The D’Addario Foundation announces the recipients of its 2026 Immersive Music Challenge (IMC) Ecosystem Grants, a new initiative that supports nonprofit programs that provide free, immersive music instruction and mentoring to students in high-needs communities throughout the world. As part of the broader IMC, which includes the IMC Ecosystem and the IMC Implementation Study, these awards help build a network of organizations offering at least four hours per week of rigorous music learning and essential wraparound services within communities that demonstrate need.
This year through the IMC Ecosystem, the Foundation announced $160,000 ($80,000 per year for two years) in grants and pledges, and thousands more in in-kind product support to eight organizations throughout the world, reaching an estimated 4,000+ students.
The IMC Ecosystem operates alongside the IMC Implementation Study, a five-year research project evaluating the impact of immersive, music-based mentoring.
2026 IMC Ecosystem Members:
- Baltimore Symphony Orchestra – OrchKids (Baltimore, MD)
- Capital Harmony Works – Trenton Music Makers (Trenton, NJ)
- Enriching Lives Through Music (San Rafael, CA)
- Miami Music Project (Miami, FL)
- Music Haven (New Haven, CT)
- Price Hill Will – MYCincinnati (Cincinnati, OH)
- Sistema Toronto Academy (Toronto, ON, Canada)
- UpBeat NYC (Bronx, NY)
