Grassroots Grant

The Grassroots Grant is a publicly funded arts funding opportunity administered locally by Alamance Arts and supported by the North Carolina State Legislature through the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency. The program is designed to strengthen community access to arts programming by distributing subgrants to eligible organizations within Alamance County. As part of a statewide initiative, the Grassroots Arts Program channels state appropriations into local communities to support cultural development, artistic expression, and public engagement in the arts. Alamance Arts serves as the designated county partner responsible for managing the application process, reviewing submissions, and distributing funds. The purpose of the grant is to support nonprofit organizations, community groups, and in some cases individuals who are planning and implementing programs in the fine and performing arts. Eligible artistic disciplines include visual arts, music, dance, theater, film and video, creative writing, photography, architecture, and traditional or folk arts. Funded activities may include performances, exhibitions, festivals, artist residencies, workshops, arts education programs, and other initiatives that engage the broader community. The program emphasizes public benefit and community impact, prioritizing projects that expand access to arts experiences and involve qualified artists. Funding provided through this opportunity may be used for a range of program-related expenses, including artist fees, travel costs, space rental, marketing and advertising, costumes, sets, props, and equipment rental. Limited operating expenses may be supported for arts organizations. However, there are clear restrictions on the use of funds. The grant does not support competitions, scholarships, tuition, fundraising events, hospitality expenses such as food and beverages, internal school programs, or the purchase of artwork. Additionally, funds cannot be used for activities already supported directly by the North Carolina Arts Council or for certain types of therapeutic or historical programming that fall outside the program’s scope. A key requirement of the Grassroots Grant is the matching funds obligation. All awarded funds must be matched dollar for dollar with cash from local sources during the same fiscal year. Matching funds must be documented and reported at the conclusion of the grant period. This requirement ensures local investment in supported projects and reinforces community commitment to the arts. Grant recipients are also required to acknowledge the North Carolina Arts Council by displaying its logo and credit line in promotional materials and at funded events, and to complete a final report detailing expenditures, participation, and compliance with program requirements. Eligibility for the grant includes nonprofit organizations and entities that are nonprofit in nature, as well as certain individuals, provided that all applicants reside in and conduct their projects within Alamance County. Organizations without formal nonprofit status may be required to work with a fiscal agent. Additional eligibility conditions apply to specific entity types such as religious organizations, educational institutions, and tribal organizations, all of which must demonstrate that their proposed programs serve the broader community and meet program guidelines. Projects must occur within the designated fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30. The application process is administered locally by Alamance Arts. For the current funding cycle, applications open on July 15, 2026, and must be submitted via email by 5:00 PM on August 31, 2026. Applicants are required to review the official North Carolina Arts Council guidelines prior to submission and complete the designated application form. After submission, applications are reviewed by a local panel and recommendations are presented to the Alamance Arts Board of Directors for approval. Final funding decisions are made in mid-October, with recommendations voted on October 15 and award notifications issued on October 16. Evaluation of applications is based on artistic quality, community impact, and the applicant’s ability to effectively plan and implement the proposed project. The program prioritizes support for arts organizations, arts education initiatives, and community-based programming that engages a broad audience. This structured review process ensures that limited funds are allocated to projects that demonstrate both artistic merit and meaningful public benefit. The grant is offered annually, aligning with the state fiscal year, and represents an ongoing opportunity for local organizations to secure funding for arts programming in Alamance County.

Emphasize artistic quality community impact and clear implementation plan Ensure project serves broader community and aligns with eligible arts disciplines