Charles Parker Trust for Public Music Grant Program

The Charles Parker Trust for Public Music Fund is a philanthropic initiative managed by the Connecticut office of Bank of America’s Philanthropic Solutions division. The trust was established with the purpose of supporting musical performances that are accessible to the public either at nominal cost or free of charge. It focuses exclusively on the residents of New Britain, Connecticut, in alignment with its founder’s vision to furnish quality public music in that specific community. The primary objective of the fund is to enhance the cultural life of New Britain by supporting musical events that are available to the general public. The fund underscores the importance of accessibility, explicitly requiring that musical performances funded through this grant be held within the city of New Britain. These events must aim to reach broad audiences without the barrier of high admission fees, aligning with the trust's mission to provide “good music to the public” affordably. Applications are limited to organizations whose programs and services are intended for the benefit of the people of New Britain. Additionally, performances supported through this funding must be physically conducted within the geographic limits of New Britain. This location-specific criterion ensures that grant funds directly benefit the target community. Grant requests that seek support for capital projects are not eligible for funding, reflecting the trust's focus on programming rather than infrastructure or facility investments. The fund awards one-year grants only, and no organization may receive funding for more than three consecutive years. This stipulation encourages a dynamic and diverse applicant pool over time and supports the fund’s goal of distributing resources equitably across qualifying organizations. Grants are evaluated and awarded on an annual basis, and applicants are notified of funding decisions within two to three months following the deadline. This timeline helps applicants plan their programming accordingly and ensures transparency in the evaluation process. The application deadline for this opportunity is September 1 each year. While specific application questions are not detailed in the provided materials, applicants are encouraged to consult the Procedures document, accessible in PDF or Word format through the fund’s website, for submission guidelines. These resources outline the step-by-step application process and provide important technical assistance. For additional support or clarification, applicants can contact the fund administrator via the Connecticut office's email at ct.grantmaking@bofa.com. The foundation asks that applicants include the foundation name in the subject line of all email communications to facilitate accurate routing. The Charles Parker Trust for Public Music Fund exemplifies targeted community philanthropy, using a place-based funding model to sustain and enrich New Britain’s public music culture. Its strict geographic and programmatic focus ensures that funds are used precisely as intended by the trust’s founding donor. The trust is managed by Bank of America’s Institutional Investments & Philanthropic Solutions, a division within Bank of America Private Bank, reflecting the fund’s fiduciary management by a national financial institution with local implementation responsibilities.