Grants for Nonprofits - Arts

This grant provides financial support to arts and cultural organizations, individual artists, and local schools in Rowan County to enhance access to arts and cultural opportunities.

The National Leadership Grants for Museums program, administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, supports projects that address significant and pressing needs within the museum sector, with the goal of advancing professional practice and strengthening museum services. The program funds innovative, impactful projects that can be scaled, adapted, or replicated to benefit museums broadly. The 2025 opportunity emphasizes projects that align with IMLS goals: lifelong learning, community engagement, and collections stewardship and access. Projects are expected to demonstrate collaboration, address challenges faced by the field, and generate models, tools, or research findings with wide applicability. The program supports two types of projects: non-research projects and research projects. Non-research projects focus on practical solutions, tools, or models to address critical needs in the museum sector, while research projects aim to investigate questions relevant to museum practice using rigorous data collection and analysis methods. Non-research projects require a one-to-one cost share, while research projects do not require cost sharing. Applicants must clearly articulate their project’s goals, work plans, and results to demonstrate impact and sustainability. IMLS anticipates awarding approximately $5,800,000 in total funding, with an estimated 15 grants to be awarded. Individual awards range from $50,000 to $750,000, with an average award size of $453,106. The period of performance spans one to three years, beginning no earlier than September 1, 2025. Applicants must submit proposals electronically via Grants.gov by November 15, 2024, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Late submissions will not be considered. Successful applicants will be notified by August 2025. Eligible applicants include museums, institutions of higher education, museum service organizations, tribal organizations, and nonprofit organizations that advance the museum profession. Museums must meet IMLS criteria, including professional staffing, regular public exhibitions, and an educational or cultural mission. Museums operating as discrete units within larger organizations may apply independently if they meet specific eligibility criteria, including budgetary and operational autonomy. Partnerships and collaborations are encouraged to maximize the scope and impact of proposed projects. Applications must include a project narrative addressing three key areas: project justification, work plan, and intended results. The narrative must describe the need or challenge being addressed, identify key activities and milestones, and outline the expected outcomes and plans for broad dissemination. