The Presenter Consortium for Jazz, funded by the Doris Duke Foundation and administered by Chamber Music America (CMA), supports collaborative concert presentations involving jazz ensembles and multiple presenters. The grant is designed to increase access to live and streamed jazz performances across the United States and its territories. The program funds a consortium of up to three U.S.-based presenters working with one to three jazz ensembles to deliver public performances for their respective communities.
Grants of up to $15,000 are available to cover 100% of eligible project costs including artist fees, production, travel, marketing, and administrative expenses. No matching funds are required. The applicant organization must be a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a current CMA member at the organization level. Partner presenters do not need to be CMA members or 501(c)(3) entities, but they must serve different communities or regions and participate fully in the project.
Eligible ensemble collaborators must be U.S.-based professional jazz groups with 2 to 10 members, including guest artists, with improvisation as a central element of their work. Projects must occur between January 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027. The applicant serves as the fiscal lead, managing all aspects of fund distribution and compliance.
Applications must be submitted via CMA’s Submittable portal by 11:59 PM ET on Thursday, September 25, 2025. Required materials include an audio sample from the proposed ensemble, project budget using CMA's template, proof of nonprofit status, a marketing sample, and MOUs with all partners and ensembles. Applicants are encouraged to submit early and may only participate in one proposal per grant cycle.
All applications are evaluated by a panel of independent jazz professionals based on written proposal quality (60%), audio sample alignment (10%), and budget clarity (30%). Award decisions will be communicated in December 2025. All grantees must provide a final report, audience data, and marketing samples upon completion.
CMA recommends saving drafts offline, submitting at least 24 hours before the deadline, and ensuring materials follow formatting requirements
