Abrsm
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Play On is the part of ABRSM's giving most relevant to a small organisation, because it funds music education projects outside the UK and excludes UK-based organisations.
- Eligible applicants must be registered in their country, have operated for at least two years, and seek funding for activities directly related to music rather than general running costs; individuals and scholarship programmes are not funded.
- The stated Play On range is £1,000 to £5,000, so a modest, well-costed request fits, and applicants must show their project can be sustained in the long term.
- Applications go through The Commonwealth Resounds' fund page and the window opens on 13 July and closes on 15 September each year, so gather evidence of registration, operating history, finances and past project work before it opens.
- Nothing in the published information says how competitive the round is or whether relationships matter, so do not assume either.
Overview
ABRSM is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 292182).
ABRSM is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, and it exists for the advancement of the arts, sciences and skills of music, speech and drama throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. It reinvests its income in activities that support and promote music education, working with like-minded organisations. Its international Play On fund supports music education projects around the world, and it provided £49,000 in grants through that fund to 12 organisations. Its total annual giving is £439,000, and it also provides scholarships and bursaries for students at the Royal Schools of Music.
What they fund
Priority Areas
ABRSM reinvests its income in activities that support and promote music education, working with like-minded organisations to help people start or continue their musical journeys. Its Play On sponsorship fund supports music education organisations and projects outside the UK, widening opportunities for people to access and progress in music. It is interested in organisations offering high-quality training for music educators, inspiring learner experiences and high-quality music education, and in projects addressing barriers to access and progression. Applicants are expected to show that their projects can be sustained and continue in the long term. Through its wider sponsorship, ABRSM also supports musical organisations in the UK and internationally, subject to the availability of funds. It also provides scholarships and bursaries for students at the Royal Schools of Music.
Themes
- Music education
- Access to music
Geographic Focus
Priority: UK; internationally.
What they don't fund
- Play On only:
- organisations that are not registered in their country
- organisations that have not been in operation for at least two years
- general running costs of an organisation
- activities or materials that are not directly related to music
- a scholarship programme
- individuals
- organisations based in the UK
- the same organisation for more than two years (as reported in other published sources)
How to apply
For Play On, organisations apply through The Commonwealth Resounds' fund page, which administers the programme and provides application information. Applicants should check the eligibility criteria and prepare the requested evidence of organisational registration, operating history, finances and previous project work.
Deadlines: The Play On funding round recurs annually.
Application windows:
- Play On: Opens on 13 July and closes on 15 September
Who can apply:
- Play On: Organisations that offer opportunities for more people to access and progress in music.
What to send:
- Play On: Evidence that their project can be sustained and continue in the long term.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- It favours projects supporting diversity and inclusion, musical progression, access and participation, and environmental sustainability. (as reported in other published sources)
- It welcomes high-quality training opportunities for those leading music education programmes. (as reported in other published sources)
- It looks for inspiring, motivational learner experiences and high-quality music education. (as reported in other published sources)
- It values projects that address barriers to accessing and progressing in music, including for people from underrepresented backgrounds. (as reported in other published sources)
- It expects evidence of project sustainability and continuity. (as reported in other published sources)
- It values passion and commitment. (as reported in other published sources)
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
- United Kingdom
- International
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to Abrsm.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 January 2022 | £42,498,000 | £35,188,000 | £201,000 | Accounts for year to 31 January 2022 |
| year to 31 January 2023 | £45,529,000 | £38,179,000 | £260,000 | Accounts for year to 31 January 2023 |
| year to 31 January 2024 | £48,890,000 | £41,909,000 | £2,291,000 | Accounts for year to 31 January 2024 |
| year to 31 January 2025 | £50,899,000 | £46,184,000 | £4,378,000 | Accounts for year to 31 January 2025 |
| year to 31 January 2026 | £51,591,000 | £53,550,000 | £439,000 | Accounts for year to 31 January 2026 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, all years: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- abrsm.org
- abrsm.org/our-reinvestment-in-music-education/programmes · read on 30 October 2026
- abrsm.org/en-us/news/play-on-2027-apply-for-our-international-sponsorship-fund · read on 30 October 2026
- abrsm.org/en-us · read on 30 October 2026
- commonwealthresounds.com/project/playon · read on 30 October 2026; a page about the charity on another site
- Annual report (year to 31 January 2026)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 30 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to Abrsm?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- abrsm.org
- Charity Commission register entryContact details as held by the Charity Commission
Applying to Abrsm?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- abrsm.org
- Charity Commission register entryContact details as held by the Charity Commission