The League of American Orchestras has announced The Catalyst Fund, a three-year pilot program of annual grants to adult and youth orchestras that aims to advance their understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and to foster effective EDI practices. The Catalyst Fund is supported by a three-year, $2.1 million grant to the League from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
The Catalyst Fund grants will range from $10,000 to $25,000. Orchestras are required to use the funds to support the costs of retaining a skilled EDI practitioner to advance EDI learning objectives. Examples of activities that may qualify for support include, but are not limited to, working with a consultant on some of the following: capacity building; planning, alignment, and readiness; improving competencies; measuring progress; and peer and group-based learning. Grantees will be linked into a community to share their learning, including an online forum as well as remote and in-person convenings.
League member orchestras meeting the eligibility requirements have until February 22, 2019 to apply for Catalyst Fund grants. Applications will be reviewed by an independent panel of experts, and grant awards will be announced by May 17, 2019. Find further details and complete application information here.
Posted January 10, 2019
