What CMA Foundation does

The CMA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association, established in 2011 and headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Its mission centers on investing in music education programs across U.S. public schools, with operations spanning K-12 teacher support, school district grants, advocacy, and direct program funding. The foundation's flagship initiative, the Music Teachers of Excellence (MTOE) program launched in 2016, recognizes 30 music educators annually with a $5,000 grant split between classroom and personal use, having honored more than 200 teachers to date across 43 states.

Its program portfolio includes the State of the Arts (SOTA) initiative, a partnership with the State of Tennessee and Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation deploying MEDSS® assessments across 23 Tennessee school districts; the High Impact Giving grant program, which consumes over 70% of the annual budget; an Artist Ambassador program featuring country music talent; the "It Starts With M.E." public awareness campaign; GAAME Act federal policy advocacy; the newly launched MTOE Alumni Network; and Shop For Good, a retail merchandise affiliate program.

The business model is donation-driven, with revenue sourced from individual giving, recurring monthly donors, corporate sponsorships (including $5,000-per-teacher underwriting at MTOE and a presenting-sponsor slot at CMA Fest), and event-based fundraising tied to CMA Fest, the foundation's largest annual fundraising vehicle. The technology stack is conventional nonprofit SaaS — Customer.io for email, Google Analytics, YouTube, and Stripe-based donation processing — with no proprietary platform or software product. Since inception, the foundation has invested more than $30 million in music education programs across the United States.

Name

CMA Foundation

Legal name

Country Music Association, Inc.

Website

https://cmafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The CMA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association, funding K-12 music education in U.S. public schools through teacher recognition grants (Music Teachers of Excellence), district-level investments, federal advocacy campaigns, and event-driven fundraising tied to CMA Fest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Education Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Educational Services (611), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE), Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC), Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Music education grants
• Nonprofit music philanthropy
• Teacher recognition program
• Music education advocacy
• STEAM music curriculum

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Monthly Giving: The foundation accepts donations from individual supporters, including a monthly giving program where donors contributing $25 or more receive a Made by Music™ T-shirt. Donations fund grants, teacher stipends, and program operations.
2. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Corporate partners sponsor the Music Teachers of Excellence program ($5,000 per teacher stipend), event underwriting, and the annual gala. Sponsors receive recognition, access, and branded association with the foundation's events.
3. CMA Fest Proceeds: A portion of proceeds from CMA Fest — the Country Music Association's annual four-day music festival in Nashville — directly supports the CMA Foundation's music education initiatives. Artists donate their time, turning performances into charitable purpose.
4. Shop For Good Retail: The foundation earns a portion of proceeds from third-party vendors selling CMA Fest merchandise (Friendly Arctic posters, STRÜNG bracelets, CMA Foundation apparel) at festival venues, Fan Fair X, and online storefronts (shop.cmaworld.com, getstrung.com, store.friendlyarctic.com).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The CMA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that invests in U.S. music education. It funds K-12 public school music programs through grants, including $5,000 Music Teachers of Excellence awards to 30 teachers annually, district-level State of the Arts needs assessments, and youth development initiatives; it also runs professional development, advocacy campaigns, the Working in Harmony STEAM curriculum, an artist ambassador program, and an annual red-carpet MTOE gala in Nashville.

