SUBMISSIONS WINDOW TO OPEN MONDAY, MAY 16, 2022
& CLOSE ON THURSDAY, JUNE 16
NASHVILLE, TN – ACM Lifting Lives®, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music®, announced today that their 2022-2023 grant cycle will open for submissions beginning Monday, May 16, 2022 and ending on Thursday, June 16. With generous support from Gibson Gives, Country Thunder, and other donors, this month-long application window continues ACM Lifting Lives’ long and dedicated history of supporting mental health organizations, as well as individuals struggling with those issues, and shining a national spotlight on their critical work, harnessing the healing and rejuvenating power of music.
With the submission window opening tied to May’s identity as Mental Health Awareness Month, the 2022-2023 grant cycle moves ACM Lifting Lives’ landmark COVID-19 Response Fund into its next phase, answering the call and furthering support of the Country Music industry, particularly acute post-pandemic.
Eligible beneficiaries for the 2022-2023 grant cycle will fall into one of three primary areas:
- Individuals working within the Country Music industry requesting funding for mental wellness services
- Organizations providing direct aid to benefit the mental and emotional health of members of the Country Music industry
- 501c3 eligible organizations that provide music therapy programs for health-related needs
For more information on how to submit, along with further details on eligibility requirements, visit acmliftinglives.org. Recipients for this grant cycle will be notified in Summer 2022 with funds arriving shortly thereafter.
ACM Lifting Lives harnesses the power of the Country Music community and partners to provide aid in times of need, with a focus on health-related initiatives. Since 2020, the organization’s grant funding has been allocated to the COVID-19 Response Fund, created to help relieve the financial burden faced by members of the Country Music community as a result of the pandemic. To date, ACM Lifting Lives has raised and distributed over $3.8 million through this fund, providing an essential lifeline to many in the Country Music industry during their pivotal time of need. The Fund will now move into the next phase of its work, to assist individuals in need of emotional support and mental health care, as well as the organizations that provide these essential direct services.
“We are proud to re-open submissions for our grant making process and support the essential work being done by organizations providing music therapy as a way of healing,” said Lyndsay Cruz, Executive Director of ACM Lifting Lives. “We also have listened carefully to the members of our Country Music community who suffered emotional and mental setbacks from loss of work during the pandemic. We are proud to continue to support those that qualified for our COVID-19 Response Fund to get the additional help they need to thrive and participate in an industry that celebrates healing through the power of music.”
Past recipients of funding include CreatiVets, an organization providing music therapy to combat veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury, and Personal Counseling Services, Inc, an organization which provides music therapy services to underserved populations, among others.
ACM Lifting Lives has also confirmed support for Porter’s Call, a place where music artists can find counsel, support, and encouragement for issues they face in their careers and personal lives, along with their partners, in a safe and confidential setting, and The MHA Mental Health Fund, created by Music Health Alliance to help provide struggling music industry professionals with essential mental health services.