Last Friday, 15 El Sistema USA® member organizations—including El Sistema USA itself—received sudden notices of grant withdrawals or early terminations from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). These 15 programs had been awarded a combined total of almost $400,000 in funding for vital music education initiatives.
These grants were set to support programs with over 300 teachers and 6,000 students across 13 states. These awards included summer camp, student-led compositions, regional professional development, instrument instruction, mentoring, youth leadership training, public concerts, and general operating support for after school music.
These programs reflect the breadth and depth of music’s impact in communities nationwide. Despite the abrupt funding disruption, every single program is moving forward with its planned activities—demonstrating incredible commitment to the students and communities they serve.
The NEA operates on a reimbursement model, meaning organizations must incur costs first before receiving funds. Some organizations with early termination letters may still be able to recoup partial amounts by the May 31 deadline if they are able to complete their activities by then. As of this week 60% of awarded funds remain unreimbursed, and 27% of the funds have been rescinded entirely, making reimbursement impossible.
To compensate for the loss, some programs are now urgently appealing to private foundations and individual donors. Others remain unsure how they will fill the gap.
This moment highlights the vulnerability of public arts funding at this time—and the strength of the community it supports. We are proud of our members’ determination and commitment. Now, we call on the broader community to stand with them.