Product overview

The CMA Foundation operates as a nonprofit charitable organization with a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on music education. The core offerings include the Music Teachers of Excellence (MTOE) flagship recognition program (launched 2016), High Impact Giving grants (comprising 70%+ of annual budget), and the State of the Arts research initiative. Supporting programs include the Artist Ambassador Program, Advocacy and Awareness campaigns, Resources and Research Hub featuring the Working in Harmony STEAM curriculum, Shop for Good merchandise partnerships, and the MTOE Alumni Network (launched 2026). The Foundation also facilitates the annual Music Teachers of Excellence ceremony and Sponsor a Music Teacher program. All programs work together to advance equitable access to music education in public schools across the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Music Teachers of Excellence (MTOE) Program Flagship recognition program honoring 30 U.S. public school music teachers annually with $5,000 grants, world-class professional development, networking with Country Music artists and industry leaders, and red-carpet recognition at an annual Nashville gala. The program targets K-12 band, choir, orchestra, general music, music technology, and musical theater educators and has recognized over 200 teachers since 2016.
• High Impact Giving Grants Strategic grantmaking program funding youth music development, teacher support, and research initiatives in U.S. music education. High Impact Giving directs more than 70% of the foundation's annual budget into partner programs, scholarships, classroom resources, instruments, after-school music clubs, and recording equipment that positively impact K-12 students and teachers.
• State of the Arts (SOTA) Research Initiative A research-driven needs assessment initiative evaluating music and arts programs across Tennessee school districts, using the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation's MEDSS (Music and Arts Education District Support Services) assessment tool to produce district-level reports, case studies (Face the Music), and recommendations that expand music education access. The initiative has assessed 23 Tennessee school districts to date.
• MTOE Alumni Network A community network connecting the over 200 Music Teachers of Excellence honorees across the program's decade-long history, providing ongoing resources, mentorship, professional relationships, and continued engagement with the CMA Foundation and its artist ambassador roster. Launched in 2026 to mark the program's 10th anniversary.
• Artist Ambassador Program A program engaging Country Music artists as ambassadors who participate in CMA Foundation events, school visits, MTOE focus groups, social media takeovers, and campaign content to amplify the foundation's equitable music education mission. The roster includes Lauren Alaina, Jimmie Allen, Russell Dickerson, Lindsay Ell, Maddie & Tae, Ashley McBryde, Caitlyn Smith, Tenille Townes, Charlie Worsham, and Filmore.
• Working in Harmony STEAM Curriculum A STEAM educational curriculum that brings Country Music to life in classrooms through hands-on activities and videos demonstrating how Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics skills are used to create sounds and experiences in country music. Distributed to K-12 educators as a free educational resource through the CMA Foundation's Resources & Research hub.
• Sponsor a Music Teacher Program A donor program allowing individuals and corporations to sponsor the $5,000 stipends awarded to Music Teachers of Excellence honorees, with funds split evenly between classroom enhancement ($2,500) and personal use ($2,500) by the recipient teacher. Sponsorships are available at $5,000 per teacher annually, with corporate and individual sponsorship tiers.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than $30 million invested in music education since inception, including more than $1.4 million through the Music Teachers of Excellence program alone
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major and minor.

