About Us!

What do you do when circumstances converge, forcing you to make tough decisions
about what's really important and where your life is heading? You follow your heart.

As a high-tech executive in a declining business environment I found myself searching
for a sense of purpose and wondering where my life was heading. I spent a couple of
years volunteering as a grant reviewer for the foundation of my employer and I was
always disheartened by the amount of work we put small, community nonprofit
organizations through to receive funding. There were many worthy projects yet less than
10% of them would get funded.

I volunteered with several nonprofit organizations and wondered how I could make a
difference. Music and songwriting had always been my passion, yet I let them be
subservient to my job and to life in general. One day I decided that I had to pursue that
passion and started bringing a travel guitar on all my business trips, writing songs at
night in my hotel room. I've always had an affinity for worthy causes and many of my
songs reflected that.

When the universe decided it was my turn to be on the outside looking in (yes, I was
laid off!), I decided to take a year to do some serious soul searching. I immersed myself
in music and tried career counseling to help find my next path.

After completing various personality profiles and skills surveys I met with a counselor
who helped me determine my path with one question... "What would you be doing with
your life if you didn't have any outside responsibilities?" The answer came without
hesitation... "I'd use music as a way to help bring awareness to causes." The moment I
heard the words come out of my mouth I realized I would never go back to the high-tech
corporate world.

At that moment I began developing the idea of Musicians for a Cause. I sought out the
advice of experienced professionals in the music and nonprofit industries to develop a
sound strategy for starting the organization. The more I talked to others, the more I
realized just how many people there are searching for ways to give back to society. In
particular, I spoke to many songwriters who would love to see their music have meaning
(second only to writing that No.1 hit, of course!). I realized that supporting nonprofit
organizations with music is also helping the songwriters give meaning to their work and
gain increased visibility. Toward that end I started Musicians for a Cause.

Our goal is to facilitate active involvement by the music community in helping worthy
causes develop more awareness and support for the work they do, using songs to
deliver the messages. It's largely a volunteer based organization, leveraging various
music industry professionals working with nonprofit organizations whose causes they're
passionate about. When you engage people through their passion good things happen!

If you care enough to change the world, even in the smallest way, we could use your
help. We connect nonprofit organizations to the people with the passion and skills to
use music to bring life to the causes they mutually believe in. It's a powerful tool!

As Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful
people can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

If you're interested in getting involved or just want more information, feel free to send me
a note. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Dave Bastien
Musicians for a Cause