Musician Changemaker Accelerator Academy Applications Open

Applications are now open for the Spring 2026 Musician Changemaker Accelerator (MCA) Academy! Talented musicians of all genres are invited to submit their ideas for making change in their communities.

The MCA is a 6.5-month online social change business accelerator (six weeks of instruction, followed by 20 weeks of coaching; Jan. 12, 2026 – July 10, 2026) for 10 carefully selected socially conscious musicians from around the country to develop a social change program/pilot in their communities. Taught and facilitated by experts in the music, nonprofit, business and entertainment industries, musician participants come away with a concrete plan for their community change idea, local partner connections, program development skills and funding to execute their projects.

Participating musicians will receive cash and services worth $10,000 including: a $500 participation stipend during the instructional phase, weekly instructional training in business, program and grants development, networking sessions with like-minded entrepreneurial artists and thought leaders, 30+ hours of intensive 1:1 coaching, and $2,500 matching funding and community partner support to launch a program pilot in partnership with a local organization. Candidates will be selected based on their musical talent and their enterprising idea for a music-driven social change program in their community.

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY 11:59 PM ET ON Aug. 15, 2025.