• Joan of Arc MusicflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026Joan of Arc Music (JOA Music), founded by former UMG Nashville Chair/CEO Cindy Mabe, named the CMA Foundation as one of three inaugural nonprofit partners at launch. The company is a 360 entertainment ecosystem focused on country music including artist development, label services, publishing, TV/film production, and a preservation foundation. The partnership connects the CMA Foundation with a new industry-backed entertainment entity dedicated to preserving country music's cultural legacy.
• Country Music Hall of Fame and MuseumflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum was named as an inaugural nonprofit partner alongside the CMA Foundation at the launch of Joan of Arc Music. The museum is a central institution in preserving and celebrating country music heritage, aligning with the foundation's mission.
• Porter's CallflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026Porter's Call was named as one of three inaugural nonprofit partners at the launch of Joan of Arc Music. Porter's Call is a nonprofit organization supporting artists and music industry professionals.
• National Association for Music Education (NAfME)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026NAfME is co-hosting the 41st annual Music In Our Schools Month (MIOSM) in March 2026 alongside the CMA Foundation and NAMM. The partnership includes an in-person event on Capitol Hill (March 5) to advocate for the reintroduction of the GAAME Act and support full funding for Titles I, II, and IV-A of federal education programs.
• National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026NAMM co-hosts Music In Our Schools Month with NAfME and the CMA Foundation. NAMM represents music product retailers and manufacturers and is a key advocacy partner in the coalition working to advance federal support for music education.
• SoFi (Presented by Sponsor)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026SoFi Technologies serves as the presenting sponsor of CMA Fest 2026 ('CMA Fest presented by SoFi'), the annual four-day Country Music festival whose proceeds support the CMA Foundation. SoFi's sponsorship connects the foundation with SoFi's 13.7 million members and broader consumer base.
• EqualizeHer / Empower (Backstage Academy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026EqualizeHer and Empower are presented as partners for the CMA Fest Backstage Academy, a one-day immersive experience for high school students and young adults providing behind-the-scenes access to live music production during CMA Fest. The program advances gender equality in music by empowering the next generation of female industry leaders.
• Filmore (Curb Records)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 December 2021Country music artist Filmore joined the CMA Foundation's Artist Ambassador program in December 2021. As an ambassador, he participates in events, school visits, focus groups with Music Teachers of Excellence recipients, and social media takeovers to advocate for equitable music education. He joins a roster of ten ambassadors including Lauren Alaina, Jimmie Allen, Russell Dickerson, Lindsay Ell, Maddie & Tae, Ashley McBryde, Caitlyn Smith, Tenille Townes, and Charlie Worsham.
• Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation (MHOF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018The State of the Arts (SOTA) initiative began as a public-private partnership between the CMA Foundation and the State of Tennessee in 2018 and evolved into a collaborative partnership with the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation. MHOF provides the MEDSS® (Music and Arts Education District Support Services) assessment tool and consulting service used to evaluate music and arts programs across Tennessee school districts.
• Music Has ValuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic Has Value is a nonprofit partner that supports the CMA Foundation's Student Mission Moments at CMA Fest, coordinating student performances and school band appearances at the festival. The organization is associated with Big Machine Records founder/CEO Scott Borchetta's passion for music education.
• CMA FestflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMA Fest is the annual four-day Country Music festival produced by the Country Music Association. Since 2006, a portion of festival proceeds has supported the CMA Foundation's music education initiatives. Artists donate their time and talent, making CMA Fest the foundation's single largest annual fundraising vehicle.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Grammy Foundation / MusiCares: Philanthropic arms of the Recording Academy that fund music education, preservation, and artist emergency support. Larger, broader scope than CMA Foundation; operates in the same music-industry-funded education/grantmaking niche.
• SongFoundation (Songwriters Hall of Fame): Nonprofit that funds music education, songwriting programs, and preservation. Similar music-industry-funded education-grantmaking model, though oriented toward songwriting rather than instrumental instruction.
• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: Sister nonprofit under the CMA ecosystem and fellow inaugural Joan of Arc Music partner. Larger institution focused on preservation, exhibitions, and education, with an in-house education department; comparable Country Music nonprofit governance structure.
• ASCAP Foundation: Music-industry nonprofit that awards scholarships, grants, and awards to music creators and educators. Comparable funder ecosystem (music-industry-backed education grants) with a broader creative-population scope.

Direct peers

• NAMM Foundation: Philanthropic arm of NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) that funds music education research, advocacy, and school programs. Coalition partner of CMA Foundation on Music In Our Schools Month and GAAME Act advocacy; same funder ecosystem.
• VH1 Save The Music Foundation: Grantmaking nonprofit that rebuilds music programs in public schools through instrument donations and program funding. Operates the same school-district-targeted grantmaking model, funded by corporate entertainment sponsors and celebrity-driven events.
• National Association for Music Education (NAfME): National professional association for music educators that advocates for school music programs and provides teacher professional development. Coalition partner on MIOSM and Capitol Hill advocacy; closely aligned mission on equitable music education access.
• Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation: National nonprofit that donates musical instruments and provides grants to underfunded school music programs. Direct partner of CMA Foundation on the SOTA initiative via the MEDSS® assessment tool; operates an almost identical grantmaking model for K-12 music education.
• Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock): Nonprofit that provides free instruments, curriculum, and teacher training to public school music programs, with a focus on modern band, popular music, and equity. Closely comparable mission and K-12 public school focus, though oriented toward popular music rather than classical/country.

Emerging players

• El Sistema USA / Abreu Fellows: Network of intensive orchestral music education programs for underserved youth in the U.S. Similar mission on equity in music access, but operates via direct program delivery rather than grantmaking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/cmafoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/CMAFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/CMAgivesback
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cma-foundationmusiced
• Instagraminstagram.com/cmafoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CMA Foundation