| The IBMA Foundation is the only philanthropic organization entirely focused on the long-term future of bluegrass music. I discovered the style on the radio while visiting relatives in Virginia as a child, before it was even called "bluegrass"! Before I was a teenager, I was playing guitar, singing, and voraciously studying the history of the music. In addition to my professional career managing nonprofit, government and business organizations, I've worked as a bluegrass musician, deejay, festival and concert promoter/emcee, magazine editor, teacher and scholar. So it seems fitting that the capstone of my bluegrass career would be leading an organization that will perpetuate the music into the distant future. Everyone should know the pleasure and fulfillment bluegrass has given to my life! Successes: The IBMA Foundation has awarded more than $75,000 in annual grants since 2011 to educational programs for children, scholarship funds and film documentaries based in Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming and Germany. More than $20,000 has been awarded in mini-grants to help pay bluegrass bands presenting educational, live music programs in schools. We have collected and edited curriculum materials and produced an instructional DVD for use in schools, all available?along with other shared resources?at our website. We have a close relationship with the International Bluegrass Music Association, our industry's trade organization, and established an endowment fund with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Hundreds of individuals have joined with us in annual giving, and our Legacy Society of planned givers is steadily growing. Challenges: As a small organization, there is never enough volunteer or professional staff time to carry out all of our goals and aspirations. Serving the entire world, it is also a challenge to get our name and story out to the many who would undoubtedly share in our work and vision. With board and staff members located throughout North America, we must conduct most of our meetings by phone. And yet, whenever we are together in person, our enthusiasm and commitment grows! - Fred Bartenstein, IBMA Foundation Board Chair & President |
