using music to address social injustice – Oct 1

Posted by Adolf Busch Award on September 2, 2025

Adolf Busch Award invites applications from organizations using music to address social injustice

The Adolf Busch Award was named after the German violinist Adolf Busch, who was the one of the first international celebrities to denounce the Nazi regime. Though not Jewish himself, Busch took an unwavering and public stand, and in many ways sacrificed his musical career by doing so.

The Adolf Busch Award aims to recognize and honor organizations that use music to address social injustice, inequity, and lack of opportunity. The award will grant $10,000 to one organization each year in support of general operating expenses or specific projects. The award will assist organizations that focus on nurturing the musical and leadership skills of individuals, address systemically disenfranchised segments of the population, engage in grassroots initiatives that promote a pluralistic and equitable society, demonstrate a unique and thoughtful approach to the issues they address, demonstrate a meaningful organizational maturation since inception, and show a rejection of the status quo and a willingness to shape a response to systemic issues in a challenging environment.

To be eligible, applicants must be a U.S.-based 501(c)(3), or an international organization with a domestic fiscal sponsor, have been established for at least three years, and have an operating budget below $3 million.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Adolf Busch Award website.

Deadline: October 1, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. ET