This year’s Mentorship Grant applications are now closed. Please check back in August for the 2025-2026 application form.
What is the IML Mentorship Grant?
The IML Mentorship Grant provides students with opportunities to receive funding and mentorship to encourage new thinking and the development of innovative ideas in music. Successful recipients demonstrate creativity, innovation, uniqueness, passion, added value to the music field and their own communities, and the potential for sustainable initiatives and projects. The application deadlines are October 1, 2025 for projects to be completed no later than the start of the next academic year and February 1, 2026 for projects to be completed no later than the end of the next academic year.
Who is eligible to apply?
- Full-time, matriculated Eastman School of Music students
- Students (or the lead student in a collaborative project) must be enrolled for the duration of the award period
- Prospective applicants must attend an advising appointment prior to submitting in order to be eligible.
- Email jdunn@esm.rochester.edu to schedule an appointment or with any questions.
When is the application deadline?
- October 1, 2025 for projects to be completed no later than the start of the next academic year. Awards will be announced by November 15.
- February 1, 2026 for projects to be completed no later than the end of the next academic year. Awards will be announced by March 15.
- Applicants must meet with the advisor 1:1 prior to submitting. Please email jdunn@esm.rochester.edu to schedule an appointment, or do so on Handshake.
- Grant advising does not guarantee funding.
What criteria are applied to assess IML Mentorship Grant proposals?
Proposals will be evaluated for each of the categories below. Grant evaluators will use the provided language to assess and score proposals.
- Purpose and Value Proposition of Project or Research
- Description provides a complete understanding of project or research, leaving no unanswered questions for the evaluator.
- Outcome statement provides clear and concise understanding of results and value to the community.
- Defined Target Audience
- Statement identifies a concrete target audience based on demographics, location, age, or other defining factors, with support of partnerships, past engagements, or letters of support.
- Impact to Musical Opportunity
- Statement articulates a compelling impact from the project that illustrates a specific and nuanced understanding of the projects purpose, and leaves no unanswered questions for the evaluator.
- Statement provides a concrete methodology for assessment that can illustrate a quantifiable and tangible impact.
- Marketing Plan
- Statement identifies a concrete, step-by-step plan that references specific channels, tools, collaborators, and/or pre-existing materials.
- Established Project Progress
- Timeline illustrates concrete evidence of previously initiated and completed steps, with planning beginning at least three months prior to the grant submission.
- Completed steps includes elements such as (but not limited to) contacting collaborators, booking venues, research approval, and sourcing additional funding.
- Specific and Realistic Timeline
- Timeline illustrates a step-by-step plan for completing the project and includes concrete future impact from the project.
- Timeline is broken down into months, if not smaller segments, with concrete details about project planning, not just project events. Ample time is provided in the timeline to continue preparation after potentially securing the grant funding.
- Timeline demonstrates evidence of clear and thoughtful planning, noting key details and crucial steps towards executing the project.
- Budget
- Budget itemizes all necessary expenses and income to present comprehensive and balanced budget.
- Budget demonstrates evidence of thoughtful research and planning with exact numbers.
- Grant ask is reasonable, clearly allocated to crucial expenses, and meets applicant’s needs.
- Project Capacity
- Uploaded document demonstrates evidence of past project success, and concrete experiences in realms related to the project
- Uploaded document demonstrates professional experience and maturity that garners trust in project execution.
- Project Sustainability
- Statement demonstrates lasting impact and cites future collaborations and/or additional iterations of the project.
- Timeline illustrates activities following the end of the project.
- Budget illustrates evidence of external funding that is guaranteed to continue in the future.
What is the mentorship component of the award?
The students for each project will participate in one mandatory information session following the award, one group mentoring session, and then three individual one-hour mentorship sessions with an IML staff member during the duration of the award period. Workshops focus on these topics:
- Assessing the value and feasibility of your project
- Developing capacity for implementation
- Designing implementation steps
- Assessing implementation
What is the monetary size of the award?
There is not a specific amount for awards, but most are in the range of $500-$1000.
How is the award money distributed?
Awards are distributed as reimbursement for approved project expenses. Original receipts must be submitted by the grantee to receive reimbursement. Services provided by others in support of your project (either a company or an individual) must invoiced by and be paid directly to the service provider by Eastman/ the University of Rochester.
All award monies are to be used to cover direct program and project costs. If you have questions about this, please contact jdunn@esm.rochester.edu.
How many award winners are chosen?
The number of award winners is determined by the quality of the proposals and the program budget of any particular year.
Who chooses the winners?
The IML Mentorship Grant Committee, which is composed of staff and faculty members. The Committee reserves the right not to choose any award winners in a given year.
How long does the funding last?
Funding lasts for 1 year after contract execution. Students nearing graduation are welcome to contact the advisor to discuss their timeline.
In order to accept the grant, students are required to submit headshot and bio to use for promotional purposes.
Grantees are also required to submit final project write-up in order to fulfill their IML Mentorship Grant requirements.
Grantees will be interviewed on our podcast, Careers in Crescendo: Lessons for Musicians, at an agreed upon time either during, or at the completion of, their project.
How do I submit an application?
Who should I ask if I have additional questions?
Please use our Contact Us page if you have any questions.
