CFKF is currently partnering with the following schools and communities. To see partners from previous years, please visit our grant history.
Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: BSO’s OrchKids program provides quality instruments and training to students in seven schools in the Baltimore area. They are planning on expansion to 2 more schools this year. They need an infusion of more instruments to support this expansive community outreach initiative. We are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this prominent orchestra’s outreach program in the Baltimore community.
Baton Rouge, LA: Kids’ Orchestra: We have given a few grants some time ago to this Organization; they serve around 1,000 at-risk kids grades K – 12 from around Southern Louisiana. They have a need for a few more cellos for this large program. We have offered them $1,300 in matching funds to continue our support for this extensive program.
Bay Harbor, MI: Great Lakes Center for the Arts: This organization stands alone for offering music education to a five-county area in northern Michigan; they serve kids grades 4-12. They need to build their inventory of instruments to support families otherwise unable to participate. CFKF has offered them a matching grant of $1,500 to support this program in an area we have little presence.
Bayfield, CO: Music Everywhere: This organization serves kids grades K – 12 in a largely rural area in Southwest Colorado. They organize 14 ensembles in nine different schools. They have a need for more inventory to keep up with demand in these various programs. We have offered them a matching grant of $1,500to further encourage this organization’s development in an area of the Intermountain West we have a limited presence in.
Bristol, RI: Community String Project: This organization serves students grades 3-12 throughout this area of Rhode Island; they wish to expand their inventory of instruments for families unable to afford purchase of a new instrument. we have offered them a matching grant of $1,479 to further encourage this organization’s development.
Bristol, VA: Birthplace of Country Music: this organization’s Pick Along Summer program for kids ages 8- 16 encourages young people to learn the Appalachian music tradition. They learn basic playing skills and some of the history of this great tradition. An important focus is on providing this experience to students from disadvantaged backgrounds; they serve kids from numerous Title 1 schools in the area. We’ve offered them a matching grant of $540 to further encourage this private organization’s work.
Burlingame, KS: Burlingame Schools Orchestra: this rural public school orchestra program in eastern Kansas serves kids grades 3- 12; this request is specific to students grades 7-12. They need an influx of new violins to allow access to students and families unable to afford them. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this rural community’s growth in an area the lower Midwest where we have little presence.
Caldwell, ID: Heritage Community Charter School: This school offers strings education for kids grades 3–8; they have a need for more inventory so that students wishing to participate can have an instrument. We have offered them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this program in the Intermountain West where we are building presence.
Chicago, IL: The People’s Music School: This organization serves students and families from all around Chicago. We have offered them a matching grant of $1,500 to continue supporting the great work they do for at-risk kids in the Chicago area.
Columbus, OH: Horizon Science Academy: This urban public charter school in Columbus has an orchestra program serving students grade 7-8. They need and influx of new instruments to support and encourage new enrollment. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this school’s educational initiative.
Davis, UT USD: This public school in the Salt Lake City metro area is building its music program for grades 3-12 via ukulele instruction; many of the kids in the school have expressed interest in starting their music experience through this medium. Most students involved are on free or reduced lunch, and CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this Western school’s growing string program.
Denver, CO: Young Artist Orchestra: this organization’s TuneUp program serves several schools in the Denver and Aurora Area with instruction and instruments for kids grades 3-8. They need more instruments to support their work in the schools. They focus on supporting the most disadvantaged students in the district; CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $972 to encourage this youth orchestra’s expansion in the Intermountain West.
Destin, FL: Sinfonia Gulf Coast: This organization provides the musical experience to a number of communities and schools in northwest Florida that do not have string programs presently. They need to expand their inventory for a new initiative that supports beginning strings instruction in a number of the Title l schools they serve. CFKF is offering them a grant of $1,500 to support this organization’s development in a part of Florida we are building presence in.
Dorchester, MA: Conservatory Lab Charter School: This lottery-based charter school serving grades K-8 provides a well-rounded curriculum to some of the most economically disadvantaged areas in Boston, offering Music as a core course. We are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to support this innovative school’s orchestral initiative.
Edwards, CO: Vail Valley Unbound: This is a new program; they have instructors in the area from the BRAVO festival, but they need instruments to initiate the program in their school which serves kids grades K-5. CFKF has offered them a grant of$950 to support this school’s exciting new string program.
