Help MENC win $50,000 for music education!
Causes and The Case Foundation have partnered for the second time to organize America’s Giving Challenge. The Giving Challenge is not focused on how much money you can raise, but on how successful you are at building collective action and inspiring members to donate to your cause.
Beginning October 7th at 3:00pm through November 6th, the non-profit Cause that receives the most unique donations will be eligible for a $50,000 award from the Case Foundation. America’s Giving Challenge does not reward the largest causes, but instead rewards the causes that are able to get the most donors to make contributions!
Through Facebook Causes, MENC has nearly 160,000 members! In the last challenge the winning Cause had 4115 unique donations. We can do this. Tell your friends! Spread the word! Each donation matters, and it doesn’t have to be a large donation. Help us bring attention to the importance of school music and to win America’s Giving Challenge!
Click a Cause below and make your donation and then pass the link on to your Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn networks. Watch our Twitter and Facebook updates for our progress.
Facebook Causes
Let your friends and social network peers know that music education is important to you! Ask them to join one or all of the causes below and to make a donation to support MENC's Fund for the Advancement of Music Education (FAME).
Music study can help children meet the tough challenges they face these days. Studies show that children who learn music show significant increases in self-esteem and thinking skills and are less likely to get into trouble. MENC's 60,000 teacher members work each day to provide environments and opportunities where students can build skills like teamwork, self-discipline, and creativity, but they can't do it without the strong support of individuals and organizations who agree that music education matters!
MENC has many music education programs that reflect our mission to encourage the study and making of music by all. We urgently need your support of these programs to ensure that every child, regardless of circumstance, has access to the benefits brought by music education. MENC is a 501(c)(3) organization; donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
You can provide important financial support through any of the following opportunities (complete information on each is below):
- Donate to MENC's Fund for the Advancement of Music Education.
- Invite Facebook friends to join a cause to support music education.
- Support MENC's 2010 World's Largest Concert® featuring "The Green Anthem."
- Buy a Brick on MENC's "Walk of FAME."
- Sign up for an MENC Bank of America WorldPoints credit card.
- Make purchases from online stores such as Amazon.com and Sheetmusicplus.com through the MENC portal or using special purchase codes.
- Contribute to the Combined Federal Campaign -- CFC #11770.
- Give to a scholarship fund.
- Create a legacy with a planned gift.
- Join MusicFriends.
Donate to MENC's Fund for the Advancement of Music Education (FAME)
The goal of FAME is to improve and expand music education for all by increasing public awareness of the importance of music education and to promote public support for music education at the local, state, and federal levels. Through your donation, you can strengthen MENC as the most authoritative and influential voice for music education. Donations to FAME can be made In Honor Of someone or In Memory Of someone, as well. Contribute online through Network for Good or send your tax-deductible contribution to FAME c/o MENC, 1806 Robert Fulton Drive, Reston, VA 20191.
Support MENC's 2010 World's Largest Concert® featuring "The Green Anthem"
Make a donation to support the 2010 World's Largest Concert® and Music In Our Schools Month® featuring "The Green Anthem." For more information, visit The Green Anthem page.
Buy a Brick on MENC's "Walk of FAME"
A special way to support music education is to purchase an inscribed brick for the MENC "Walk of FAME" at the National Center for Music Education in Reston, VA. This is a wonderful way to honor a mentor, memorialize a loved one, commemorate an occasion or event, or simply make public and permanent your own support for music education. Brick donations are tax deductible and are applied to The Fund for the Advancement of Music Education. Order your brick at Walk of FAME.
Sign Up for Bank of America WorldPoints® Credit Card
Earn points and support MENC with each purchase. You will earn one point for every retail dollar you spend with your card to use toward: unlimited cash rewards, tickets on major U.S. airlines with no blackout dates, car rentals and hotel stays, and brand-name merchandise. You can earn double, triple and quadruple points by using the card for purchases at participating merchants. Each time you make a purchase with your card, a contribution will be made to MENC at no additional cost to you. Learn more by calling 1-866-438-6262 (TTY users 1-800-833-6262); please refer to priority code GK70. You can also apply online.
Shop Online and Support MENC
MENC receives a percentage of sales of purchases made at the following retailers:
Amazon.com: Access the Amazon.com store through this special link. MENC will earn between 8% and 12% at no additional cost to you depending on total sales volume each month. For purchases made from the "Musician Store", MENC receives a flat 5%. Shop now.
Sheetmusicplus.com: Access the Sheetmusicplus.com Website via this special link. MENC will earn between 8% and 12% at no additional cost to you depending on total sales volume each month. Shop now.
Contribute to the Combined Federal Campaign
Pledges can made by Federal civilian, postal and military donors through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). CFC is the world's largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, with more than 300 CFC campaigns throughout the country and internationally to help to raise millions of dollars each year. From September 1 through December 15 each year, you can pledge your support for MENC by selecting Music Education Matters, MENC, or donor number is #11770. For more information, visit Combined Federal Campaign.
Scholarship Funds
- The Caitlin Merie Hurrey Memorial Scholarship Fund awards four scholarships each year. An annual golf tournament raises funds for the program. If you are interested in participating in the golf tournament as a player or sponsor, or if you would like to make a contribution to the scholarship fund, visit Caitlin Fund.
- The Shannon Kelly Kane Scholarship Fund awards one scholarship each year. The scholarship was created by family and friends to honor Shannon's life and love of music. For more information, visit the Shannon Kelly Kane Fund.
Planned Giving Programs
MENC is grateful for the many generous donations made in support of music education. A significant contribution can be made to future generations with a gift to MENC. The simple act of a bequest not only will help provide tomorrow’s children with the challenge, excitement, and rewards of music; it can also provide you a tax benefit. For more information about planned gifts, contact Paul Baker at 800-336-3768 or PaulB@menc.org.
Join MusicFriends
MusicFriends is a virtual community of parents, community members, and other music education supporters. Membership is free, but donations provide valuable support for programs and activities that benefit students involved in music education around the country. Members receive e-mail updates about music education issues and programs. Visit MusicFriends to learn more, become a member, or make a donation.