1: Eligibility
All applicants should thoroughly review the eligibility requirements and application guidelines provided BEFORE preparing an application.
2: Application Templates

MGP APPLICATION OVERVIEW

Applicants are encouraged to download an MGP application (Common App) template and draft responses before completing the proposal on the application platform, Award Force.

MGP + COMMON APP TEMPLATES

MGP + THE COMMON APP

The Musical Grant Program application is integrated with the Common Application for the Arts and may be used in completing this application. The Common App is a tool created in 2023 by a consortium of Bay Area grantmakers to streamline the application process and save grantseeking artists and arts and culture organizations time and resources. 

The Common App is meant to be completed first and then used to populate applications of Bay Area funders currently integrating this tool. The 2025 MGP application integrates roughly 90% of the questions found on the Common App.

Steps to using the common app template tool​

  1. Download the template using the link above
  2. Enter your responses to the questions.
  3. Go to the individual grantmakers’ website to access their grant application platform and copy + paste your responses into the corresponding questions of their application forms, ahead of their upcoming grant deadlines.
  4. Submit your proposals to individual funders as grant cycles open.

PLEASE NOTE: Submissions of the Common App will NOT be considered for MGP funding. You must submit your MGP application via Award Force.

To learn more about The Common App, and how to use it when applying for upcoming grants, visit commonappartsbayarea.org.

grantmakers utilizing the common app

3: Submit your proposal on award force

how to submit your application

If you are using a template to complete your proposal, you will still need to submit your application using Award Force.

We do not accept Word and/or PDF submissions. You must submit your application via Award Force.

Submit Your Proposal on Award Force Following these steps:

  1. Navigate to https://musicalgrantprogram.awardsplatform.com/
  2. Register or sign-in if you already have an account through another funder
  3. Complete all required fields
  4. Upload your project budget sheet as a spreadsheet (.csv or .xlsx are accepted)
  5. Submit links to your work samples and/or upload media files following the work sample guidelines. Be sure to name all files clearly, including applicant name, work sample number, and additional details as necessary
  6. Save your progress to return to your work at a later time
  7. Submit your proposal once complete
  8. You will receive confirmation of your submission and a copy of your proposal, as we have received it.
 

Contact Mark Clifford at mark@intermusicsf.org if you experience any technical difficulties.

 

PLEASE NOTE
As we approach the deadline (March 24, 2025) and applicant activity increases, our capacity to answer inquiries will diminish. Please submit your proposal as soon as possible to ensure our team can provide any assistance needed in a timely manner.

4: Video Resources

MGP workshop + info session

Coming soon!

This video will be available after the session takes place on March 6.

Sign-up below to attend in-person or virtually via Zoom.
 

Date: Thursday, March 6, 2025

Time: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Location: 135 Main Street, SF + Online via Zoom

JANUARY 2025 - THE COMMON APP - QUICK-GUIDE

The Common App for the Arts Quick-Guide:  Technical Assistance for Using the Common App + Navigating Digital Workspaces with Margot Melcon of Zellerbach Family Foundation + Crystal Pascucci-Clifford of InterMusic SF

Coming soon!

APRIL 2024 - USING THE COMMON APP - WORKSHOP

InterMusic SF Professional Development Workshop Series 2024: An Introduction to The Common App for the Arts with Margot Melcon of Zellerbach Family Foundation + David Blazevich of Fleishhacker Foundation
5: Application Guidelines

PART 1: ORGANIZATION OR INDIVIDUAL ARTIST INFORMATION

ORGANIZATION VS. INDIVIDUAL ARTIST

In the performing arts, we understand that most projects are inherently collaborative. While most artistic entities can be described as organizations, we realize there are cases where an applicant may want to center their personal work in providing details about artistic merit, capacity, and process.  

When choosing to apply as an ‘organization’ or as an ‘individual artist,’ we encourage you to consider the following:

  • In regards to your artistic and
    executive teams, are you the sole decision-maker/producer, or do you share core leadership roles
    with others? If you, the applicant, are the main producer of the project (i.e., are responsible for all
    executive leadership roles) and are the sole artistic director, then you may consider applying as an
    individual artist.
  • As an ‘individual artist,’ you
    will provide narrative responses about your artistic contributions across the artistic ecosystem,
    describe your artistic bio and achievements, and provide information on the team you intend on collaborating with
    for your proposed project.
  • As an ‘organization,’ you will
    provide narrative responses about your artistic entities’ artistic contributions, the collectives’ bio and achievements, and provide information on any other leadership and/or community partners that will be involved in your proposed project.  

 

This distinction is a matter of the applicant’s discretion. You should choose the option that best suits your particular position within your artistic collaboration and proposed project.

Eligibility

Please see the Eligibility tab for detailed information.

MISSION STATEMENT / ARTIST STATEMENT

  • Share the core motivational element(s) that drive your musical activities.
  • Competitive applicants will strongly align with the Musical Grant Program’s mission to promote the production and presentation of small ensemble music, including live performances, professional recordings, new work commissions for small ensembles, and multidisciplinary collaborations. 

