Institutional Grants

Institutional Grants is sponsored by Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia. Offers grants to incorporated, non-profit classical music organizations in the Philadelphia area for projects advancing the Society's goals.

Institutional Grants - Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia The Musical Fund Society actively invests in the musical life and legacy of Philadelphia by making limited funds available to incorporated, non-profit classical music organizations for projects which advance the foundational goals of the Society.

MFS FY28 Cycle At A Glance Because the maximum grant is $6,000 and the request must be at least 10% of the project budget, the total project budget may not exceed $60,000 . Paper applications are not accepted. Late applications will not be accepted, and no extensions are possible.

Please don’t wait until the last minute. Your application must include a project budget prepared using the MFS Budget Template. Download the template here: https://www.

musicalfundsociety. org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/MFS_Project_Budget_Template. xlsx .

Step-by-step instructions for filling it in, including a worked example, are here: https://www. musicalfundsociety. org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/MFS-Project-Budget-Template-Instructions.

pdf . Before uploading, rename your file OrgName_ProjectName_MFS_FY28_App (e.g., PhiladelphiaOrchestra_SoundsofPhilly_MFS_FY28_App. xlsx).

Below are the funding guidelines and evaluation criteria for the FY28 grant cycle. Before you begin your application, please read them carefully. We also recommend that you visit our Institutional Grants FAQ page for further detail on many common questions.

If you have other questions or would like to speak with someone directly, please email us at grants@musicalfundsociety. org , and someone will respond to your message as soon as possible.

Before you begin, check that your organization meets all of the following: Organization Location: the legal address of the organization’s office must be in Pennsylvania, within the 5-county region (Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, or Montgomery counties). (NB: this requirement applies only to the legal address of the organization as reflected on the most recent 990.)

Applications from organizations outside this area will not be considered. Project Location: all project activities proposed for MFS funding must take place within the city of Philadelphia. (Project activities not funded by the requested grant may take place outside the city.

The only exception is recording projects, since studio availability within Philadelphia is limited. See FAQ for more details.) Programming History: the organization applying must have existed and presented at least 2 years of programming prior to January 2027.

This test looks at the applying organization’s own programming history, not its tax status — an organization that only recently incorporated or gained nonprofit recognition may still qualify, as long as the entity itself has been presenting programming for those 2 years. Ability to Receive Funds: while eligibility rests on your programming history, grant funds can only be paid to a 501(c)(3).

Your organization must either hold 501(c)(3) status itself or apply through a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. If a fiscal sponsor is used, the legal address of the applicant organization and the project activities must still comply with the location requirements above. Prior MFS Grants: applicants may have no more than one outstanding MFS grant from any prior funding cycle in order to be eligible to apply.

Applications from organizations with two or more incomplete grant projects from prior cycles will not be considered. MFS membership: applicant organizations whose staff or board include current Society members are eligible to apply for and receive grants. Those members will be recused from any discussions or votes related to their organization’s application.

(MFS membership is not required and is not considered in evaluations.)

The Society supports projects in the Philadelphia area that focus on: Innovative projects (exploring something truly new for your organization or community) New music , with an emphasis on Philadelphia-area composers and their works Development of new audiences Music education (specifically, music programs, not scholarships) Recording projects involving new compositions performed by local artists All proposed project activities must take place between June 1, 2027 and May 31, 2029 .

The Society funds projects with a significant artistic component: the heart of your proposal should be the creation, performance, teaching, or recording of music. While the aggregate funds available for distribution from the Society are modest, it is our hope that the grant will play a significant role in the funded project. Grants range from $2,000 to $6,000 per year and should be an important, but not the sole, source of funding.

MFS Member Benefit Subsidy The application asks whether your organization can offer MFS members a discount or other exclusive benefit related to the funded project. For ticketed events, this is typically a member discount code; if your event is free and open to the public, an alternative benefit is arranged instead (for example, priority seating or an invitation to a members-only reception).

MFS provides additional funding on top of your grant award to help support this benefit. Your answer does not affect how your application is evaluated ; details are finalized after an award is confirmed.

Examples of eligible projects: Commissioning a new work, with public performances and related community engagement activities at specified times (such as over the course of one or two weeks) A music education program that brings experienced professionals in to provide training for young instrumentalists A recording project that clearly advances the mission of the organization and involves Philadelphia area musicians.

