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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-593-E-County Mgr-Musical Empowerment-2025-2026 Arts Grants GRASSROOTS ARTS PROGRAM / ARTIST PROJECT GRANT 2025-26 Grantee Name Authorizing Official Name Email Project Title Award $ Grant Category ☐Grassroots Arts Program ☐Artist Project Grant Program Funding Source ☐North Carolina Arts Council ☐Orange County Grant project period July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 As Authorizing Official, I acknowledge the following terms and understand if they are not met, I jeopardize future funding opportunities from the Orange County Arts Commission. I understand a Compliance Score is issued for future grants based on my adherence to the following terms: OCAC Report Due July 10, 2026 Multicultural Spending Grantee must spend $ on the hiring of multicultural artists as specified in the grant application. Crediting and logo usage All grantees must properly credit the Orange County Arts Commission using the proper logo on all publicity materials for the funded program. Recipients of operations-related grants must include the OCAC logo with link to www.artsorange.org on grantee’s website. If funding source is listed as N.C. Arts Council above, grantee must also properly credit the N.C. Arts Council using the proper logos and N.C. Arts Council credit line on all publicity materials for funded program. Download logos on the OCAC website at https://artsorange.org/grants/grantee-resources. Calendar Listing Grantee must enter all events, exhibits, and performances open to the public and related to this grant award on the Orange County Arts Commission website at www.artsorange.org/events. katie@musical-empowerment.org Katie Battle $4,500.00 X Musical Empowerment X Musical Empowerments Music Mentorship and Instruments Lending Programs Docusign Envelope ID: A088DBE6-D660-4E65-9431-68A51B6BCD38 1 Revised August 2025 ORANGE COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION 2025-26 GRANT AGREEMENT THIS AGREEMENT, entered into this 5 day of September, 2025, by and between Orange County ("County"), by and through the Orange County Arts Commission ("Arts Commission") and ("Grant Recipient"). WHEREAS, the Arts Commission is a countywide arts agency that ensures the growth of local arts experiences by providing funding and support for diverse high quality programs and projects. WHEREAS, the Arts Commission administers the annual Grants Program to provide economic opportunities to Orange County artists and non-profit organizations coordinating arts projects benefiting the citizens of Orange County. WHEREAS, the annual Arts Grants Program is supported by Arts Commission with funds from the Grassroots Arts Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, a state agency. WHEREAS, the Grant Recipient was selected by the Arts Commission to receive the annual Arts Grant through the procedures duly adopted by the Arts Commission; and WHEREAS, both parties wish to promote and maintain the integrity and clarity of the Grant Recipient's ideas and statements and delineate the Grant Recipient’s obligations to the County; NOW, THEREFORE, the County and the Grant Recipient, for the consideration and under the conditions hereinafter set forth, agree as follows: 1. Approved Grant Project. Grant funds are provided under this Agreement for the project (“Project”) described in the Grant Recipient’s Grant Application, attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit A. 2. Grant Award. Grant funds in an amount not to exceed ($ ) have been awarded by the Arts Commission to the Grant Recipient for the approved Project. The Recipient shall be required to match funds at least dollar-for-dollar with cash from the Grant Recipient’s funds not derived from either Orange County appropriations or the North Carolina Arts Council, as outlined in the attached Exhibit A. 3. Contingency. This grant is contingent on North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Program funding to the Arts Commission. Final decisions on Grassroots Program funds to the North Carolina Arts Council are subject to approval by the North Carolina General Assembly. 4. Responsibilities of the Grant Recipient 4,500.00 Musical Empowerment four thousand five hundred dollars Docusign Envelope ID: A088DBE6-D660-4E65-9431-68A51B6BCD38 2 Revised August 2025 A. Implementation. The Project implementation shall take place between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026. The Project shall be implemented in the manner described in Exhibit A. Time is of the essence in the implementation of the Project. B. Modifications to project. Grant Recipient shall present major changes to the original proposal, including but not limited to changes in design, implementation schedule and increase in Project budget by more than 10%, in writing to the Arts Commission for approval. Arts Commission shall approve or disapprove Grant Recipient’s request for modifications within seven (7) days of receipt thereof. Consent to project modifications shall not be unreasonably withheld. Arts Commission’s decisions shall be in writing. In the event the Arts Commission fails to approve or disapprove the requested modifications within the time stated herein, the modifications shall be deemed approved. C. Non–assignment. The grant cannot be assigned or transferred to a different project or artist without prior written approval of the Arts Commission. D. Records. Grant Recipient must maintain records and other evidence pertaining to costs incurred and revenues acquired during the Project implementation. Grant Recipient shall maintain financial records pertaining to the Project for three (3) years from the date of this Agreement, in case of audit. E. Use of Funds. Grant Recipient shall not use the grant funds to repay outstanding taxes or other debts of any nature. The grants shall be utilized solely for the purpose described in the attached Exhibit A. F. Final Report. Grant Recipient shall submit to the Arts Commission a Final Report on July 10, 2026. The Final Report shall be in the format required by the North Carolina Arts Council. Failure to submit the Final Report or late submission of the Final Report, for any reason, shall be grounds for denial and/or cancellation of grant funds for the Project and future grant proposals. 5. Responsibilities of the Arts Commission A. Payment. The Arts Commission shall release the grant funds in the amount of $ to the Grant Recipient. 6. Publicity A. Acknowledgement. Credit must be given to the Orange County Arts Commission and/or the North Carolina Arts Council using the proper logo(s) and credit line in brochures, news releases, programs, and all other printed and online publications. Copies of such printed materials must accompany the evaluation report. Official Orange County Arts Commission and North Carolina Arts Council logos may be downloaded at www.artsorange.org/grantee-resources and may not be altered in any way. When no printed information is used, verbal 4,500 Docusign Envelope ID: A088DBE6-D660-4E65-9431-68A51B6BCD38 3 Revised August 2025 credit shall be given. In addition, all print and promotional material must include the following credit line and logo(s) (check all that apply): i. County Funds Only. Orange County Arts Commission logo required. Credit line required for audio projects: “This program is supported by the Orange County Arts Commission.” ii. North Carolina Arts Council Funding. The Orange County Arts Commission and the North Carolina Arts Council logos are required. Credit line: “This program is supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.” B. The Grant Recipient must enter all events, exhibits, and performances open to the public and related to this grant award on the Orange County Arts Commission website at www.artsorange.org/events. In addition, the Grant Recipient must add a link to www.artsorange.org (Orange County Arts Commission logo preferred) to their main webpage. 7. Indemnity. The Grant Recipient agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County, the Arts Commission and the North Carolina Arts Council and their officers and employees from any and all claims or actual injury, damage or loss to a person, or real or personal property that results from or is in any way connected to the use of the grant funds. 8. Independent Contractor. The Grant Recipient is an independent contractor and not an employee, agent or other representative of the County and/or the Arts Commission. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to create the relationship of principal and agent, or employer and employee, between Grant Recipient and Arts Commission or Orange County Government. Grant Recipient understands and agrees that he/she is not authorized to incur any expenses or any liability whatsoever on behalf of the County or the Arts Commission and has no authority, expressed or implied, to obligate or make representations on behalf of the County or the Arts Commission. In addition, Grant Recipient agrees to maintain his or her own worker's compensation insurance for himself/herself and his or her employees for the duration of the art work's installation. 9. Termination A. In the event of any of the circumstances set forth below (hereinafter referred to as “default”), the Arts Commission may immediately terminate this Agreement: (i) Any fraudulent representation in any verification required to obtain payment under this Agreement or other dishonesty on a material matter relating to the performance of services under this Agreement. (ii) Nonperformance, incomplete service or performance, or failure to satisfactorily perform any part of the Project or to comply with any provision of this Agreement, as determined by the Arts Commission in its sole discretion. X Docusign Envelope ID: A088DBE6-D660-4E65-9431-68A51B6BCD38 4 Revised August 2025 (iii) Failure to adhere to the terms of applicable county, state or federal laws, regulations, or stated public policy. B. In the event of default by the Grant Recipient, the Arts Commission has the discretion to elect to terminate this Agreement, in whole or in part and/or require the Grant Recipient to repay the grant funds within seven (7) from written notice of default or allow the grant recipient the opportunity to cure the default. This clause shall not be interpreted to limit the County’s or the Arts Commission’s remedies in law or in equity. 10. Miscellaneous. A. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the attachments contain the final and entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. All modifications and amendments to this Agreement shall be in writing. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties, their heirs, successors and assigns. B. Governing Law. Governing Law and Priority: Both parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina and Orange County. Grant Recipient shall at all times remain in compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations including but not limited to all state and federal anti-discrimination laws, policies, rules, and regulations and the Orange County Non-Discrimination Policy and Orange County Living Wage Policy (each policy is incorporated herein by reference and may be viewed at http://www.orangecountync.gov/departments/purchasing_division/contracts.php.). Any violation of this requirement is a breach of this Agreement and Arts Commission may immediately terminate this Agreement without further obligation on the part of the Arts Commission. This paragraph is not intended to limit and does not limit the definition of breach to discrimination. By executing this Agreement the Grant Recipient certifies that they has not been identified, and has not utilized the services of any agent or subcontractor identified, on the list created by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-86.58. By executing this Agreement the Grant Recipient certifies that they has not been identified, and has not utilized the services of any agent or subcontractor identified, on the list created by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-86.81. By executing this Agreement Grant Recipient affirms they are and shall remain in compliance with Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the North Carolina General Statutes. In determining the basic services to be provided, should any documents be referenced in or attached to this Agreement, the terms herein shall have priority in any conflict between the terms of referenced documents and the terms of this Agreement. C. Dispute Resolution: Neither party may initiate binding arbitration. Any disputes shall be resolved by nonbinding mediation. If such mediation fails either party may initiate litigation to resolve the dispute. Should either party initiate litigation to settle any dispute involving the terms of this Agreement such litigation shall be Docusign Envelope ID: A088DBE6-D660-4E65-9431-68A51B6BCD38 5 Revised August 2025 initiated in the General Court of Justice of North Carolina seated in Orange County, North Carolina. D. Signatures. This Agreement together with any amendments or modifications may be executed electronically. All electronic signatures affixed hereto evidence the intent of the Parties to comply with Article 11A and Article 40 of North Carolina General Statute Chapter 66. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Orange County and the Grant Recipient have signed this Grant Agreement, effective on the last date this Agreement is signed by both parties as indicated by the dates set forth under signatures below. For and on behalf of the Grant Recipient Date For and on behalf of Orange County Government Travis Myren, County Manager Date Katie Battle, Executive Director Docusign Envelope ID: A088DBE6-D660-4E65-9431-68A51B6BCD38 9/17/2025 9/26/2025 ORANGE COUNTY—INTERNAL USE ONLY Revised 01/24 1 Finance Information Vendor Name: Vendor Contact Person: Phone: Address: City: State: NC Zip: Department: County Manager’s Office/Arts Commission Amount: Purpose: 2025-2026 Arts Grants Budget Code(s): 37290050-630000 Vendor # Vendor Status with NCSOS: Vendor is a BOCC consultant: Yes No Contract Details Contract Type: X New Amendment (Original Contract: ) (Most Recent Amendment ) Effective Date End Date Notice Date (Notice Purpose ) Award Approved by Board (Agenda Date: ); Made or Administered by Signature Authority - BOCC Express Delegation (Agenda Date: ) - Policy 9.4: Under $5,000; Service Under $90,000; Construction Under $250,000 - Budget Policy Section XV (Capital Improvement Project: ) Bidding Informal Bidding ($30k-$90k); Formal RFP ($90k+); Other (<$30k); Exception (# ) Department Affirmation This agreement is approved as to technical form and content and I as Department Director affirmatively state work on this pro ject has not been initiated prior to execution of the agreement. This agreement is approved as to technical form and content . Services related to this agreement have already begun or been completed. Description of the nature of the emergency condition that was addressed: Department Director’s Signature Date: (919) 306-3449 Musical Empowerment $4,500.00 DurhamPO Box 51402 65222 27717 Katie Battle Docusign Envelope ID: A088DBE6-D660-4E65-9431-68A51B6BCD38 9/17/2025 ORANGE COUNTY—INTERNAL USE ONLY Revised 01/24 2 Information Technologies This agreement has been reviewed and is approved as to information technology content and specifications: Office of the Chief Information Officer Date: Inapplicable because no hardware/software purchases or related services Risk Management This agreement is approved for sufficiency of insurance standards, specifications, and requirements: Office of the Risk Management Officer Date: Financial Services This instrument has been pre-audited in the manner required by the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act: Office of the Chief Financial Officer Date: Legal Services This agreement is approved as to legal form and sufficiency: Office of the County Attorney Date: Clerk to the Board All DocuSign contracts must be copied to the Clerk upon completion: occlerkdocs@orangecountync.gov The following signature block is for hard copies only and is not required for DocuSign contracts: Received for record retention: Office of the Clerk to the Board Date: Docusign Envelope ID: A088DBE6-D660-4E65-9431-68A51B6BCD38 9/19/2025 9/22/2025 9/24/2025 Orange County Arts Commission Powered by Submittable Title Musi cal Empowerment by Executiv e Director in 2025-26 Grassroots Arts Project Application PO Box 51402 Durham, North Carolina 27717 North Carolina United States 9193063449 admin@musical-empowerment.org 07/01/2025 id. 50969312 Original Submission 07/01/2025 Score n/a APPLICANT INFORMATION Please tell us about your organization. Organization Name Musical Empowerment DBA Is the Applicant Organization serving as a fiscal agent for an unincorporated group? No Mailing Address of Organization PO Box 51402 Durham NC 27717 US 35.9576231 -78.9552577 How did you hear about our grant program? OCAC Enews Did you or a representative of your orgnanization attend one of our grants training sessions? No Docusign Envelope ID: A088DBE6-D660-4E65-9431-68A51B6BCD38 Nature of Organization Arts Organization Organization Description Musical Empowerment (ME) is an innovative and growing 501 (c) (3) nonprofit based in the Triangle. W e provide free, one-on-one music lessons, instruments, and mentoring to almost 300 children across our 9 college chapters, children who would not otherwise be able to afford private music lessons. Children enrolled in the program are paired with college students who volunteer to teach them weekly, with music as common thread that unites everyone. Music knows no boundaries or borders. It is a language that all cultures share, and it manages to transcend cultural conflict. Music builds self-confidence and self-value, and ME creates a space in which people from diverse backgrounds can help and learn from each other. Musical Empowerment aims to serve local historically under-resourced youth in terms of opportunities, while allowing college students to give back to the community in a personal and engaging way. The one-to-one mentoring relationships our students and teachers develop through music are mutually beneficial. Kids learn how to play an instrument, read music, and perform, through which they learn the value of becoming a contributing member of their local community and develop discipline, responsibility, patience and confidence. College volunteer mentors learn how to develop and follow a curriculum for effective music lessons, how to communicate with children and parents, how to be encouraging and supportive mentors, how to actively enable their students to succeed, and the importance of volunteering in the local community. Musical Empowerment is mutual empowerment. ME is administered by two paid staff members, an Executive Director and Program Coordinator. The staff oversees the vision and growth of the organization, supports and guides chapter leaders, establishes policies and procedures to ensure safe and effective implementation of the programs, evaluates programs effectiveness, develops trainings, resources and curriculum for ME mentors, seeks new chapters and opportunities for growth, and fundraises for the organization. Further, our National Board of Directors and Board of Advisors, including professional private music teachers and business professionals, offer guidance to staff. Each of our 6 North Carolina chapters (UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State, W ake Forest University, East Carolina University, North Carolina Central University, and Duke) is led by a core leadership team of undergraduate student volunteers who run the day-to-day operations of ME. The student leaders receive support, guidance, training, and mentoring from ME staff. In 2024, 115 Chapel Hill-Carrboro K-12 students were enrolled in ME’s program, each paired with an individual mentor, preserving the one-to-one ratio that we find best supports the musical development of each student. 75% of our students come from families that identify as low-income and/or qualify for free-and-reduced lunch. 63% of our students identify as people of color, with 16% African American, 8% Asian American, 32% Hispanic/Latino, 7% Multiracial, >1% Indigenous, and 24% Caucasian. The Docusign Envelope ID: A088DBE6-D660-4E65-9431-68A51B6BCD38 remaining 12% chose not to identify. Of our 115 Orange County families enrolled, 79% identified as low-income and/or qualified for free-and- reduced lunch, and 68% identified as people of color with the majority (43%) representing the Hispanic community. How many Orange County residents does the organization serve? In 2024, we served 115 K- 12 Students and115 UNC College Students, 330 residents in total. Docusign Envelope ID: A088DBE6-D660-4E65-9431-68A51B6BCD38 Please explain how your organization ensures diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in its programs and operations. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are interwoven in Musical Empowerment’s mission and strategic plan. W e have initiated partnerships with The Equity Paradigm, The Refugee Support Network, and Racial Equity Institute to provide the following: document translations for Spanish and Karen (Burmese) speaking families, a community racial equity workshop, culturally responsive teaching seminars, board training and continuing education for staff. A free DEI library was created for use by the staff, board and community to check in-out books as needed. Since 2018 Musical Empowerment has been in a contract with The Equity Paradigm, a Black and woman-owned consulting firm from Durham, NC that specializes in racial equity training. The relationship with this firm began with an organizational assessment and has grown to include board training, community workshops, organizational Q&A sessions, and documentation audits to evaluate for inclusive language. In April of 2020, the board worked together to develop our own DEI pledge and incorporated DEI into our strategic plan with a commitment to continue growing and learning as an organization. **Musical Empowerment's DEI Pledge: Through music and mentorship, we at Musical Empowerment commit to engaging in a proactive dialogue regarding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. W e will embrace ongoing opportunities to listen, learn and grow in order to strengthen our anti-racist organization and work toward an equitable society.** In the Spring of 2024, our Executive Director, Katie Battle, participated in the Leadership Triangle Transforming Leaders Program. Included in this master level, semester-long course were detailed trainings and analyses of personal and professional culturally relevant practices and work to develop a culturally responsive leadership plan for executives. Additionally, in the Fall of 2024, Musical Empowerment, in collaboration with the Triangle Music Educators Consortium, presented a free half day workshop for all music educators and nonprofit professionals with Dr. Constance McKoy, Professor Emeritus of UNC Greensboro’s Music Department. Her presentation focused on Culturally Responsive Teaching in the Music Classroom specifically and was attended by over 15 organizations and 30+ nonprofit and music education professionals. Additionally, ME is proud to have a diverse board of directors and staff. In January 2023, Ayeza Nxumalo was elected as ME’s first black, female board chair. Under her leadership, ME continues its commitment to DEI and culturally responsive practices. 50% of ME’s Board of Directors identify as people of color, and 50% identify as women. Diverse lived experiences of our board members bring a wide variety of expertise to all decision making, with the voices of our college mentors being represented by 2 board members that are UNC Mentor Alumni. Both our paid staff members identify as bi-racial, and both identify as members of the LGBT community (one identifying as non-binary.) 100% of our board members and staff have a shared commitment to continuously improve diversity, equity and inclusion at Musical Empowerment. Docusign Envelope ID: A088DBE6-D660-4E65-9431-68A51B6BCD38 During FY25-26, will your organization receive operational support funding from the North Carolina Arts Council or the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources? No Organization's EIN 454589282 Organization W ebsite https://musical-empowerment.org Authorizing Official's Name Katie Battle Authorizing Official's Title Executive Director Authorizing Official's Phone 9193063449 Authorizing Official's Email katie@musical-empowerment.org Applicant Race Black/African American Financial Overview FinancialOv erv iew_Submittable.xlsx Organizational Financial Statements ProfitsLosses-YTD_2025.pdf ProfitsLosses-2024.pdf Balance_Sheet-_July_1_2025.pdf ME_990_2023_2.pdf Musical_Empowerment_2025_Approv ed_Budget.pdf Deficit/Surplus Our organization operates on a calendar year, distinct from the fiscal year, meaning we are currently halfway through our 2025 Budget Year and do not have a Budget for 2026 yet. Despite the challenges posed by the 2020 pandemic, we have maintained strong financial sustainability. W e’ve maintained a surplus for the last 3 years of operations, growing our grant funding in 2024 to begin the 2025 calendar year with a strong surplus. Docusign Envelope ID: A088DBE6-D660-4E65-9431-68A51B6BCD38 If the current or next year budget represents a 30% change (or greater) from the year prior, please explain why. N/A Are you an entity of UNC-Chapel Hill or another unit of state government? No PROJECT/PROGRAM INFORMATION Tell us about your project or program Title of Grant Request Musical Empowerments Music Mentorship and Instruments Lending Programs Grant Amount Requested 5000 Is the person in charge of this program or project different from the Authorizing Official? Yes Project Director Name Katie Battle Project Director Title Executive Director Project Director Phone 9193063449 Project Director Email katie@musical-empowerment.org W hat are you requesting funding for? Operational expense (arts organizations ONLY) Request Summary W e are seeking operational support to help us maintain our two facets of programming, Music Mentorship & Instrument Lending Program (ILP). At Musical Empowerment our Music Mentorship Program involves the pairing of a low-income student with a collegiate mentor for one-on-one weekly music lessons throughout the duration of the academic school year. Our Instrument Lending Program (ILP) is offered for all students in the program to provide instruments and books at absolutely no cost to parents and students, providing ownership to students who would not otherwise afford musical instruments. Docusign Envelope ID: A088DBE6-D660-4E65-9431-68A51B6BCD38 Organizational Goals Can you imagine life without music—a powerful communicator, healer, and catalyst for social change? In North Carolina, where 25% of students live in poverty without access to music education, we are driven by the transformative potential of music. At Musical Empowerment, we provide free music lessons and mentorship to underserved children because every child deserves personalized music education and the life-changing benefits of mentor relationships. Studies show that low-income students engaged in the arts are five times more likely to graduate high school and twice as likely to graduate college. Music not only fosters social, emotional, and academic growth but also opens doors to greater opportunities later in life. Through music education, we aim to empower students and their mentors, nurturing their confidence and resilience. Our goal is to instill a lifelong appreciation for music in Musical Empowerment students, empowering them to graduate high school, pursue higher education, and become mentors themselves. Mentorship significantly enhances upward mobility and positive outcomes for children in underserved communities. According to mentor.org, youth with mentors are more likely than their peers to graduate high school, attend college, and give back as mentors later in life. The average cost per youth served by mentorship programs nationwide is $1,695 annually. In contrast, Musical Empowerment achieves these impactful results for less than half that amount, at $711 per student in 2024. W ith a $5,000 grant, we could support seven more student/mentor pairs in Orange County for the entire year, offering them the same life-changing opportunities through music education and mentorship. How will you evaluate whether or not your goals have been met? Musical Empowerment measures success and effectiveness through quantitative data (number of children enrolled, survey results), qualitative data (testimonials), and patterns noted using our program software system (participation, retention). - Parents, students, and mentors complete evaluation surveys at the end of each semester. These evaluations track the child’s musical growth, progress of the mentor/mentee relationships, academic improvement, self confidence, and communication skills, among others. Our most recent survey (Spring 2025) was completed by over 180 parents, students, and college mentors. - Testimonials reflect the anecdotal experiences from all parties involved and help troubleshoot and/or highlight methods others can adopt. The responses help to track student progress over time and inform changes to the curriculum and mentoring for future semesters. - A Historical Study was conducted in 2021 and showed that most participants reported a positive overall experience (students 100%, mentors 98%, parents 97%). ME is preparing to conduct another Historical Study of our alumni base within the next year. Musical Empowerment has experience evaluating the impact of key funders in special projects and has frequently prepared timely impact reports for major partners, including The Kenan Charitable Trust Foundation, Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, the Oak Foundation, United W ay of the Greater Triangle, Triangle Community Foundation, and more. Docusign Envelope ID: A088DBE6-D660-4E65-9431-68A51B6BCD38 How do you promote and publicize the work of your organization? To ensure widespread attention and participation, we utilize two pillars of promotion, one to gain participation from school aged students and the other to recruit college mentors who become our teachers. To attract students, Musical Empowerment connects with local schools with underserved populations through our Needs Assessment. The Needs Assessment is conducted by the Musical Empowerment national office prior to initiating a new chapter, to ensure that the surrounding area truly has a need for free music lessons. Once the chapter is established, the chapters leadership team identifies a Student or Community Relations Chair who is responsible for connecting with nearby schools, distributing information about Musical Empowerment through the school newsletters, or hosting informational sessions to ensure maximum exposure to potential participants. Additionally, recruitment of teachers/mentors is done through campus club drives, leveraging student organizations to directly engage with individuals who may be interested in joining Musical Empowerment. ME has a strong digital presence, which includes weekly social media posts (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube), a monthly newsletter, and a robust website. Each chapter, along with the national office has its own social media pages and utilizes these social media channels for ongoing promotion of activities and more. Benefit concerts are also a tool we use to promote Musical Empowerment while partnering with local organizations that have invested in our cause. These events showcase participant talents, raise awareness, and attract media coverage, amplifying our message and expanding our reach within the community. By strategically combining these promotional efforts, we aim to maximize visibility, engagement, and ultimately, the impact of the project/program within the community. Please describe efforts by your organization to generate revenue. Musical Empowerment has diversified its funding sources since 2019 with the aim of establishing sustainable financial streams and implementing proactive strategic plans to achieve our goals by the end of 2026. In 2023, individual donors represented 68% of our revenue. W hereas in 2024, Grants and Foundations made up 77%, showing our ability to adjust course in regards to funding sources and rely on more than a single revenue source. As we continue to diversify our revenue stream and in order to grow our individual donor base, we are actively recruiting alumni (former college mentors) to become monthly donors, with a target of 100 alumni donors by the end of 2025. Additionally, we are forging partnerships with businesses, arts councils, and family foundations in each community where our chapters operate—North Carolina, New York, and New Hampshire— with the goal of securing sponsorships and support. Resumes of artists/administrators ME_2025_Staff_Bios.pdf Board of Directors List ME_Board_of_Directors_2025.pdf IRS Tax Exemption IRS_Determination_Letter_ME_6-8-13.pdf Docusign Envelope ID: A088DBE6-D660-4E65-9431-68A51B6BCD38 W ork Samples Orange_County_Grant_2025_-_W ork_Samples.pdf Title of work Musical Empowerment Mentor and Student Lessons Artist's name UNC Chapel Hill students and mentors Year created 2024-2025 Video Sample: External Link 1 https://youtu.be/6W DHpEZc8B8 Video Sample: External Link 2 https://youtu.be/YiRqBvdbeaY Video Sample: External Link 3 https://youtu.be/6rj-ruN9CIY Letters of support (optional) Logo and tagline usage checked Unallowable Expenses checked Docusign Envelope ID: A088DBE6-D660-4E65-9431-68A51B6BCD38