DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT: Support Music Education in Oakland this March
This March, in honor of Music in Our Schools Month, we have an incredible opportunity to double the impact of every donation thanks to an anonymous $25,000 matching gift. Every dollar raised will go directly toward keeping music alive in Oakland public schools at a time when critical funding for the arts is being slashed at the local, state, and federal levels.
March is Music in Our Schools Month—a time to recognize the power of music education in shaping students' academic, personal, and professional growth. Music has the power to transform communities, shape futures, and even save lives. For many young people, music is more than just a creative outlet—it is a source of healing, confidence, and connection. It builds community, provides a sense of belonging, and offers pathways to self-expression that are often unavailable through traditional academics alone.
At Elevate Oakland, we see this impact every day through our programs serving more than 500 students annually at public schools across Oakland, empowering them with the tools to tell their stories, express themselves, and build brighter futures through music.
Why are we raising funds now?
Elevate Oakland is fighting to protect and sustain music education programs for Oakland students in the face of devastating funding cuts:
City of Oakland’s divestment from Arts & Culture: In December, city officials voted to eliminate the city’s arts grant program—a decision that disproportionately impacts small arts organizations like Elevate Oakland. Although these grants accounted for less than 1% of the city’s budget, they were a critical funding source for the nonprofits that keep Oakland’s cultural landscape alive. The loss of this funding threatens our ability to provide free, high-quality arts education in public schools.
Federal arts funding declines: The National Endowment for the Arts recently canceled one of its key grant programs, which since 2001 has provided small grants to arts organizations serving minority and underserved communities. Many organizations, including Elevate Oakland, now face new funding gaps that could limit our ability to serve students. Additionally, potential federal cuts to the U.S. Department of Education threaten funding for programs that promote diversity, inclusion, and equal educational opportunities—the very programs that keep music and arts education accessible to our students.
OUSD budget cuts: Oakland’s public schools are bracing for further budget reductions, meaning less funding for arts education and fewer resources for schools, teachers, and community-based organizations like Elevate Oakland. One immediate impact: we are preparing for the loss of a $25,000 grant that has sustained our Elmhurst United Artists in Residence Program for the past three school years. Without new funding, this program—which provides weekly music instruction from three resident teaching artists—will be forced to scale back or shut down.
How Your Support Helps
100% of donations raised in March will go directly toward sustaining Elevate Oakland’s Artists in Residence program, which embeds local teaching artists in public school classrooms. This program provides hands-on music and arts education to more than 500 of Oakland’s most underserved students each year.
Immediate priority: Securing funding to sustain the Elmhurst Artists in Residence Program, where three resident artists teach weekly.
Beyond Elmhurst: Supporting school-based music and arts programs at Castlemont High, REACH Academy, Edna Brewer Middle School, West Oakland Middle School, and more.
Expanding access: Over seven additional schools are currently on a waitlist for our programming due to lack of funding.
About Music in Our Schools Month (MIOSM)
For 40 years, March has been a national celebration of music education, led by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). MIOSM raises awareness about the essential role of music in a well-rounded education, as outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Music education:
Enhances student learning and self-expression.
Provides cultural connection and community building.
Creates lifelong opportunities for students to thrive.
Join us in celebrating MIOSM by investing in music education today. With your support, we can ensure that Oakland students continue to have access to the transformative power of music.