Icelandic Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Laufey has given back to young musicians from all backgrounds across the world through The Laufey Foundation, a nonprofit that supports youth music programs worldwide.

Background

Known for her musical style that fuses classical, bossa nova and jazz pop, Laufey blends the vintage richness of jazz with modern pop.

She has become admired by Gen Z for her tranquil voice alongside traditional instruments, creating a dreamy, nostalgic feel through her uniquely romantic songs that center around her experience in love, self-identity and more.

She first made her debut with the EP, Typical of Me, in 2021. Since then, she rose as the world’s top streaming jazz artist and won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop vocal for her 2023 album Bewitched.

The Laufey Foundation

The newly formed Laufey Foundation is a nonprofit that gives youth music programs worldwide access to high quality instruments and equipment and offers financial grants. The foundation’s mission is to uplift youth from all backgrounds by allowing them the opportunities to grow their musical abilities in orchestra programs.

Throughout her life, Laufey has been given the invaluable opportunities of musical education that allowed her to excel and thrive as the celebrated artist that she is today. She credits much of her success to the youth orchestra programs that equipped her with the skills to follow her passion in music.

It was a Presidential Scholarship that allowed her to further her education as a cellist at the Berklee College of Music. With The Laufey Foundation, she intends to give back to young musicians to provide them with the support that once helped her. ”My goal is to bring jazz and classical music to my generation through a more accessible road,” Laufey shared.

These youth orchestra programs provide hundreds of children as young as 5-years-old and as old as 18 with accessible top-quality music education and training that hones their musical talent, no matter where they come from.

Partners

The organization’s website shared that their goal is to “make sure all aspiring musicians have the resources they need, especially through youth orchestras, to reach their full potential.”

So far, The Laufey Foundation’s brand partners include AEG Presents, AWAL, Steinway and Sons, Catbird, Gibson and Warner Chappell Music and continue to grow.

Established in 2025, its mission has only just begun. To create a global impact, the organization seeks to expand beyond U.S. programs to reach youth orchestras across the world as they grow and evolve. The Laufey Foundation’s development will not only be through donors, but Laufey’s charitable efforts.

The organization has since partnered with five youth orchestras after its recent 2025 launch:

• The Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO)
• The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra
• The Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA)
• Global Arts
• Carnegie Hall’s NYO2 and NYO Jazz

The programs selected have global recognition for its gifted students or aim to support young musicians who lack the resources to nurture their growth. As The Laufey Foundation advances its reach, it will partner with more youth orchestra programs worldwide.

Charitable Efforts

In the early beginnings of The Laufey Foundation, the artist made an initial donation of $100,000 to go toward her “commitment to making a meaningful impact across different sectors of society and culture.”

Laufey dropped her album, A Matter of Time, and championed The Laufey Foundation following its release in August 2025.

In July 2025, she announced a sweepstake for two VIP tickets to Laufey’s Los Angeles show, an exclusive soundcheck experience with Laufey, a signed Gibson guitar and more, travel and hotel included. Every entry went towards The Laufey Foundation.

Additionally, when selling tickets for her A Matter of Time Tour in August 2025, a $1 per ticket donation from the UK, U.S. and European countries raised over $275,000 for The Laufey Foundation.

Art Pieces

She has partnered with Soundwaves Art Foundation and signed art pieces that depict a visual of soundwaves from her famous chart-topping song, “From The Start.” The exclusive hand-signed art collection supported The Laufey Foundation with its profits. What’s more, $1 was donated with each sale of Laufey’s original plushie, Mei Mei. Laufey’s first children’s picture book, Mei Mei The Bunny, had $1 from each book sold go towards the foundation. Everlane has also collaborated with Laufey for a limited edition clothing collection that benefits The Laufey Foundation.

Laufey does not only raise funding for youth orchestra programs but serves as a mentor herself. Throughout her tour, Laufey invited her partnered youth orchestras to several soundchecks. At the soundchecks, the young musicians watched her performances and asked her questions surrounding being a musician.

Global Impact on Young Musicians

Laufey has inspired fans across the world and brought upon a resurgence of traditional jazz and classical music. She sends listeners into a lovesick nostalgia with touching lyrics that warms the heart. Through her passion for music and devotion to sharing it to the future generation of musicians, Laufey is dedicated to expanding access to music opportunities and supporting young artists in any way she can through her platform and influence.

– Caydie Tampac

Caydie is based in Las Vegas, NV, USA and focuses on Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr