Apply for a Grant

The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation (MHOF) receives more than 1,000 applications each year. Although we would like to help all who apply, our resources are limited and the process is very competitive. Music programs serving low-income communities, programs with little or no budget for musical instruments and music programs that serve the most students out of the school population are considered before all others. We encourage you to seek funding from several sources in your community.

Applications are made available by invitation only. If your program meets the criteria below, you must submit an online Pre-Qualification form to be considered for an invitation. The link to the Pre-Qualification form can be found as the last bulleted item within each of the three programs outlined below. Please be sure to submit the appropriate Pre-Qualification form for the program that you are eligible for. Pre-Qualification forms will be available until October 1, 2010. If invited to apply, the application deadline is November 1, 2010 and results will be provided by March 30, 2011. Awarded programs will receive instrument donations in time for the 2011/12 school year. Please direct any questions regarding the application process to applicants@mhopus.org.

• Public, private and charter schools may apply, however, schools must be Title 1 or be able to demonstrate financial need.
• Schools must have an established instrumental music program (i.e. concert band, marching band, jazz band and/or orchestra) that is at least three years old. If your school offers Orff/classroom music only, it is NOT eligible to apply.
• Schools must have an existing inventory of instruments.
• Schools must apply separately (please provide information for the applying school only, do not include information for other schools within the district even if the music teacher teaches at more than one school).
• Teachers that teach at more than one school within the school district can only apply for one school per grant cycle.
• Requests should not exceed $10,000 worth (retail value) of musical instruments. Full or partial requests may be awarded.
• To be considered for an invitation to apply for the Melody Program, click here to submit the Melody Pre-Qualification form.

Special Projects Program helps before and after-school music programs.

• Programs must be at least three years old and serve primarily school-age youth from low-income families, or students that attend Title 1 schools.
• Programs must have an existing inventory of instruments.
• Requests should not exceed $10,000 worth (retail value) of musical instruments. Full or partial requests may be awarded.
• If any portion of your music program takes place during the regular school day, please use the Melody Program application (see above).
• To be considered for an invitation to apply for the Special Projects Program, click here to submit the Special Projects Pre-Qualification form.

Michael Kamen Solo Award helps outstanding student musicians enrolled in grades 8 - 12 who cannot afford to obtain an appropriate instrument.

• Students must have completed at least five years of study on their instrument to apply.
• Instruments with a retail value of up to $20,000 are awarded.
• Only students who are still in secondary school may apply. If you have graduated from high school, you are not eligible.
• Students who have already received an instrument from MHOF may not re-apply.
• To be considered for an invitation to apply for the Michael Kamen Solo Program, click here to submit the Michael Kamen Solo Pre-Qualification form.

Our program funds instrument repair and the acquisition of new instruments. We DO NOT give cash grants. Other exclusions are:

• Programs outside the United States
• Teacher salaries or music lessons
• Programs or individuals outside of our three programs
• Events, concerts, festivals
• Summer camps