WellsFest CARES, a fund with the Community Foundation for Mississippi, provides financial assistance to Mississippi musicians facing financial hardships related to health issues or similar life-altering events. Grants of up to $2,500 per qualifying applicant per year may be awarded*.
• Eligibility requirements:
o Applicants must be experiencing financial hardships specifically caused by a musician’s medical issues, disability, or similar life-altering events.
o Applicants must be Mississippi-based musicians; retired musicians may also apply.
o Note: Payments will be made only to the provider of services and will NOT be paid to individual applicants.
• Documentation requirements:
o Musicians may be asked to provide information that demonstrates that they have regularly performed in public in the year prior to the hardship and that at least 50% of their annual income comes from their work as a musician.
o Documentation of need must also be provided and may include: an explanation of the qualifying event related to your financial hardship, proof of expenses incurred or documentation of future expenses and an explanation of the absence of other financial resources to address the hardship.
o Note: Priority will be given to applicants for which inadequate funds are available from other sources and applicants may be asked to provide additional information.
• Please note: Awards are contingent on the availability of funds. Ineligible requests will not be considered.
Awards are made at the discretion of the grants committee, which may, in very rare circumstances, decide to award above or below the minimum.
WellsFest CARES provides assistance that is free from discrimination due to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or age.