ABOUT
Our Vision
Our Mission
About Us
Originally, the Foundation sought to promote the causes of musical education and musical philanthropy by providing scholarships for promising students, supporting the construction of buildings for music organizations, and directing aid to retired music teachers.
Over time, the Foundation has evolved to support a broad array of music genres, expand its grantmaking areas, convene its nonprofit partners at special events, and collaborate with fellow funders, while continuing to follow the original intent and wishes of Theodore Presser.
Our Values
Our Commitments
Our Equity Commitment
The Presser Foundation provides philanthropic support for music and music education, in keeping with the Will of its founder, Theodore Presser. We work to fund the musical arts in their many dimensions and manifestations, while striving to serve a broad and diverse community of musicians, educators, and music lovers. The Presser Foundation is committed to practicing diversity, equity, inclusion, pro-active anti-racism, and anti-bigotry in all areas of music.
The Foundation believes that equitable access to music is a public good and a charitable purpose, essential to the educational, cultural, and civic fabric of our communities. Yet significant barriers, such as economic, geographic, and institutional ones, limit access for many. By supporting efforts to dismantle barriers, the Foundation furthers its mission to expand music access and enrich lives through music.
Music transcends words and speaks directly to the human experience. Equitable access to music is vitally important, providing one of the strongest and most fertile platforms for a more humane and inclusive future.
Our Commitment to recognizing who was here first, how they were moved, and why it matters
The Presser Foundation recognizes and celebrates how we all benefit from indigenous wisdom and culture. The Foundation realizes that we play a role in embracing, including, and amplifying, but not tokenizing, Indigenous American voices and music. While the Foundation strives to incorporate equity in all forms in our values, our work, and our practices, we realize that we fall short. The Presser Foundation is committed to learn more, be accountable, and grow from the history and pain of this land.
What is a land acknowledgement?
The act of performing a land acknowledgement is a basic and fundamental step towards reconciliation between Indigenous Peoples and colonizers who occupy the land. To learn more, visit our Resources page.