Elgin, IL: Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra: This youth orchestra’s Starter Strings program serves nearly 90 kids in the fourth grade from two schools in the Elgin area. They need more inventory to support this growing program. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this Midwestern youth orchestra’s admirable community outreach program.
Fall River, MA: Bristol County Chamber Foundation: this Foundation supports SouthCoast Creative Arts Lab, an afterschool program serving kids grades 7-8 in this economically challenged community. They need an infusion of instruments to help build this initiative. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to support this organization’s work with at-risk kids.
Gainesville, FL: Cornerstone Academy Music: This private school serving kids grades 5-12 wishes to help their students achieve more advanced musical skills with quality instruments. The students come from several counties in north-central Florida. CFKF has offered them a grant of $1,000 to encourage this program’s growth in an area of Florida where we have a growing presence.
Garland, TX: Cooper Elementary Music: This school is starting a string program with ukulele and guitar instruction; they have a popular choral program already. They serve students pre-K through 5th grade in this large suburb of Dallas. CFKF has offered them a matching grant of$1,000to support this school’s new ukelele initiative.
Garnerville, NY: North Rockland County SD: This school district 25 miles from NYC has a very active orchestral program, and needs a large infusion of instruments to support demand. We are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to support this remarkable School district’s dedication to strings instruction.
Greenbrier, AR: Greenbrier Eastside Elementary: This Title I school is beginning a new music program through ukulele instruction for their students grades four and five; they need a starter inventory for this initiative. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,425 to support this program in an area of the South we are building presence in.
Greenfield, MA: Musica Franklin: Musica Franklin is a free afterschool program serving kids grades 1-2. They already have traditional string family instruments, but wish to add ukulele and guitar to the mix to teach students chordal instruments. Franklin County is the most rural county in Massachusetts. We have offered them a matching grant of$1,000to support this organization’s program expansion and work with at-risk kids.
Herman, PA: The Summit School: The Summit School supports the positive development of males grades 7-12 referred by probation officers from a variety of states around the upper Midwest, East and as far away as Texas. Their music program is focused on providing a positive and pro-social experience to students coming from difficult backgrounds and experiences. The student population is ethnically mixed. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,480 to encourage this organization’s important work.
Jacksonville, FL: Global Outreach Charter Academy: This school is creating a Global Arts Ensemble. The School, which serves nearly 2,000 kids grades 3-6 in the Jacksonville area, is starting a new string initiative, bringing strings education into their existing cultural and educational programs. We are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this academy’s musical growth.
Jonesboro, AR: Nettleton Public Schools: This youth orchestra in the public schools serving kids pre-K through grade 12 wishes to expand its inventory to expand its string program to grades 7–12. The area surrounding Jonesboro in northeastern Arkansas is rural. We have offered them a matching grant of$1,500to support this community’s dedication to expanding its strings opportunities for young people.
Kansas City, MO: Providence School of the Arts: This private arts school serving kids pre-K through 8th grade wishes to expand the quality and quantity of stringed instruments in order to provide more access to strings and the inspiration of a quality instrument. CFKF has offered them a matching grant of $1,500 from the Hilger reserve to encourage this program’s continued growth.
Los Angeles, CA: Global Arts Orchestra: This organization’s school is starting a new string program to complement an existing wind ensemble; they need an infusion of string instruments to start developing this new program. They serve disadvantaged kids ages 8–13 in an industrial area of LA that lacks Green space and cultural opportunities. CFKF is offering them a grant of $1,500 to encourage the development this new initiative in in economically challenged area of LA.
Mattapan, MA: Immigrant Family Services: This large program serves a predominantly immigrant community several economically challenged communities mainly south of Boston. They need a big infusion of instruments to support their music offerings in this expanding program. We are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to support this important Boston area initiative.
Miami, FL: Achieve Music: this program serving marginalized, low-income families through music serves kids grades 2-8 in the Coral Gables area. They need a big infusion of new instruments to keep up with the student population and demand. CFKF has offered them $1,500 in matching funds to help them achieve their inventory goals.
Montrose, CO: Colorado West Christian School: This is our second grant offering to this school; we gave a grant there in 2021. Their string program is growing quickly and they have a need for more new inventory to support that growth. CFKF has offered them a matching grant of $1,000 to further encourage this private school’s work in this area of the intermountain West.
