NASHVILLE – The CMA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association (CMA) is thrilled to announce that 56 national and regional organizations have received grants totaling over $2.5 million. This investment is part of the Foundation’s ongoing dedication to improving music education throughout the United States.
Focusing on five areas of revitalization—youth development through music, in-school music education, professional development for teachers, capacity building, and research—the CMA Foundation continues their mission and work with selected grantees to ensure every child has access to a high-quality music education.
Since its inception in 2006, the CMA Foundation has been committed to improving and sustaining music education programs across the United States through a unique model of charitable giving. By collecting data and providing strategic plans for growth and development to each organization, the CMA Foundation is able to help create sequential programs that create positive impact within the field of music education.
“The CMA Foundation carefully evaluates potential grant recipients ensuring that each investment aligns with our core mission of improving and sustaining music education in our schools and communities” states Tiffany Kerns, Executive Director, CMA Foundation. “Being able to work hand-in-hand with each grantee allows us to support their needs beyond just investing funds. Providing data and creating strategies helps each organization thrive and provides children with an opportunity to succeed both in and out of the music program.”
In addition to these annual investments, the CMA Foundation actively supports schools across the country each year through educator recognition programs like the Music Teachers of Excellence Awards, opportunities for students to perform at select CMA events including Nashville’s CMA Fest, classroom visits from artists and songwriters, and investments in schools’ unique music programs.
In June 2019, more than 300 artists donated their time and performed for free at CMA Fest allowing a portion of net proceeds to help fund grants distributed by the CMA Foundation. Those funds have helped enrich programs throughout national public school systems, after school programs, summer camps, and community outreach organizations.
A full list of the CMA Foundation’s 2020 grantees can be found here.
About the CMA Foundation
Established in 2011 as the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association (CMA), the CMA Foundation is committed to improving and sustaining high-quality music education programs across the United States, working to ensure every child has the opportunity to participate in music. Through strategic partnerships, professional development and grant distribution, the CMA Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), has invested more than $27 million across the national public school system, after school programs, summer camps and community outreach organizations. Guided by the generosity of the Country Music community, proceeds from CMA Fest, the four-day long music festival held annually in Nashville, are used to power the CMA Foundation’s social impact and unique model of giving.
For more information about the CMA Foundation, visit CMAfoundation.org.
Press Contacts:
Kyle Hulcher, CMA Foundation
kyle@hulcherpr.com
Lisa Valentine, CMA
Communications Project Manager
lvalentine@cmaworld.com