This past January, the Fresh Sound Foundation announced its plans to sunset by June 30, 2027. We are committed to a thoughtful and transparent process as we continue the development of our full strategy over the course of this year and will be sharing our journey in more detail on our website in the coming months. The Foundation’s funding cycle for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026) will proceed as previous years have. We are focusing on our current grantee partners at this time and will be looking for ways to further simplify the grant application process.
Process for FY26 grant decisions include:
- Foundation Trustee meeting to determine application process and consider steps for current grantee partners – April 7, 2025
- Current grantee partners notified about next steps in application process – mid-April
- Deadline for most recent financial reports (current partners): May 2, 2025
- FSF Annual Grantmaking Meeting-Final Decisions: June 5-7, 2025
- Organizations notified of grant decision: by mid June
- Grants distributed immediately after July 1, 2025 (start of FSF’s new fiscal year)
- Grantee partner progress report learning calls (TBD): January 2026
In an effort to embrace trust based philanthropy approaches, Fresh Sound conducts “progress report learning calls” in lieu of written reports for its current grantee partners. These calls take place in mid-January of the following year.
Urgency of Now/Flexible Funds
In addition to Fresh Sound’s core grants process, the Foundation distributes a smaller amount of flexible funds, enabling the Foundation to be responsive to emergent and timely needs. These grant funds can be distributed at any time during the Foundation’s fiscal year and timing decisions are informed by conversations with existing and/or prospective grantee partners.
For inquiries about Fresh Sound’s sunset process and/or any questions related to funding areas, please contact Senior Advisor, Philanthropy, Kelly Nowlin at kelly@kdnphilanthropy.com
For questions regarding the grants process and stated deadlines, please contact Grants Manager Jennifer Sanders at jsanders@Baldwin-LLC.com
Fresh Sound’s grants process and stated deadlines are subject to change. Changes will be communicated to current and prospective grantee partners.