Nampa, ID: Ridgeview High School: This school serving students grades 9-19 in a large rural area needs an infusion of new cellos and a double bass to support their growing class and allow students to leave their larger instruments at home. We’ve offered them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this rural community’s growth in an area we are hoping to build our presence.
New Orleans, LA Living School: This school offers music instruction to students grades 9-12; they have an existing band program but wish to add strings to the mix to provide greater variety and interest. The area they serve includes all zip codes in New Orleans; we’re offering a matchinggrant of $1,500 from the Hilger reserve to support this worthwhile program in New Orleans.
New York City, NY: Developing Artists: This organization is a nonprofit arts school dedicated to creating performance opportunities for their students, including spoken words, beats and songs. They are in need of several new instruments to fully offer that experience to their students. They serve kids grades 9-12 from all 5 boroughs of NYC. CFKF has offered them a grant of $1,575 to support this new initiative.
New York City, NY: Musical Mentors Collaborative: this program serving PS 145 is developing an after-school initiative for kids grades 1-5, including group classes and individual lessons. They need an infusion of new violins to help support this endeavor. CFKF has offered them a matching grant of $972 to support this program’s after-school expansion.
New York City, NY: Opportunity Music Project: we have given a few grants to this organization over the past several years; they serve kids ages 5–18 from around the New York Metro area with instruments and teaching. They are building a bass ensemble and need a few more instruments to help establish and run this new initiative. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,100 to further encourage this urban youth initiative’s artistic activism.
New York City, NY: UpBeat NYC: This organization, formed in 2009, provides free music instruction to students grades K-12 in the South Bronx area of NYC. They need to build inventory to better support the underserved and underrepresented families that participate in the program’s musical work, which is not present in the schools there. The student population is of color (70% Latinx/Hispanic and 30% African American; CFKF is offering them a grant of $1,500 to encourage this organization’s work in an economically and socially challenged area of NYC.
Newark, DE: Christ the Teacher Catholic School: This faith-based school serving kids grades pre-K through 8 is starting a new string program to teach kids fundamentals of strings training. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $950 to encourage this Delaware school’s music experience.
Newport News, VA: Peninsula Youth Orchestra: this youth orchestra, involving students ages 7-25 from the Virginia Peninsula, needs a small infusion of better instruments for their more advanced players. They support Title one schools in the area with after school musical training and performance experience in the area. We are offering PYO a matching grant of $886 to encourage this youth orchestra’s continued growth.
Norman, OK NPS: this suburban community near Oklahoma City hopes to build its beginner string program, particularly for young cellists, with an infusion of new instruments. Most of the Elementary and middle schools are Title I, and CFKF is offering them a grant of $1,500 to encourage this public school’s growing ensemble program.
Oahu, HI: Grace Place HI: this organization has an after-school program that they are building a music component for through ukulele instruction. They serve kids K-12 from around windward Oahu; their goal is to provide a safe and inspiring after school environment with music as a core experience. We are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this afterschool program’s music experience.
Oklahoma City, OK: Harding Fine Arts Academy: This public charter school arts academy located in central Oklahoma City serves kids grades 9-12; they wish to expand their ensemble program to offer this experience to more of their students. Students come from around the metro area (students from 40 zip codes participate) We’ve offered them a grant of $1,500 to encourage this Academy’s growing ensemble program.
Oklahoma City, OK: Jubilee Partners Assoc.: This organization serving an older and economically disadvantaged area in Oklahoma City wishes to build a guitar instruction program to augment their existing activity for youth grades K-12. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this new initiative for at-risk kids.
Paterson, NJ: Second Generation Music: this organization in the NYC metro area, which offers musical training and instruments to young musicians from around the Paterson area, is starting its first Youth ensemble. They need and infusion of new instruments to accomplish this goal. We are offering them them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this New Jersey youth initiative’s new program.
Peoria, IL Artists ReEnvisioning Tomorrow Inc.: ReEnvisioning Tomorrow is the only program in the community offering instruction to all wishing to participate. They serve kids K-12; they offer a broad variety of instruction that includes strings. Their after-school program is designed to engage kids during a vulnerable time in their day. We’re offering a matching grant of $1,500 from the Hilger reserve to support this worthwhile program in an area of the upper Midwest where we are building presence.
