McKenzie Family Charitable Trust Music Grants

McKenzie Family Charitable Trust

USADeadline: Invalid Date

McKenzie Family Charitable Trust Music Grants are private foundation awards supporting chamber music education, jazz education, and performing arts organizations in Vermont and New England, with grants ranging from $10,000 to $210,000 to organizations including Yellow Barn and the Vermont Jazz Center.

Award Amount

$10,000-$210,000 USD

Scholarship Type

grant-based

Eligibility Criteria

organizations
chamber-music-programs
jazz-education-programs
performing-arts

Instruments

multiplechamber-musicjazz

McKenzie Family Charitable Trust Music Grants are private foundation awards supporting chamber music education, jazz education, and performing arts organizations. Based in Putney, Vermont, the trust provides grants ranging from $10,000 to $210,000 to organizations in New England.

How McKenzie Family Charitable Trust Works

The McKenzie Family Charitable Trust is a 501(c)(3) private foundation incorporated in Vermont in 1993. It gives grants to educational organizations with specific funding priorities:

Chamber music education and performance
Jazz education and performance
Independent day schools
Medical education and professional development
Theater and performing arts
Youth arts training and education
Public libraries
Youth services and community programs

The trust does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Funding is by invitation only.

In 2024, the trust awarded 25 grants totaling $953,850. Its largest music-related grants included:

Yellow Barn: $210,000 (a world-class summer chamber music school and festival in Putney, Vermont)
Vermont Jazz Center: $70,000 (jazz education and performance in Brattleboro, Vermont)
Boston Philharmonic Orchestra: $15,000 (program support)
Brattleboro Music Center: $10,000 (program support)
Ashuelot Concerts: $10,000 (program support in Keene, New Hampshire)
Next Stage Arts Project: $22,500 (performing arts in Putney, Vermont)
Sandglass Theater: $40,000 (theater and performing arts in Putney, Vermont)

In 2025, the trust's total giving increased to $1,030,723 across 23 grants. Yellow Barn received $205,000 and the Vermont Jazz Center received $70,000 again. The trust's total assets stand at approximately $30 million.

Yellow Barn is the trust's most significant music beneficiary. It is an international chamber music center that brings together young professional musicians and renowned faculty for a summer residency and concert series in Putney, Vermont.

The Vermont Jazz Center in Brattleboro is another supported organization. It is one of New England's notable jazz centers, offering education programs and performances.

Real-World Example

Yellow Barn receives $210,000 annually from the McKenzie Family Charitable Trust. This funding supports the summer chamber music residency program. A young string quartet attending Yellow Barn's summer program benefits indirectly from this grant. The subsidy reduces their program fees and provides access to world-class faculty. Without the McKenzie Trust's support, participant costs would be significantly higher. A musician attending a five-week Yellow Barn session might pay $4,000 instead of $6,000 because of the subsidy, saving $2,000.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a chamber musician or jazz player in New England, organizations funded by the McKenzie Family Charitable Trust offer subsidized educational programs. Yellow Barn's summer residency is one of the most respected chamber music programs in the United States. The Vermont Jazz Center offers jazz education and performance opportunities.

You cannot apply directly to the McKenzie Trust for individual funding. Instead, apply to the programs it supports. Yellow Barn accepts applications from individual musicians and pre-formed ensembles for its summer residency. The Vermont Jazz Center offers educational programs and workshops throughout the year.

Research the supported organizations and apply to their programs directly. The trust's funding makes these programs more affordable than they would otherwise be.

Drawbacks / Things to Consider

The trust does not accept unsolicited proposals. Individual artists cannot apply directly. Grants go to organizations, not individuals. The trust is geographically focused on Vermont and New England. Organizations outside this region are unlikely to receive funding. The trust's funding priorities are specific: chamber music, jazz, and performing arts. Other genres are not supported. The largest grants go to established organizations with existing relationships. New organizations face significant barriers to entry. Individual musicians benefit only indirectly through subsidized program fees at supported organizations.