Corporation and Foundation Funding for Music Therapy Program Enhancements

Funding is a major societal concern as "non-essential" programs are continually eliminated from schools and healthcare settings. As a result, music therapists find it necessary to fulfill duties beyond that of being a clinician in order to secure the longevity of their program. One common way to obtain funds for music therapy programs is through support from corporate and foundation grants. Initially the task of writing a grant seems intimidating, especially to those who are unfamiliar with the area of grant writing. The purpose of this paper is to share an experience with the grant writing process through collaboration with the music therapy department at Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics (CMH). This article provides general information related to grant funding and describes a grant experience at CMH as a specific example for generalization to other institutions. Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics (CMH) CMH is a freestanding pediatric medical institution in Kansas City, Missouri that serves a diverse population of children living in eastern Kansas, western Missouri, and beyond (S. M. Park, personal communication October 11, 2006). Two fulltime music therapists currently provide services on both inpatient and outpatient units throughout the hospital. The mission of the music therapy department at CMH is to promote a positive environment for patients and families based on their individual needs. This is accomplished by providing developmentally appropriate music therapy programming which focuses on creating a non-threatening environment through which the patient and family's physical, emotional, financial, social, and spiritual needs are met (Child Life Department Scope of Service, 2006). The focus of this project proposal was to acquire funds that would allow for the purchase of 12 iPods® and two new computers. The updated electronic equipment would allow the music therapists to better control the use of music in the Intensive Care Nursery and throughout the hospital as well as more efficiently maintain their music collections. Program Grants Program grants are specific types of funding that exclusively provide financial support to non-profit organizations. Most program grants are funded through the philanthropic endeavors of corporations and foundations. Subcategories of program grants further define the specific funding interest of the grant. The most common program grant subcategories include seed grants, equipment grants, and general operating support. Seed grants, also referred to as start-up grants or pilot grants, are awarded to support the development of a new program within a non-profit organization. Equipment grants, also called capital grants, provide funding for construction, structural, or equipment needs of an organization. The final category, general operating support, typically provides funds for staff salaries and other day-to-day expenses associated with the operation of a non-profit organization (Wason, 2004; Brown & Brown, 2001). Equipment Grant at CMH For the purposes of the Music Therapy department at CMH an equipment grant was the best choice for the potential purchase of updated electronic equipment. The type of project or program an organization wishes to pursue will determine which type of program grant will be the best fit for the project. Once the type of program grant needed has been determined, the next step is to proceed with the process of finding and writing the grant. Searching for Prospective Grants The process of writing grants can be divided into two distinct processes that occur simultaneously (see Figure 1). The left side of the diagram represents the process of gathering information. Information that is gathered is divided into three categories, 1) information about the project, 2) organizationspecific information, and 3) information requested by prospective foundations. Information gathered at this time will be important in narrowing down the possible funding sources and drafting proposals. …