American Composers Forum (ACF) supports and advocates for individuals and groups creating music today by demonstrating the vitality and relevance of their art. ACF envisions a world where living music creators are celebrated as essential to human culture. The organization is a leading catalyst in an ecosystem that invites generations of composers, artists, advocates, and audiences to pursue this vision.

ACF was founded in 1973 by composers Libby Larsen and Stephen Paulus to create performance—and later recording—opportunities for living composers. They incorporated in 1975 as the Minnesota Composers Forum, and in 1996 the organization changed its name to the American Composers Forum (ACF) in recognition of its growing national reach. Over the course of nearly five decades, ACF has nurtured the work of thousands of composers and sought to advocate for their art on their behalf. Led today by Executive Director Vanessa Rose, ACF connects artists with collaborators, organizations, audiences, and resources; activates equitable opportunities for artists through storytelling, publications, recordings, hosted gatherings, and industry leadership; and provides direct funding and mentorship to a broad and diverse field of music creators, highlighting those who have been historically excluded from participation.

Jerome Foundation supports American Composers Forum’s ACF | create program. Serving early career New York City and Minnesota-based early career composers, ACF | create supports the creation, presentation, and subsequent life of a new work. Four artists receive financial and other development support to create new work with a collaborating organization or ensemble. Artists have opportunities to be featured and promoted on ACF’s platforms, such as curating playlists for I CARE IF YOU LISTEN, being interviewed for artist profiles, and having their work shared in ACF newsletters. In addition, awardees are invited to be part of ACF's broad network of artists and advocates and receive career development mentorship from ACF staff. ACF | create is managed by Director of Programs Carolina Heredia.