Pittsburgh, PA: Academy Charter School: This charter school is initiating a new string program for students grades 8–12. They need an infusion of ukuleles and guitars to get the program off the ground. CFKF has offered them a matching grant of $1,500 to support this charter school’s new musical efforts.
Pittsburgh, PA: Community Specialists Corp.: CSP’s work focuses on at-risk females grades 7-12, providing musical activities that promote healing and growth. Students are referred there by probation officers and Office of Children, Youth and Families. They have a need for more instruments to support their work. CFKF has offered them a matching grant of $1,480 to encourage this organization’s work with at-risk females.
Porterville, CA: Porterville Strings: This after-school program in a rural farming area of California with a large migrant population is creating an orchestral experience that kids wouldn’t have after the 8th grade, where the string program ends in the public schools. They have a strong need for more stringed instruments to fulfill this vision. CFKF has offered them a grant of $1,500 from the Hilger reserve to encourage the growth of this needed program.
Providence, RI: Community MusicWorks: This is our second application from CMW; we gave our first grant there several years ago. CMW is one of the most highly regarded programs serving at-risk youth in America; This grant is part of a larger goal of having quality instruments for all of their students; they need larger size instruments for their growing violinists and cellists. CFKF is offering a matching grant of $1,500 from the Hilger reserve to encourage this well-known and groundbreaking program.
Raleigh, NC: SMART BUS: this organization serving Wake County has started a new community-based orchestra program for kids grades 3-7. Their hope is to explore classical music in ways that are relevant to the population they serve. Their student population is historically underserved; CFKF has offered them a matching grant of $1,500 to support this after-school program’s new initiative.
Richmond, VA: Greenspring Foundation: this is our second application from this organization; they serve students grades K-12 from around Richmond. CFKF has offered them a grant of$1,500to further encourage this initiative for Richmond’s kids.
Salinas, CA: Alisal Center for the Fine Arts: This program serving students in the Alisal School district is building a Mariachi ensemble program and needs an infusion of guitars for that purpose. They serve a predominantly Hispanic Community with many migrant workers, often with single parent families. The Center has created a music program to fill a void in the public schools. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this program’s important work.
San Luis Obispo, CA: San Luis Obispo Symphony: This orchestra has created the Strings in Schools program, working with beginning string players grades 3-6. This program replaces the spring programs that were eliminated in the California schools in the 1980s. They wish to expand to a fourth school and need more inventory to support that growth. 59% of the students qualify for the Federal free lunch program. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this local orchestra’s admirable education outreach program.
Santa Fe, NM: Santa Fe, NM Symphony: This regional orchestra has an substantial outreach component to its programming. They serve students ages 8–18 from all around the Santa Fe area, offering a wide variety of educational activities including strings instruction. They need more instruments to allow access to families otherwise unable to participate. We’ve offered them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this local orchestra’s community engagement efforts.
Savannah, GA: DUET: This organization serves kids pre-K through ninth grade in the Savannah area. Their focus is on predominantly Black communities in the region; they have a need for many more instruments in order to expand their activities. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this organization’s efforts for underserved children.
Savannah, GA: SK Taylor Community School: This community school serving kids grades K-8 is starting a new string program to introduce students to music learning and performance opportunities. They need a collection of new instruments to accomplish this goal. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this Southeastern school’s inaugural string program.
Sister Bay, WI: Midsummer’s Music: This community-based string quartet residency serving kids grades 3-5 wishes to build their program with an additional infusion of new instruments; many students’ families can’t afford buy or rent, prohibiting participation in strings otherwise. There are no other spring programs in this area. We are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this innovative community model organization’s growth.
Stamford, CT: INTEMPO: we gave a Grant submission to this organization several years ago; they serve disadvantaged kids grades K – 12 in the Stamford area. They need some new instruments to serve there more advanced students, allowing them to explore more advanced repertoire. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,273 to continue to encourage this strong program’s activities.
Sunrise, FL: STEAM by Pauls: This Title I school is starting a new string program serving a primarily Haitian and Hispanic student population grades K – 6. Their goal is to provide every student who wishes to enroll with an instrument. We are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage the development of this new program.
