Stay tuned for the next

Side Stage Tour

MICRO-GRANT 

Why We Give:
The Heart Behind the Side Stage Tour
Grant Program

At Side Stage Tour, we know that behind every touring professional is a partner navigating the challenges and joys of life on the road. While our spouses and partners  take the stage, we hold it down behind the scenes: caring for families, keeping businesses afloat, nurturing relationships, and most importantly tending to our own personal growth.

We created the Side Stage Tour Grant Program to recognize and support the often-unseen labor, dreams, and resilience of our community. Whether you're building a business, pursuing a creative passion, going back to school, or simply trying to manage an unexpected expense—we see you. This grant program is a tangible way we show up for one another, rooted in our core values of community, empowerment, inclusivity, and joy.



By offering financial support, we aim to:

01
Empower members to pursue goals and opportunities that fuel their independence and growth.

02
Ease the burden of everyday or unexpected challenges so no one has to weather them alone.

03
Strengthen our community by investing in the people who make it vibrant, resilient, and inspiring.

We’re not just giving out grants.
We’re building a safety net.

HOW IT WORKS

  1. Submit an application

  2. SST reviews applications using a scoring rubric

  3. Finalists are selected by the grant committee

  4. Winners sign a grant agreement

  5. Funds are distributed

  6. Recipients complete follow-up updates

MORE THAN A GRANT

Membership gives you a community for the life happening offstage.

Side Stage Tour membership is completely free and created specifically for spouses and partners of touring professionals. Applying for a grant is just one of the opportunities available to our members.

PRIVATE COMMUNITY

Connect anytime with people who understand the unusual rhythms, challenges, and really good parts of loving someone who tours.

RESOURCES + SUPPORT

Access practical resources, peer support, shared experience, & connections designed to help you navigate life while your partner is on the road.

REAL LIFE CONNECTIONS

Join virtual hangouts, community events, conversations, and programs created around the experiences touring partners actually share.

MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES

Receive access to programs created specifically for our community — including Side Stage Tour micro-grants and future member opportunities.

Join the conversations when you need them, come to an event when you can, or simply stay connected to a community that gets this life. Membership is free.

You don't have to participate in everything to belong here.

BECOME A SIDE STAGE TOUR MEMBER

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must:

  • Be a Side Stage Tour member

    • Membership is free and open to spouses and partners of professionals who help bring live music tours to life. Not a member yet? You can join before submitting your application.

  • Be at least 18 years of age.

  • Be the spouse, significant other, or life partner of a touring professional (i.e. musician, crew member, etc.)

  • Submit a complete application before the deadline. (Application link will be available once it goes live)

  • Be eligible to receive a grant under SST's grant frequency policy.

    • Recipients may receive one grant per calendar year. Applicants who are not selected are welcome to reapply for future grant cycles without limitation.

    • Past SST grant recipients may reapply after sitting out one full cycle (minimum of 1 year), depending on available funding and demonstrated impact of the initial grant.

  • Agree to the grant terms and follow-up requirements located in the grant application.

  • Applications that do not meet all eligibility requirements will not be reviewed.

  • ***Staff, board members, and volunteers including their families and their spouses are ineligible to participate***

PILOT GRANT TIMELINE

  • 1. Applications Open

    Applications will remain open for approximately two weeks.

  • 2. Review Process

    Applications will be reviewed by the SST Grant Committee using an internal scoring rubric and review process.

  • 3. Recipient Notification

    Selected recipients will be contacted within approximately 30 days of the application closing.

  • 4. Grant Distribution

    Funds are typically distributed within 48 hours of the signed Grant Agreement and payment information being received.

  • 5. Follow Up

    Recipients will participate in short follow-up check-ins approximately 30 days and 90 days after receiving funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No! Side Stage Tour is for spouses and partners of touring professionals, whether you’re legally married or not.

  • Yes, however the funds will be distributed in USD.

  • You can apply as many times as you want but can only win one time per 12 month cycle.

  • Past grant recipients may reapply after sitting out one full cycle (minimum of 12 months), depending on available funding and demonstrated impact of the initial grant.

  • Micro-grants may be considered taxable income, depending on your personal tax situation. Side Stage Tour cannot provide tax advice, so we encourage each recipient to speak with a qualified tax professional about how to handle the grant when filing taxes.

  • Funds must support your personal or professional well-being - not your partner’s music career or tour expenses.

Whether you’re here to apply, share, or support,- you’re part of the story.

Apply for our grant. Nominate someone you love, or help us grow this safety net by spreading the word or making a donation.

Together, we’re building something stronger than the road: a community that shows up, holds it down, and lifts each other up.