HISTORY + PROGRAMS / ACCOMPLISHMENTS

ORGANIZATIONS: 
  • Share a brief history of your organization’s / ensemble’s founding, shared values, expertise of leadership / members. 
  • Share details of significant past events, performances, and programming that demonstrate your level of artistic expertise and capacity to produce the proposed project.


INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS: 
  • Share your key achievements and accolades as a list or narrative, like a standard artist bio. You will also have the opportunity to submit an Artist CV as a separate file. If you would like to default to only submitting your Artist CV, simply respond to this prompt with “See submitted Artist CV.”  
  • A strong applicant will:
    • demonstrate a compelling history of significant musical activity (e.g., performances, commissions, major collaborations, career highlights, formal recognition or awards, festival appearances, concert presentation of past and/or upcoming programming, organizational programming, etc.)
    • demonstrate expertise or strong capacity to fill designated roles within the project. 
    • show capacity to successfully complete the project as outlined.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

  • Share who you engage with, communities you are rooted in and identify with, and serve. This is where you can share your commitments to serving Bay Area communities and why and how your artistic contributions function in those partnerships.

PART 2: Project Proposal

TIMELINE

  • Outline a plan for the proposed project production. This can include artistic activities: rehearsals, workshops, recording dates, etc.; production activities: engagement with collaborating artists, venues, contractors (e.g., graphic designers, audio engineers); key marketing announcements; fundraising activities. 
  • Strong proposals will include reasonable time frames with regard to scope and capacity. 

Art-space partners

  • Share who your venue / workspace partners are, and if they are long-standing include that info, too. 
  • Strong proposals involve and acknowledge multiple collaborations with members of the musical ecosystem and provide increased engagement / opportunities for compensated artist labor, community-wide.

Project Overview

  • In the clearest way possible, provide a high-level summary of your project that is driven by a list or brief description of activities. SEE EXAMPLE BELOW
  • Your narrative does not need to be a list, but clarity is necessary for our panel to know how the funds will be used.
  • EXAMPLE: 

    “Funding provided by the Musical Grant Program will go to support:

    • [Ensemble name]’s commissioning of [Composer] to write one, three-movement piece.
    • Rehearsals and development of the work over a three-month period in collaboration with the composer.
    • A world-premiere of the composition, as a part of a full concert program at [Venue] in December 2025.”
  • PLEASE NOTE: If you have a date range in mind, but it’s not certain, please include your projection (e.g. Fall 2025). This applies to venue info as well.

Narrative

  • Once you have clearly defined the project, please provide details on your vision and reasons for undertaking the project at this time.

Project partners + collaborators

  • This section of the 2025 Musical Grant Program application is updated
  • We no longer require project partners to join as secondary applicants on
    MGP applications. 
  • For the 2025 MGP, each application has ONE applicant. 
  • If your project includes a significant artistic partnership or collaboration with an artist, ensemble,
    organization, etc., this is where you highlight the significance of their work, expertise, and role
    in your proposed project.
      •  

promotion

  • Share a detailed promotional plan and/or schedule.
  • A strong proposal will include a promotional plan that 
    • supports successful project completion;
    • provides a history of successful publicity campaigns and/or measures of success.
    •  
  •  

audience

  • If you are intending to engage and/or serve a distinct community, share how your publicity, marketing, and promotional efforts demonstrate the ability to reach the intended audience.
  •  

PART 3: BUDGET + FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  • Show all income sources, including personal donations to your own project and in-kind donations of skilled labor.
  • Show all direct project expenses. 
  • Be sure your expenses match the activities outlined in your project narrative.
  • A strong budget plan will include sufficient secured / pending financial resources to successfully complete the project.
  •  

PART 4: WORK SAMPLES

  • Please provide up to 3 work samples.
  • Your submitted audio/visual materials should not exceed 5 minutes.
  • VERY IMPORTANT! Include timestamps/cues if you would like only a portion of the submitted material reviewed. 
  • Use the prompt to describe how the sample relates to your proposal and anything you would like the reviewers to know about the sample.

tips FOR PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION

  • Download the MGP application and/or Common App template file and complete your narrative responses using a word processor app (like Google Docs)
  • Attend the MGP Workshop + Info Session on March 6 
  • Build your project budget and be sure it’s balanced (i.e., your income is = to your expenses)
  • Gather high-quality work samples that best represent your proposed project
  • Create your Award Force account, the application submission platform
  • Leave plenty of time to submit your materials, in case you encounter technical difficulties
6. Final Grant Reports

2024 MGP AWARDED PROJECTS

FINAL REPORT DEADLINE: January 31, 2026

2025 MGP AWARDED PROJECTS

FINAL REPORT DEADLINE: January 31, 2027

MGP FINAL REPORT TEMPLATE

To review the final report questions in advance, please reference the Sample MGP Final Grant Report .

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