVID-Safe Pod Rehearsals
- The Chester Children’s Chorus requested and received funds to rehearse in-person and mitigate any COVID-19 concerns. Fund went to canopy tents for outdoor rehearsals, cleaning and hygiene supplies, transportation (greater need for more vehicles so fewer individuals were in each vehicle), and personnel related to transportation.
- The Crossing – ECHOES Project
- The Crossing received funds to design and build a set of 24 singer-specific individual wireless microphone and amplification systems, called ECHOES, and commissioned seven composers to write works for a socially distant, amplified choir.
Projects that traditionally fall under Capital Support include the construction of new facilities and renovation, repair, or expansion of existing facilities. It does not include grants to cover general operating expenses, equipment, and musical instruments.
For the 2020-2021 Capital Support grantmaking area, the Capital Support Committee expanded the guidelines to support music programming efforts and needs, which included but were not limited to hardware, software, equipment, and supplies. Many music organizations had to livestream or produce recordings for audience engagement, establish paid Zoom accounts for instructors or staff members, and meet other digital and virtual needs during COVID. Several examples of capital needs that received funding are included below.
- Reading Symphony Orchestra – Website Redesign
- The funds provided by The Presser Foundation are the catalyst for a new website for a Reading Symphony Orchestra. The Orchestra has identified a designer and are currently working on the redesign.
- Sruti, The India Music and Dance Society – Online Presence
- The grant funds helped Sruti, The India Music and Dance Society, create the foundations for a strong online presence, and augmented their ability to produce and provide streamed and other online programming.
- Community Music School Lehigh Valley – Recording Studio
- Grant funds were requested and given to construct a Recording Studio. Students, teachers, and Board members were thrilled with the high-quality recordings that leveraged both the beautiful recital hall and all the advanced lighting, cameras, and recording & mastering technology.
Based on the continued impact and presence of COVID, the Capital Support Committee also extended the more flexible 2020-21 Capital Support guidelines to 2021-22.
Creating the Next Movement Series
Through discussions with nonprofit partners in the late spring/early summer of 2020, the Foundation discovered that there was no space for music organizations to gather (virtually) together to 1) Uplift and network, 2) Discuss/share adaptations and innovations to COVID, and 3) Ask questions of the Foundation or other nonprofits. To fill the convening desire of partners, The Presser Foundation created the Next Movement events in partnership with American Composers Forum. Through an application process, ten music organizations were chosen to present in five different panels (2 sessions for music educating organizations; 2 sessions for music performing organizations; and 1 session for music presenting organizations) in August 2020 about how they were adapting to COVID. Attendees could ask questions, and sessions were recorded so that others could watch after the event. Organizations who presented were each given a $500 honorarium.
Feedback from the COVID-focused sessions was quite positive. As The Presser Foundation expands its efforts to act as a partner, ally, and resource to grantees, the Foundation decided to adopt a regular schedule for presenting Next Movement forums. The second session, focused on the centering racial equity efforts and journeys of four music organizations, occurred in September 2021. The Foundation is actively planning its next session on preparing and presenting budgets and financials on May 10, 2022, and plans to host four Next Movement events every year. Topics will be based on feedback and ideas from grantees.
COVID may have been the impetus for this work, but these programs and efforts have become ingrained in The Presser Foundation’s practices and processes.
