The Foundation is committed to centering equity in its practices and processes, understanding that achieving our vision of equitable access to
music requires intentional transformation across all aspects of our work.
CENTERING EQUITY
Sourced from Sruti: The India Music & Dance Society
Music Genre
For decades, The Presser Foundation funded organizations focused on classical music and other forms of music derived from classical traditions.
Recently, the Foundation expanded the definition of its mission and guidelines to provide “funding for music organizations working in a broad range of traditions, genres, and styles.” This expanded definition includes funding for classical, hip hop, jazz, rock, country, music from different countries, and more.
The expansion of the guidelines reflects the idea that people connect to different musical genres and traditions, while continuing to honor the wishes and donor intent of Theodore Presser, the founder of the Foundation.
As a result of this expansion of guidelines, some of the Foundation’s newest grantee partners include Rock to the Future, Beyond the Bars, Sruti: The India Music and Dance Society, and Mamadêlê Foundation.
Grantmaking Processes
The Foundation has increased funding for general operating support through its Advancement of Music program, providing nonprofit partners with greater flexibility in how they utilize these funds. Feedback sessions were conducted with community music schools to learn about the challenges of retirement for music teachers and to promote the Foundation’s Assistance to Music Teachers grantmaking area. The Foundation is committed to reassessing budget allocations across all grantmaking areas. Moving forward, we will continue to research and reevaluate outreach strategies and all guidelines, applications, and reports through an equity lens.
Grantmaking Guidelines
The Foundation has streamlined its six grantmaking areas (Advancement of Music, Assistance to Music Teachers, Capital Support, Graduate Music Award, Special Projects, and Undergraduate Scholar Award) by updating guidelines, simplifying applications, and implementing more accessible reporting processes, including oral reports via Zoom. We created micro-planning grants through Special Projects to help organizations center racial equity and adjusted COVID-era guidelines to support smaller organizations. The Foundation plans to continue refining all processes and will analyze reporting data to better understand the impact of grants on organizations.
Sourced from ANNA Crusis Feminist Choir
Voice
The Foundation has enhanced its communications through website updates, a social media presence, improved news release distribution, and a guest blog program that provides an honorarium to organizations for sharing their stories. We have hired Music Fellows to attend grantee events and write about the field. Going forward, we will regularly review all communications materials through an equity lens and seek opportunities to learn from and collaborate with other funders.
Sourced from Musicopia
Current & Prospective Grantee Engagement
The Foundation hosts “Next Movement” virtual events focusing on relevant themes, with past sessions covering COVID adaptations, racial equity journeys, financial presentation skills, and centering community and youth voice. We worked with summer interns to analyze grantee demographics and have created regular reporting for the Board. Future plans include exploring opportunities with other funders and cultural organizations to strengthen the musical ecosystem in Greater Philadelphia.
Governance
The Foundation formalized its DEI Committee as a full-standing committee in June 2022 to regularly discuss equity, inclusion, access, anti-racism, and anti-bigotry topics. We continue to actively recruit Trustees and Committee members from underrepresented populations, develop a comprehensive onboarding process, and implement evaluations for both the Executive Director and Board of Trustees.
Resource, Financial, & Investment Management
The Foundation has diversified its vendors by using equity as a criterion for evaluation and will continue this practice for future vendor selections. We have updated the investment policy statement to reflect the Foundation’s mission when making decisions related to investment management.