Concert Artists Fund

The Concert Artists Fund, managed by the Vermont Community Foundation, is a biennial grant program solely dedicated to supporting classical music performances in Chittenden County, Vermont. Established in 2005 through the estate of Charles Goetz, the fund honors his legacy by fostering cultural enrichment through public access to classical music. Unlike other arts-supportive initiatives at the Foundation, this fund is uniquely focused on performance-based programming in a specific geographic region. This fund supports organizations that stage classical music concerts open to the public in Chittenden County. Funding is not available for music education or instructional programming. Grants are intended to subsidize direct costs associated with presenting classical music to broad and diverse audiences, emphasizing accessibility and inclusivity. Collaborations or innovative partnerships that produce exceptional programming are particularly encouraged. Applications are judged based on several factors, including the artistic quality of the performance as evidenced by submitted work samples, the organizational capacity to deliver the program effectively, and the strength of the proposed outreach to underserved audiences. The budget must be reasonable and demonstrate the organization’s ability to finance the overall project, including securing supplementary funding as necessary. The program operates on a two-year grant cycle, with selected organizations eligible for up to $20,000 over the period—$10,000 disbursed annually. Continued funding in the second year is contingent upon submission of a successful year-one report and confirmation of plans to deliver qualifying programming in the second year. The average annual grant is approximately $5,500. For the 2025 cycle, the application window runs from March 4 through April 15. Applications must be received by 5:00 PM on April 15, 2025, to be considered. Grant activities must occur between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2027. Notification of funding decisions is expected in early June 2025. Activities occurring prior to funding decisions are ineligible for support. Prospective applicants must comply with the Foundation’s General Applicant Guidelines, which are available on the Foundation’s For Nonprofits page. Questions about the Concert Artists Fund can be directed to Jane Mulcahy at jmulcahy@vermontcf.org or 802-388-3355 ext. 381.

Emphasize public access and underserved audience engagement; include strong artistic work samples; show financial readiness and realistic budgeting.