In the perfect universe, musicians and artists would be paid a regular salary, just like an engineer or a teacher or the guy at Walmart that always smiles and says "Hello, welcome to Walmart". There are various methods of funding your creative passions: Sales of work Music gigs and gallery shows Winning contests Rich parents A day job Commercializing your work Grants Etc. Working at a non-profit the last three years has given me some insight into grant writing. Here are some simple tips to help you fund your passion through grants. 10 Tips for Applying to a Grant 1) MAKE A LIST OF WHO YOU ARE Don't limit yourself to music and art grants. Was your mom Italian? Were you in a college sorority or fraternity? What schools did you graduate from? Do you work with under-served populations? Do you write polkas, salsas, or ballet? Do you have a good story to tell? Make a list of every category you can possibly fit in. 2) SEARCH EVERYWHERE Armed with your list, look for grants that ...