How To Turn Spare Change Into Support for Music Education

Supporting music education matters — to your community, to your customers, and to the next generation of musicians. 

But for store owners, it can feel tricky to know how to make a real impact without adding more to your (already very full) plate.

Roundup donations solve that problem by turning everyday purchases into small acts of generosity — and when your store supports a national nonprofit, those small amounts add up fast.

In partnership with the National Association for Music Education (NaFME), Music Shop 360 is now introducing donation roundups for music retailers, making it easy for your customers to contribute a small amount at checkout to support a charitable partner.

Why Roundup Donations Matter for Music Retailers

Music stores already occupy a unique role in their communities. You teach students, support local musicians, host events, and help families invest in music education. 

Roundup donations are a great way to extend that impact without making any extra work for your staff or customers. 

Here’s why store owners are excited about it:

• Roundup donations fit naturally into the checkout experience. No pressure or complicated prompts, just the option to contribute $1, $3, $5, or round up to the nearest dollar.
• Every small donation adds up.  Even $0.50 per sale across hundreds of purchases can fund instruments for an entire classroom.
• Highlight your store as a community supporter. Shoppers notice and appreciate when local businesses give back, which can strengthen loyalty.
• Customers feel good about their purchase. Folks get to support a cause they care about while buying the instruments, sheet music, or gear they already need.

If you want to support music education without adding extra work for your team, roundup donations make it possible. Partnering with a respected organization like NaFME ensures every purchase contributes to meaningful, nationwide programs.

Connecting Your Store to NaFME’s Mission

NaFME has spent nearly a century advocating for equitable access to music programs, supporting teachers, and helping students find their voice through music. And through roundup donations, your store can make every purchase contribute directly to that mission. 

Donations help fund programs that put instruments in classrooms, provide training for educators, and create opportunities for students who might not otherwise have access to music education.

“NAfME is pleased to partner with Music Shop 360 to make it easy for music stores to support students and educators. Every small donation helps bring music into more classrooms and enrich the lives of more young musicians nationwide.” – Christopher B.L. Woodside, Executive Director, National Association for Music Education

How Roundup Donations Work

Here’s what happens once you enable this new feature in Music Shop 360:

1. You start a sale in the POS, and the total appears on the P5 terminal.
2. The customer presents their card, and the terminal displays the donation prompt.
3. If the customer agrees, the system charges the donation as a separate transaction. If they skip or it fails, the sale completes normally.
4. Your store receives the payment, and the nonprofit receives the donation.

Existing Music Shop 360 customers can visit our Knowledge Base for a detailed walkthrough, including backend screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

Roundups are simple, convenient, and impactful. They let customers support causes they care about without slowing down the shopping experience — and they give your store a way to play a bigger role in supporting music education.

Start Making a Difference With Every Sale

Enabling roundup donations takes just a few clicks, but the impact reaches far beyond your register. Every purchase becomes a chance to support music programs, help teachers, and give students opportunities they might not otherwise have.

Make every sale count with Music Shop 360’s roundup donation feature — and show your customers that you care about accessible music education.