TA2 Sound + Music’s Post

Even as the world shifts constantly around us, our history grounds us in deeply rooted values. The below letter was written by The People's Music School's founder, Dr. Rita Simó. We discovered it in a recent excavation of our storage unit. Handwritten in June 1976, mere months after the original school opened in February, the letter highlights values that continue to define us nearly fifty years on: Our #community has always been there for us from far and wide, donating a big new rug here, a French horn there, a shipment of records all the way from Boston. Rita never skimped on #excellence, insisting that our students were constantly practicing and performing, putting on a flute and piano recital just five months after the school's grand opening. Rita’s #creativity shines through as she draws on resourcefulness to build her bold new enterprise. She took every #opportunity to say yes, to draw people in, to be open to whatever may come her way. And how could all of this happen without #hardwork, exemplified in this precise moment by the dirt under our fingernails as we dug through 48 years of history? These values - which we acronymize as #ECCHO - ground us to this day. Whatever evolves or is disrupted, values matter, and we are always guided by them. What are your organization’s guiding values? What are your own? How do they show up in your histories, your current actions? #musiceducation #values #history

National Hug a Musician Day celebrates musicians and their contributions to art, culture, and emotional well-being. I can get on board with this since my wife is a musician. I hope that there is a National Hug a Singer day down the road. IYKYK. In the context of estate planning, this day underscores the value of supporting the arts and the creators behind it. Musicians often face unique financial and career challenges, making long-term planning and support vital for their stability. Through thoughtful estate planning, individuals can support music and musicians by establishing charitable trusts, donating to music-focused organizations, or even setting up scholarships for young musicians. Additionally, musicians themselves may benefit from estate planning strategies that protect their intellectual property and ensure that royalties and creative works provide for their loved ones and continue to inspire future generations.

Here’s a roadmap for crafting an effective appeal, illustrated by a powerful example.

1Corinthian 13:3-8 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth

Support our Winter Campaign, and utilise the power of music for social change At Musicians Without Borders, we've been using the power of music to foster lasting peace and social cohesion in areas of conflict for 25 years. In a world where division and inequality persist, our work is more urgent than ever. But you can make a difference. By supporting our Winter Campaign, you will directly contribute to: Sustainable Program Development: Ensuring the long-term viability of our music-based initiatives in conflict zones. Capacity Building: Enhancing our ability to respond to emerging crises and support marginalized communities through music education and therapy. Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with like-minded organizations to amplify our impact and drive systemic change. Plus, the first €25,000 donated to this campaign will be doubled at no extra cost to you! Click here to donate today: https://ow.ly/BxNK50U69Ju There are also other ways to engage and help us expand the reach of our campaign. If your company would be interested in exploring a partnership together, get in touch to discuss how our organizations can collaborate to drive social change. Also, by simply sharing our mission with your network, you will help amplify our impact. Together, we can leverage the power of music to create a more harmonious and equitable world.

Consider this a mini-grassroots ASU+GSV AIR Show & ASU+GSV Summit #philanthropic experiment: Learned about The David's Harp Foundation, Inc. founded by Brandon Steppe in #sandiego this AM through one of their partners - Harbor City Church. In the coming days, we're going to hear a lot about things like #upskilling and the #futureofwork, while encountering a lot of homelessness. David's Harp is providing at-risk youth with amazing opportunities to develop entrepreneurial, creative, and leadership skills within San Diego's $2.4 billion Creative Economy. One very tangible need right now is to raise $15K for one of their newer youth homeless shelters that is need of renovations to their bathrooms and laundry rooms so they can shelter more young people. So the ask is to: 1. Donate $50: https://lnkd.in/eQk6iDK9 and put "#asugsvsummit shelter bathroom and laundry room reno" in the Comments of the donation page. And either comment or DM me and lets see what we can drum up! 2. Repost please and spread the word! I think it would be amazing to see the positive local impact that we - as attendees of a global #edtech event - can have on the host city. Learn more about their programs here: https://lnkd.in/e8uFZ5SK Let's see what happens - will this result in crickets 🦗? Or will we deliver some much needed 💰 for local housing, education & workforce development. #asugsvsummit #workforcedevelopment #atriskyouth #homelessness #education

Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts’ $125 million expansion project, delayed this year while financing plans and other requirements for $80 million in nonprofit bonds were firmed up, could see a groundbreaking as soon as early next year. The organization secured a $45 million bridge loan last month from an undisclosed financial institution, President and Artistic Director Vincent Paul told Crain's Detroit Business. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gkaJim8F

We asked this question today in our session “From Welcoming to Cooperation: Creating Spaces of Belonging and Purpose” at the Nonprofit Association of Washington. What becomes possible for you when you feel you belong? For our community? P.S. Music can be a great way to create spaces of belonging.

🎻 Crafting Effective Financial Challenge Letters: A Symphony of Storytelling and Impact 🎶 “It is impossible to play Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 with half an orchestra. Or without a conductor. Or with half a score. Orchestral performance is a labor-intensive effort. It requires a large group of highly trained musicians – strings, wind, brass, and percussion players, as well as an inspired conductor – to produce art of the highest caliber. Every artistic and production element is essential, and each comes with a price attached.” This powerful opening from Orchestra Nova’s financial challenge letter, crafted by Viva Strategic Communications, exemplifies how storytelling can inspire action. Here's what made their appeal resonate: ✅ Relatable Hook: Using the metaphor of a symphony to convey urgency and interconnectedness. ✅ Celebrating Success: Highlighting donor-driven achievements to build trust. ✅ Clear Challenge: Transparently outlining financial needs and risks. ✅ Vision for Impact: Connecting contributions to tangible outcomes. ✅ Warm Tone: Emphasizing partnership and gratitude. When done well, financial challenge letters don’t just raise funds—they strengthen relationships with your supporters. 🎯 Need help crafting your next impactful appeal? Let Viva Strategic Communications help you strike the perfect note. Together, we’ll inspire action and drive your mission forward. #NonprofitTips #FundraisingStrategy #StorytellingForGood

The pause on federal grants under President Trump’s policies is making it harder for creatives and content creators to fund their work. With programs like the NEA and NEH impacted, independent filmmakers, musicians, and artists are losing financial support. This blog explores who’s affected, the broader industry impact, and alternative funding solutions for creatives. federal grants for creatives, arts funding, content creator challenges, Trump grant pause, creative funding options, independent filmmaker support, artist grants, nonprofit arts funding, crowdfunding for creators, creative advocacy, funding for content creators, arts and culture grants, loss of federal funding, creative community challenges, creative industry funding