Surprise, AZ: RNL Youth: This organization serving kids grades K-8 is starting a new afterschool strings program through ukulele instruction; they operate in the western suburbs of Phoenix. They need an infusion of new instruments to begin this program. We are offering them a matching grant of $350 to encourage this organization’s new strings initiative.
Sykesville, MD: Opus Community Music School: This Baltimore area school serving kids grades K-12 is creating a beginning string program for at-risk and underserved youth in the area. They want to be able to provide all students with free instruments and instrument care knowledge. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this new initiative.
Tacoma, WA: Tacoma Youth Symphony: TYS offers free ukulele instruction to students of all ages in the Tacoma area. They need many more instruments to serve their growing program. The focus of this request is for 4th Grade students in two area schools; we are offering them a matching grant of $950 to encourage this youth orchestra’s growing ensemble program in an area we have little presence.
Tacoma, WA: Vision Youth Foundation: This organization, which serves a small population (10) of kids grades 8–12, needs a new inventory of guitars to replace old or damaged instruments. CFKF has offered them a matching grant of $600 to encourage this Youth program.
Takoma Park, MD: Don Bosco Cristo Rey HS: This high school serving students grades 9-12 wishes to build a new string program, responding to students’ appeals for more arts electives. In order to initiate this program, they need a starter inventory. The school draws kids from as far as DC metro; we’ve offered them $809 from the Hilger reserve to support the initiation of this new program in an economically challenged area.
Talkeetna, AK: Denali Arts Council: This organization serves a very rural area in Alaska, working with kids grades 6-12. They are creating musical opportunities otherwise unavailable in this remote area. Many families there live without running water and off the grid. The student population is predominantly Caucasian and Native Alaskan, with many low-income families and kids at high risk. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this remote Alaskan music program for young people.
Tampa, FL: Roland Park K-8 Magnet School: this magnet school has a vibrant violin program; their teacher wishes to start a new cello ensemble to complement their offerings. This program serves kids grades K-5; CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this organization’s new cello initiative.
Thornton, CO: A Child’s Song: This Denver area organization serving students grades K – 12 is involved with a broad array of schools, at risk programs, and youth with disabilities and in foster care. This is our second grant request from this organization. They need more instruments to support the many programs they are involved with. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to support their many Community partnerships.
Tyler, MN Public Schools: This rural public school system in southwest Minnesota wishes to start a new program with ukulele and guitar instruction for students grades 3-12 to provide the music experience to their system with the myriad benefits that it provides. We’ve offered a matching grant of $1,500 to support this worthwhile and growing program in a very rural area of the upper Midwest.
Washington, DC: Payne Saturday Arts Academy: The Payne Academy serves kids grades K-5 from around the DC area; their goal is to provide a weekend music experience and access to instruments without cost to any student wishing to attend. They offer beginner lessons alongside music literacy. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this urban program’s growing weekend string program for young people.
Watertown, MA: Friends of Watertown Music: this organization, which supports the Watertown Public schools, is requesting support for building inventory. Their string program serves kids grades 4–12. The program has grown substantially in the last four years since we gave them our first grant. CFKF has offered them a matching grant of $859to further encourage this Boston area string program’s growth.
Whittier, CA: Jordan Elementary Mariachi Juvenil: this school in Southern California serving grades 3-6 has a mariachi program that was started by a teacher donating his own instruments for use. There is a strong demand for more instruments to help the program expand. We are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this individual teacher’s dedication and community support.
Wilmington, DE: Edge for Tomorrow: This organization’s new “Pluck and Play” program’s goal is to offer basic music learning and performance opportunities through guitar instruction. They serve kids grades K-5 in the Wilmington area; we are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this youth program’s growth.
Wilmington, DE: Tennis Rocks: This afterschool youth support program wishes to build on their existing activities through offering instruction in guitar and ukulele. The hope is to create more opportunities for positive social and cultural interaction through the experience of music. This program serves an impoverished and diverse area of the community and 100% of the students in this program qualify for the Federal free lunch program. We’ve offered a matching grant of $1,375 to support this worthy and innovative program in a state we’re still building presence in.
Worcester, MA: Chamber Music Society: This organization sponsors Neighborhood Strings, a fairly new and innovative after-school program supporting the music experience for kids at risk in the Worcester area grades 2-12. We have given two other grants there in the past few years. The student population includes many immigrant families and refugees. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to continue to further encourage this pathbreaking organization’s work.