CMA's Presenter Consortium for Jazz Grant Program Initiates 26th Year of Jazz Support

Today, Chamber Music America, the national network for small ensemble music professionals, has opened the application period for its Presenter Consortium for Jazz grant program, unveiling significant changes to the program’s design aimed at expanding support and streamlining the application process.

The grant program, which has supported the presentation of jazz ensembles nationwide since 2011, launches the 26th year of CMA’s overarching commitment to jazz programming, made possible by the Doris Duke Foundation (DDF). Through DDF, CMA will award $2.5 million to jazz bandleaders, presenters, and composers over the next three years. The Presenter Consortium for Jazz is the first of three jazz-focused grant programs in the current funding cycle, alongside New Jazz Works (which supports the commissioning of compositions) and a new initiative, the Empowerment, Impact & Growth Grant, which will provide high-quality professional development and project-based support.

“We are deeply grateful for the Doris Duke Foundation’s steadfast commitment to jazz artists within our field of small ensemble music,” says Kevin Kwan Loucks, CEO of Chamber Music America. “And it is an immense privilege to partner with the Foundation to ensure that financial support reaches emerging ensembles that are just finding their footing as well as established artists at the height of their careers.” Through its partnership with the Doris Duke Foundation, CMA has supported the creation of more than 300 new compositions, and in 2025 alone, directly funded nearly 100 instrumentalists. Since 2020, 67 percent of CMA’s jazz grants have supported female or gender-minority bandleaders and 66 percent supported BIPOC bandleaders.

Through the 2026 Presenter Consortium for Jazz program, CMA will award $15,000 each to 10 presenting organizations. “Presenters play a vital role in supporting ensembles and making jazz accessible to all,” says CMA’s Director of Grant Programs José Feliciano. “The refreshed Presenter Consortium for Jazz program creates expanded opportunities for stronger presenter partnerships and helps develop new jazz audiences across the U.S.” Designed to encourage industry-wide collaboration and the proliferation of jazz performances across the country, the program requires applicants to partner with at least one other organization or venue to present a desired artist. Historically, the awarded Presenter Consortium for Jazz grants have been the most geographically diverse, reaching presenters in more than 23 states since 2020.

A total of $450,000 will be distributed through 2028. Awards can be used to offset artistic and technical expenses, including ensemble/artist performance fees, production overhead, marketing, and travel/per diem costs. Rather than dividing the award among each presenting partner in a consortium, CMA will grant full control to the award recipients, offer greater flexibility in how funds are used.

The application process has also changed. Notably, only one presenter will be required to complete the full application, accompanied by a memorandum of understanding (MOU) from at least one partner. This streamlined process aims to lower barriers for consideration and encourage more applicants. The application itself also places greater emphasis on the potential impact of the project, prioritizing measured reach over artistically subjective criteria. The full eligibility and application guidelines can be found here. The deadline for applications is September 25, 2025.

Chamber Music America, the national network of ensemble music professionals, was founded in 1977 to develop, strengthen, and support the chamber music community. With a membership including musicians, ensembles, presenters, artists’ managers, educators, music businesses, and advocates of ensemble music, CMA welcomes members representing a wide range of musical styles and traditions. In addition to its funding programs, CMA provides its members with consulting services, access to instrument and other insurances, conferences, seminars, and its quarterly publication, Chamber Music magazine.

The Doris Duke Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality people’s lives through grants supporting the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research, and child well-being, and through preservation of the cultural and environmental legacy of Doris Duke’s properties.