‘Tis the season of goodwill – with that in mind we reached out to our network of friends and clients for their recommended music charities. Whether you’re planning to volunteer, donate, or simply keep them in mind for the future, here are 23 fantastic music charities that perhaps might not already be on your radar…
Health and Wellbeing
Hip Hop Public Health
New York based organisation Hip Hop Public Health seeks to promote health equity among youth through hip-hop music and an array of media tools designed to improve health literacy. Head to their website for more details on how to donate or join their diverse community of educators, entertainers and health professionals.
As a registered London-based charity founded in April 2016, Music Support provides vital help and support for individuals in all areas of the UK music industry suffering from alcoholism, addiction, emotional or mental health issues. They welcome the call of anybody working in the UK music industry who needs any sort of support.
Nordoff Robbins celebrates the connection and joy music can bring to those with life-limiting illnesses, physical disabilities or emotional challenges. As the UK’s leading independent music therapy charity, they work across the country offering vital support through their dedicated open access centres and alongside over 150 partner organisations.
Key Changes provide music engagement and recovery services in hospitals and the community for young people and adults affected by mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Based in London, their award-winning programme promotes wellbeing and recovery through developing creative, technical and vocational skills and opens pathways to mainstream opportunities in education, training, work experience and employment.
Music Heals raises money and awareness for music therapy programs across Canada. They increase access to music therapy for patients in children’s hospitals, senior centres, palliative care, AIDS & HIV programs, at-risk youth, habilitation, and bereavement support.
Musicians On Call
With offices in New York and Nashville, Musicians On Call brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. Since 1999, they have performed for over half a million individuals and counting! Check out what they’re doing across the country to help bring more music to hospital patients, families and caregivers.
Daniel’s Music Foundation
Based in New York, Daniel’s Music Foundation (DMF) is a non-profit organization, founded in 2006, to empower individuals with developmental and physical disabilities by combining music programs with community and socialization. For over 12 years, they have been using the transformative power of music to create a community that is built on understanding, mutual respect and appreciation.
Help Musicians UK is the leading UK charity for professional musicians of all genres, from starting out through to retirement. They help at times of crisis, but also at times of opportunity, giving people the extra support they need at a crucial stage that could make or break their career. Supporting musicians’ mental health is one of the most important issues the industry is facing right now, and HMUK’s Music Minds Matter service offers around the clock advice and a listening ear via phone and email.
The Spitz continues to increase well being through the power of quality live music. Drawing on some of London’s finest musicians from a large reservoir of talent built in the original Spitz venue, their participatory music sessions and public events have proven to ease anxiety, encourage interaction and improve wellbeing and memory through mental and physical participation.
Drake Music is the leading UK national organisation working in music, disability and technology. They have been pioneering the use of assistive music technology for over 20 years. In that time, they have developed lots of imaginative methods of teaching, learning, writing and playing music. They are specialists in using technology to break down disabling barriers to making music.
Youth & Education
Project Rhythm is an international, New York based, non-profit organization with a unique approach to music education. Since 2008 they have been training educators online to teach youth essential life skills through producing original digital music. Changing young lives, one beat at a time.
The Midi Music Company is a music education and artist development charity based in Deptford, UK and established in 1995. They enable people’s love and understanding of music through participation in genuinely affordable instrumental classes, live music events, their artist development programme – CICAS®, and access to their recording studio and rehearsal spaces. Their team of industry professionals, musicians, producers and songwriters deliver innovative and inspiring projects that assist their clients to realise their creative ambitions.
Music For Youth is a national youth arts charity working to provide young people aged 21 and under across the UK with free, life-changing performance and progression opportunities, regardless of background or musical style. Established in 1970, their mission is simple: they believe that music, and the chance to participate in high-quality musical activities, should be open to every young person.
Miami/Chicago based Guitars Over Guns is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers students from disadvantaged backgrounds a powerful combination of music education and mentorship with professional musicians to help them overcome hardship, find their voice and reach their potential as tomorrow’s leaders. The goal at Guitars Over Guns has never been to create the next Jay-Z, Ricky Martin or Adele. Their goal is to give students the opportunity to use the arts as a way to build the life skills they need to thrive in school, at work and, one day, as adults with families of their own and as community leaders.
Youth Music is a London-based national charity investing in music-making projects for children and young people experiencing challenging circumstances. They believe everyone should have the chance to make music. Their projects help young people develop musically, of course, but they have personal and social outcomes too.
SHUKAT is a mentoring fellowship program. Established by Justin Shukat, Michelle Sullivan and their founding benefactor Yoko Ono, their mission is to inspire and empower people to be the change they wish to see in the American music business. Head to their website to donate or apply for a fellowship.
Education Through Music-LA partners with inner-city schools to provide music as a core subject for all children, and utilizes music education as a catalyst to improve academic achievement, motivation for school and self-confidence. They believe that every child deserves access to high-quality music education, taught by qualified and well-trained music teachers.
Young Urban Arts Foundation (previously known as London Urban Arts Academy) is a registered charity that helps vulnerable and disadvantaged young people go places. They engage with them through music and other arts, which not only helps them learn new skills, but also builds confidence, self-esteem and self-worth – with many going on to experience new opportunities such as further training, employment and helping them to overcome any personal or mental health issues they may have.
Cultural & Social
Music is Art is dedicated to exploring and reshaping music’s cultural, social, and educational impact on our community – supported by a variety of programs and events. Music is Art is a not-for-profit, federal 501c3 organization founded in 2003 by Goo Goo Dolls bassist and Buffalo NY resident, Robby Takac. Music is Art operates through a board of directors, staff, sponsors, and volunteers, as well as collaborations with several partner organizations.
UK-based Global Sound Music’s goal is to capture unique musical instruments / rare sounds from around the world and make them globally accessible through new technology, providing a world stage for communities in social or economic need. All revenue generated by the sale of the GSM’s audio products is donated to the instrument builders, providing a unique, sustainable income stream to the community.
Girls Rock London (GRL!) is a music project for girls and women in London. They are part of a movement of rock camps that take place all over the world, united by a desire to achieve gender equality in the music industry and to ensure that all girls and women get the chance to make music. The aims of the project are to empower girls and women – regardless of previous musical experience – to write and perform music, and to build self-confidence.
Harmony Foundation International
The mission of Harmony Foundation International Inc. is to connect people through charitable giving to enrich lives through singing. They strive to be the premier international agent through which individuals and organizations invest in the lifelong benefits of singing.
Heart n Soul is an award-winning London-based creative arts company and charity. They believe in the talents and power of people with learning disabilities, providing opportunities for people to discover, develop and share this power and talent as widely as possible. They offer opportunities for people to take part in creative activities, train in a new skill or develop their artistic talents.
5 comments
Great information. I need to donate 2 guitars and think I have found a deserving charity.
[…] E. (2018). [online] Synchtank.com. Available at: https://www.synchtank.com/blog/23-music-charities-you-need-to-know-about-this-festive-season/ [Accessed 7 May […]
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I have a drum kit to donate. Does anyone want it. I can deliver if near to south London in UK.
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