An Industry United by Music, Driven by Generosity

Everyone in the music industry has an origin story: a moment, a person or an experience that sets them on a path they never imagined. Those beginnings fuel the creativity that moves our industry forward. While NAMM members build what’s next, The NAMM Foundation invests in where it all begins.  

Today, we’re proud to announce our 2027 Global Grantmaking recipients: 56 organizations helping more people learn, create, perform and build careers in music. Part of the Foundation’s $1.2 million in charitable investments this year, these grants support organizations throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as Brazil, Haiti, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.  

Made possible by the generosity of the music products industry, this grantmaking spans every segment of our industry, from musical instruments to entertainment technology, recording and production, to ensure opportunity is everywhere.  

Two Focus Areas, Every Segment of the Industry  

The music industry is not one thing, and neither are the paths into it. A person who falls in love with drumming later in life, a student curious about audio engineering and an aspiring music educator all deserve a way in. Our grantmaking supports organizations that broaden access for underrepresented communities through two focus areas: music learning and career mobility.  

• Music Learning. Music education is where lifelong music makers begin. Our grantees create spaces where people of all ages can learn, create and perform in communities where those opportunities have been out of reach.   
• Career Mobility. For many people, loving music is easy; knowing how to build a career in music is harder. Our grantees open doors to professions in the industry, from the stage to the studio to the business behind it.    

A Closer Look at the Work  

Our 56 grantees have more stories than can be captured in one post. But here are a few that offer a glimpse into how our grantmaking reaches across the music industry:  

DJ/Electronic. Beatmaking and DJing are among the most popular ways young people start making music today. Girls Make Beats works to close the gender gap in music technology by teaching girls nationwide about production, DJing and audio engineering.

Guitar. For many people, a guitar is the first instrument they ever hold. Guitars in the Classroom brings that experience to public school students. Its programs are free, and it focuses on underserved students, including many who experience housing or food insecurity.   

Keyboard and Piano. The Gilmore in Kalamazoo, Michigan, champions world-class piano performance and invests in the next generation. Our grant supports its Piano Lab programming, which offers free keyboard instruction to students in under-resourced Southwest Michigan public schools.  

Lighting and Entertainment Tech. Every great show depends on people the audience never sees. We support the National Independent Venue Foundation’s VOX program, a workforce development initiative for people from groups underrepresented in lighting and entertainment tech, including BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+ and people living with disabilities.    

Percussion. Rhythm is the root of many musical traditions. Belongó , formerly the Afro-Latin Jazz Alliance of New York, serves New York City public schools through an in-school residency program, trains young musicians in the Fat Cats Youth Orchestra, and uses rhythm and storytelling to engage youth in social justice work.   

Recording and Software. Women’s Audio Mission addresses a stark imbalance: fewer than 5% of audio engineers are women or gender-expansive individuals. Through free training, artist residencies and mentorship, it’s changing who gets to make the music.   

Wind, Brass and Strings. In Buffalo, New York, Buffalo String Works provides tuition-free music instruction for refugee, immigrant and historically marginalized youth, teaching violin, viola, cello and bass. For children building a new life in Buffalo, the universal language of music is a lifeline.  

Global Reach. Our grantmaking supports efforts to expand access to music globally, including music education in Haiti through BLUME Haiti and in Puerto Rico through the Asociación Suzuki de Violín de Puerto Rico and Fundación de Culebra; Make Music Day celebrations in Brazil (ANAFIMA) and Australia (Australian Music Association); and music educator support in the U.K. through Music Mark.  

Why This Matters to the Industry 
When we widen access to music, we strengthen the industry itself. Today’s students, learners and emerging professionals are tomorrow’s makers, performers and industry leaders. This year’s grantees reflect the energy and diversity of the global music community, and they are creating meaningful pathways for more people to discover their voice and find their place in music. 
 

We’re honored to support all 56 organizations, though we’ve named only a few here. View the complete list of 2027 Global Grantmaking recipients to see how music is changing lives around the world, and visit nammfoundation.org to learn more or contribute to our mission.