| GRANTMAKING AREA | PROPOSAL DEADLINE | DECISION NOTIFICATION |
| Advancement of Music | November 15th | March 1st |
| Assistance to Music Teachers | Ongoing | Ongoing |
| Capital Support | February 1st | May 1st |
| Special Projects | By Invitation | Ongoing |
| Undergraduate Scholar Award | By Invitation | February 1st |
Introduction
Theodore Presser contributed a great deal to music education and music philanthropy during his lifetime. Following his passing in 1925 and with the establishment of The Presser Foundation, his generosity has continued through donations to a large number of music-focused causes and organizations for nearly a century. Every year, the Foundation awards more than 400 grants to support music.
The Foundation aspires to support music organizations working in a broad range of traditions, genres, and styles in in the Greater Philadelphia region, as well as people (students and retired music teachers) who seek to, or have made, music their career.
The Presser Foundation supports six categories of grantmaking. Three areas (Advancement of Music, Capital Support, and Special Projects) provide funding to music performing, presenting, and/or educating organizations directly. Two (Graduate Music Award and Undergraduate Scholar Award) support exceptional music students, and the final area (Assistance to Music Teachers) gives resources to individuals who have dedicated their lives to teaching music and need financial assistance upon retirement.
Grant amounts to the different areas have ranged based on the priorities of the Foundation’s Board and the funds available for disbursement. Learn more about the grant funds distributed in recent years by clicking on the links below.
Deadlines & Decision Notifications
Distribution of Funds
Below, you’ll find a table detailing how the amounts and percentages distributed to each grantmaking area in fiscal year 2025-26. By clicking on each link, you’ll see how much was given to each grantmaking area since 2021.
| Grantmaking Area | Total Distributed | Percentage of Total Distributed |
| Advancement of Music | $1,518,500 | 40% |
| Assistance to Music Teachers | $230,147 | 6% |
| Capital Support | $861,500 | 23% |
| Graduate Music Award | $150,000 | 4% |
| Special Projects | $279,235 | 7% |
| Undergraduate Scholar Award | $786,000 | 20% |
| Total | $3,825,382 | 100% |
Grant Reporting
The Presser Foundation’s eGrant Reporting Map
Click on the link above to see the Foundation’s eGrants map, creating by Candid to show where and whom the Foundation gave to from 2020-2024.
If you have any questions about the Foundation’s map or the reporting process, please reach to Abby Rolland at arolland@presserfoundation.org.