Live Music Society Announces 2025 Toolbox Grant Applications, Providing Up to $10,000Per Venue to Support Sustained Growth in Small Music Venues
Applications Open From August 11 – September 15, 2025
Nonprofit Has Given $4.8 Million to Support 201 Unique Small Venues Since 2020
Watch the Latest American Road Trip Episode Featuring Cactus Club (Milwaukee)
2024 Toolbox grantee Brick & Mortar Music Hall (San Francisco, CA)
Today, Live Music Society, the nonprofit organization that has distributed $4.8 million in funding to small venues and listening rooms across the United States since 2020, announced the opening of its 2025 Toolbox grant applications. Applications open on August 11, 2025, and close on September 15, 2025 at 11:59 pm Pacific, with grantees to be announced in November. The Toolbox program provides up to $10,000 per selected venue to support practical projects that address operational challenges and improve the live music experience for artists, audiences, and staff.
Click here to learn more about the Toolbox grant applications.
Live Music Society launched the Toolbox program in 2023, as a way to expand their support of small venue spaces. 77 grantees have been awarded $591,611 to fund critical upgrades over the first two rounds of the grant. The 2024 cycle awarded $291,611 to 34 grantees, with 58% of eligible applicants funded.
What 2024 Toolbox grantees are saying:
“After thousands of shows and pushing our system to its absolute max, the LMS Toolbox funding enabled a complete refresh and update of our sound system - something we’ve never been able to do. Our small DIY venue sounds great, has equipment that multiple people can use and train on, and has without a doubt increased the quality of our shows for both performers and audience members.” – Britt Curtis, The Holland Project (Reno, NV)
"The Toolbox grant was transformative for Cactus Club. It was the first co-sign of belief in this project, and now a year later we're actually seeing this project come to life... We can't thank Live Music Society enough for making this happen." — Kelsey Kaufmann, Cactus Club (Milwaukee, WI)
“The LMS Toolbox grant gave us the ability to upgrade our outdoor sound system to a 4-point delivery and permanent install, so our sound techs don’t have to lug as much gear! Our sound is way more dialed in and consistent. We are thrilled at the opportunity - it has been something we wanted to do for years and the Live Music Society toolbox grant made that a reality.” - Lynne Angel, El Rio Your Dive (San Francisco, CA)
The Holland Project (Reno, NV)
The Toolbox Grant program helps venues take on unique, practical projects designed to enhance their day-to-day operations and audience experience. Grants have supported initiatives including improving safety and accessibility, incorporating innovative technology to maximize operations, engaging consultants to assist with a practical challenge (acoustics, ticketing, fundraising, branding), and fostering staff development through training and education.
General eligibility requirements include location of a physical venue and related business entity within the United States or its territories, a legal capacity of 50–300 individuals (including standing room), operational status on or before January 1, 2022, a primary focus on live music (featuring solo artists or bands), and a minimum of 50 annual music performances, with management or ownership by the applicant (promoters and festivals are not eligible). Funding opportunities allow applicants to request up to $10,000 per submission, with prospective grantees providing a detailed budget outlining utilization.
Grants will be evaluated based on two criteria: the project's vision for enhancing the live music experience for artists, audiences, or workers at the venue, and the project's feasibility based on submission of the timeline and implementation plan. Funded projects must be implemented between December 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026.
The organization has also announced the latest episode of their ‘American Road Trip’ video series, a documentary-style collection of short films spotlighting small, independent music venues that are hubs for live music culture nationwide. The new episode features Toolbox grant recipients Cactus Club and X-Ray Arcade (Milwaukee), two venues that have leveraged Live Music Society Toolbox funding to make their spaces accessible to artists and patrons with disabilities. Watch the story here: https://youtu.be/ohrT14sogh8
Cactus Club’s ramp construction in progress. Photo: Evan Casey
The opening of the Toolbox application and the debut of the new American Roadtrip episode arrives at an exciting and impactful time for Live Music Society. This spring, Live Music Society’s One Night Live tour initiative was launched. Described by Billboard as a “mission‑driven effort to offer a viable alternative for independent artists and venues most affected by the rising costs of live events,” the tour also spotlighted locally owned, independent venues as vital cultural hubs and essential launchpads for emerging talent. The first 14-date run, presented in partnership with fellow nonprofit Salt Lick Incubator and D‑TOUR, a like-minded organization supporting independent artists, featured emerging artists Ellie Williams, Sofia Lafuente, and Farayi Malek. Each night, the artists performed their own sets while also backing each other, creating a collaborative touring model designed to foster community and efficiency on the road. The next One Night Live tour is planned for fall 2025 with details to be announced in September.
In June, Live Music Society also announced 26 small performance venue recipients of their 2025 Music in Action grant. This year’s grantees received funding totaling $765,500 in support of programs that strengthen community connections, expand access to live music, and improve the concert experience for audiences, artists, and staff at each venue.
About Live Music Society:
Live Music Society (LMS) empowers small venues and listening rooms across the United States. Since 2020, the nonprofit has distributed $4.8 million in grants to 201 unique venues, supporting live music stages, emerging talents, established artists, staff, and patrons. With a focus on engaging communities, expanding audiences, increasing representation, and enhancing the live music experience, these grants underscore the foundation's commitment to strengthening the small, independent venue ecosystem nationwide. In 2025, LMS launched 'One Night Live' a touring collaboration with D-TOUR and Salt Lick Incubator that connects indie venues with emerging artists. livemusicsociety.org