These are not the only possibilities; cross-genre and multi-genre projects are welcome. You may wish to review descriptions of previously funded projects (see the sidebar). If you’re still unsure whether your project is a fit, email grants@musicalfundsociety.

org before applying. Majority Support. Applications that rely on the MFS grant as the sole or majority source of funding, or as a minimal source of funding.

The MFS request must be between 10%-50% of the total project budget. Applications that do not conform to this rule will not be considered. Season Support .

If a proposed project includes elements distributed over the course of an entire season, evaluators may at their discretion consider it as a request for season support and therefore ineligible for funding. Food and Drink. Receptions, social events, or other food-related activities.

Non-Production Expenses. Capital projects or general operating support. Applications for the same project by two organizations.

If multiple organizations are collaborating on the same project, only one of them may apply for MFS funding for that project. Criteria for evaluation will include, but are not limited to, the following: Artistic excellence: the application includes information about the skill, expertise and experience of the artists involved in the project.

Similarly, the description of the organization’s history includes some information about its artistic work. Relevance to your mission: the application explains how the proposed project is connected to and/or furthers the mission of your organization.

Capacity to complete the project: evaluated in terms of organizational budget size and its relation to the size of the project budget; staff background; and history of completing similar projects, among other factors. If you are a young organization and have questions about how you can help us assess organizational capacity, please reach out for help. Relevance of the project to one or more of MFS’s funding priorities (listed above).

Importance of MFS support to the project: MFS support must represent between 10% and 50% of the project budget. Project funds that have been committed from other sources must be identified. Awareness and advancement of DEAI: the application identifies ways in which the project reflects the organization’s principles of diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion relevant within their community and/or the larger arts community.

Adherence to the guidelines: the project will be evaluated on the basis of its adherence to the guidelines and requirements articulated here, on the Institutional Grants FAQ page, and in the application itself. The application cannot be saved and finished later, so gather everything below before you begin .

We strongly recommend reviewing all the questions first, drafting your written answers in a Word or Google document on your own computer, and pasting them into the form when you’re ready to submit in one sitting. Each question’s character limit is shown on the form. The online form will not permit a submission unless all required documents have been uploaded.

IRS Determination Letter (PDF) — stating that the organization (or its fiscal sponsor) is a 501(c)(3) organization. Project budget , prepared using the MFS Budget Template spreadsheet (also linked on the application form). Instructions for filling it in are here .

Rename your file using this convention: OrgName_ProjectName_MFS_FY28_App (e.g., PhiladelphiaOrchestra_SoundsofPhilly_MFS_FY28_App. xlsx). Financial summary for your most recently completed fiscal year (PDF) — a one-page summary, such as a statement of revenue and expenses.

Unaudited financials are acceptable ; audited statements are not required. You’ll also answer written questions about your organization, your project (including activities, timeline, dates, venues, and collaborating partners), and your projected season. Most questions have a character limit and/or file size limit; we prefer that you not include hyperlinks to other material.

You will not be penalized for shorter answers. Prepare all documents and answers ahead of time (see “Application Checklist” above). It is not possible to save a partially completed application and return to it.

Access the online portal beginning 9:00 AM ET on Monday, January 4, 2027 and complete the application in one sitting. Submit no later than 5:00 PM ET on Monday, February 22, 2027 . Only complete applications will be considered.

Watch for a confirmation email at the time of your submission. If you do not receive one, please contact us as soon as possible at grants@musicalfundsociety. org .

It’s your responsibility to ensure your application is complete before submitting. We’re not able to notify you if something is missing, and we cannot accept material after the deadline. Notifications are typically sent in late April; funds are usually disbursed over the summer or early fall.

Final report: all MFS grants require a final report detailing the project’s activities and how the MFS grant money was spent. Deadlines and details are included in the grant award materials. Organizations not complying with reporting requirements will not be eligible for future funding.

Visit our FAQ page for answers to common questions, or email grants@musicalfundsociety. org . We’ll respond to your message as soon as possible or schedule a time to talk.

Remember: don’t wait until the last minute to ask questions or submit your application! If you have any questions about your application or the application process, we encourage you to contact us at info@musicalfundsociety. org .

We’re happy to help! Remember, don’t wait until the last minute to ask questions or submit your application – we’re not able to allow extensions to the deadline. Please visit our FAQ page for answers to some commonly asked questions about the Musical Fund Society’s grant making process.