Grantmaking Achievements
Advancement of Music
Providing general operating support to music organizations continues as a cornerstone priority of the Foundation. In 2024-25, we awarded $1.445 million to 148 music organizations. This cycle demonstrated our commitment to expanding access, with support extended to 30 first-time applicants and 47 organizations with operating budgets under $100,000.
Capital Support
The Foundation maintained robust support for infrastructure development, awarding more than $1.1 million for construction and renovation projects, as well as essential hardware, software, and equipment acquisitions across diverse music organizations.
Special Projects
Our investment in emerging organizations continues to expand. Eleven organizations with less than five years of operation received general operating support, while an additional eleven organizations secured funding for innovative pilot projects and inaugural collaborations. Notable initiatives included an opera company’s pioneering resident community artist model and an innovative partnership between a music organization and a nonprofit organization serving the disability community through cultural arts programming.
Scholar and Award Programs
Graduate Music Award
The Graduate Music Award program operated across 16 graduate schools of music, providing $10,000 grants to selected students for self-designed projects. Supported research included investigations into Puerto Rico’s military and municipal bands, examinations of ensemble singing through interdisciplinary methodologies, comparative studies of prison choir programs in the United States and United Kingdom, and the creation of debut recording projects.
Undergraduate Scholar Award
We distributed Undergraduate Scholar Awards to 262 institutions, including 17 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) participating for the first time. Nomination and final reports consistently demonstrate that recipients serve as leaders within their communities and utilize award funds to create meaningful impact. You can read about several recipients, including Julia Grady in the newsletter or Cahlil Mapson on the blog.
Assistance to Music Teachers
This program honors Theodore Presser’s legacy of supporting music education professionals. As one recipient shared, “In my own life, I wouldn’t have been able to live with dignity and spread the joy of music without Mr. Presser and his foundation. The support means everything to me.”
The Foundation continues to operate through trust-based practices, including maintaining an open-door policy and offering flexible reporting options, including oral reporting when appropriate.
Fellowship Program Impact
During the past year, we hosted Temple University Ph.D. student Daniel Jackson as our Graduate Music Fellow. Drawing from extensive experience as a music educator and deep involvement in nonprofit and community music organizations, Jackson attended numerous performances and contributed valuable insights on topics including bridge-building in jazz communities, equity in musical spaces, and the vitality of classical music traditions. We remain grateful for his contributions and anticipate his continued success in the field.
Communications and Convening
The Foundation maintains its commitment to transparency and knowledge-sharing across music and philanthropic sectors while amplifying the work of our grantees. Our communications efforts included 51 blog posts, four newsletters, hundreds of social media updates, and an updated interactive grant map powered by Candid. The Foundation earned Candid’s Gold Seal of Transparency and published comprehensive five-year grantmaking data on our website, reinforcing transparency as a core organizational value.
We facilitated three virtual Next Movement Idea Forums: one featuring five Foundation grantees sharing customer relationship management experiences; one co-presented with New Music USA highlighting programs and opportunities for Philadelphia-based music organizations and artists; and one with Equity Arc exploring collaborative approaches to creating more inclusive and equitable music environments. These forums provide valuable peer learning opportunities and expert knowledge-sharing, and we look forward to continued engagement with the music community.
Leadership Transitions
In July 2024, we celebrated Corey Smith and Dr. Mark Wait for their distinguished service on the Board and their exceptional leadership of the Capital Support and Scholar Award committees, respectively. Both continue their involvement as Honorary Trustees and active Committee members. We also welcomed four new leaders to our governance structure: Board members Ms. Eve Hyppolite, Ms. Denise Iemolo, and Dr. Mary Ellen Poole, along with Committee member Ms. Zulma Arria.
Strategic Planning
Early in 2024, the Foundation initiated a comprehensive strategic planning process to strengthen our mission and enhance our impact. This process has engaged Board members, staff, and grantees in examining all aspects of our grantmaking and operations. We continue this important work as we uncover new insights and reaffirm our commitment to providing philanthropic support that effectively serves the evolving needs of music organizations.
