Grant Program
Grant Program
Overview
The goal of Take Note is to provide all youth in grades K‑12 in Colorado access to musical instruments and instruction. The Take Note Colorado grant program is a responsive, competitive opportunity for individuals and organizations statewide to offer highly inclusive, culturally relevant and student-centered music instruction. Individuals and organizations can apply for up to $10,000 to develop programming that meets Take Note’s goal. Learn more about past grant recipients here.
Strong applications will:
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of a population that lacks access to music and the economic, social, racial, geographic or other reasons for this lack of access;
- Demonstrate a commitment to creating student-centered programs wherein student voices and perspectives are central to the proposed work;
- Identify a specific challenge and opportunity to advance equity in music education;
- Propose to fill a specific gap with highly innovative, inclusive and culturally relevant programming that can be shown, in the application, to be responsive to student needs and interests;
- Demonstrate staff and organizational experience in providing instruments and instruction to diverse communities in impactful ways;
- Include an evaluation plan to understand whether or not the project succeeded in increasing access (Who was impacted by the program and how do you know?);
- Involve staff and partners who can connect with and relate to students served;
- Emphasize ongoing, active music making and other experiential approaches to music instruction;
- Conduct programming impactfully online or by following current public health guidelines for in-person activities;
- Provide a detailed budget which includes other funding sources or plans to secure other funding.
We also look for proposals that have strong community partnerships, plans for sustainability beyond Take Note funding, and responsible and realistic budgeting. See our Guidelines and FAQs for more information on eligible and ineligible requests.
Guidelines
The TNC grant program is designed to help achieve Take Note’s mission of providing all youth in grades K‑12 in Colorado access to musical instruments and instruction. We are looking for individuals and organizations statewide that can offer highly innovative and equitable music instruction for youth in Colorado who currently, and/or regularly, lack access.
Basic Eligibility
Individuals, nonprofits and music instruction businesses that serve or can serve students throughout Colorado, except within the City and County of Denver, which is served by Take Note through financial support of the Denver Music Advancement Fund, managed by Denver Arts & Venues. See FAQs for more clarification.
Applications will not be considered for:
- General operating support for normal business activities.
- Professional development or training that does not result directly in instruction to students.
- Instruments without instruction.
- Activities that enhance music instruction for students who already receive it, unless the enhancements specifically expand participation to groups who lack access.
- Performance fees or tickets to music performances not tied to a program that expands access.
- Private lessons.
Applicant Eligibility
- Teaching artists, nonprofits, library districts, municipalities or quasi-governmental entities, creative districts, and music businesses are eligible to apply.
- Schools (private and public) and school districts are not eligible. Representatives from schools and school districts with ideas on how to deliver equitable and innovative music instruction should contact Take Note directly. Please direct inquiries to info@takenotecolorado.org.
- Providers working with schools should include a letter of support from the appropriate representative of the school or district outlining the specific commitment of the school or district.
Timing of the Grants
- Grant application rounds are implemented annually. See the "Apply" section below for updated information. You can also subscribe here to receive email updates.
- Funds may be requested for activities happening within 12 months of the grant allocation, and a follow-up report must be submitted for any current grant project before any future applications for funding will be accepted. If you are a current grant recipient, please submit your final report here.
- Questions can be emailed to info@takenotecolorado.org.
Support Types
- Funds should cover access to instruments and instruction to students, including music-making technology and fees for providing instruction.
- Funds cannot be used for non-music equipment.
- Overhead, including transportation costs, to deliver the program must be essential to the program and not incidental operational costs or overall organizational costs.
FAQs
1) What counties or regions in Colorado are eligible for grant funding?
We seek proposals that can serve communities throughout the state, especially in rural and otherwise underserved communities. Nonprofits, teaching artists and other providers statewide are eligible.
However, because Take Note partners with Denver Arts and Venues through its Denver Music Advancement Fund to support our work in the City & County of Denver, applicants from Denver City and County are ineligible, unless the grant funds being requested are for programs / services being implemented outside of Denver City and County. If you’re providing services in Denver City & County, apply for funds through the Denver Music Advancement Fund.
2) I want to apply on behalf of a school. Am I eligible for funding?
No. Take Note works directly with school districts statewide to advance our goals. This grant program is for non-school based providers, such as nonprofits, teaching artists, and other instrument and instruction providers. Questions can be emailed to info@takenotecolorado.org.
3) Can I or my organization / entity apply for another grant if we've previously been awarded a Take Note Colorado grant?
Yes. You may re-apply, but only after you have submitted a final report on any previous or currently active grants. You can find the final report form here. If you have questions, email info@takenotecolorado.org.
4) Do I need to speak to the COVID-19 pandemic in my application?
Yes. Though COVID-19 poses fewer threats with the availability of vaccines, many school-aged youth are not vaccinated and therefore are still vulnerable to the impacts of variants. Therefore, we still ask that applicants address how programs will be executed to follow state and local public health guidelines. Virtual programs should explain the expertise, experience, and technology needed to teach online, as well as student access to internet and computer hardware. In-person activities must address public health guidelines and how activities will be adjusted if more restrictive public health orders are mandated during the funded program. Please reference your county’s health orders. Please address how students served and program impacts may change if a program transitions from in-person to online.
5) Are there other opportunities besides the grant program for funding through Take Note?
Not at this time. The Take Note Colorado Grant Program is the only current funding mechanism. We partner with and fund school districts, community-based organizations, musicians, businesses, and other entities, based on learnings from prior year partnerships and the unique needs of each district, county and region. We consistently evolve our approach to ensure that Take Note is effective in increasing equitable access to musical instruments and instruction for Colorado students. Beyond the grant program, we do not accept unsolicited requests for funding.
Apply
Applications for the Take Note Colorado Grant Program will be open Monday, October 17, 2022 through Tuesday, November 15, 2022.
Please access the Take Note Grant Application Form here.
Please review the Guidelines and FAQs above before applying. View and download a copy of the grant application questions here.