Instrument Grants: Empowering Immigrant Musicians in Our Community 

The Instrument Grants: Empowering Immigrant Musicians in Our Community is a one-time funding opportunity designed to support nonprofit organizations and public schools in Greater Louisville. The purpose of this grant is to enhance music programs that serve immigrant communities, with a particular emphasis on youth aged 25 and under. The initiative seeks to empower immigrant musicians by facilitating the purchase of musical instruments that will directly benefit and enrich these community-based programs. The funding must be used to complete instrument purchases by December 31, 2025. This grant is facilitated by the Fund for the Arts and is made possible through the support of Mayor Greg Fischer, Dr. Omar Ayyash, and the Roads to You initiative. The total funding allocated for this opportunity amounts to $32,000, with individual grant awards ranging from $1,000 to $15,000. There is no matching requirement; however, applicants may supplement their grant award with other funding sources to complete their proposed instrument purchases. This flexibility allows for broader impact and integration into existing or forthcoming music programming. Eligibility is limited to arts-focused nonprofits, nonprofits that serve immigrant communities, and public schools that are based within the Greater Louisville area. Individual artists and business entities representing individual artists are not eligible to apply. The grant encourages applications that represent a diverse range of cultural backgrounds and traditions, reflecting the multicultural communities served by the initiative. Applicants must demonstrate that they have ongoing or planned music programs that will make direct use of the instruments purchased through this funding opportunity. Applications must be submitted through the Fund for the Arts online grant portal. Interested applicants should thoroughly review the complete grant guidelines before applying. The online application can be started at https://us.grantrequest.com/application.aspx?sid=5723&fid=35563, and saved applications can be resumed at https://us.grantrequest.com/accountmanager.aspx?sid=5723. To support applicants, Virtual Office Hours are available on Tuesdays at 4:00 pm, offering opportunities to ask questions directly to Fund for the Arts staff. The timeline for this grant opportunity begins with the application opening the week of May 6, 2025. Applications must be submitted by Monday, June 30, 2025, by 11:59 pm EST. Notification of award decisions will be provided by July 31, 2025. Successful applicants are expected to complete all grant-funded purchases and ensure their associated music programs are active by December 31, 2025. Additionally, a required site visit must be completed by that date. Final grant reports must be submitted through the Fund for the Arts online portal by January 31, 2026. For questions or additional information regarding the grant or application process, applicants are encouraged to contact the Fund for the Arts Community Investment & Support Team via email at [email protected].

Read the entire Grant Guidelines document before applying. Use Virtual Office Hours for support and clarification.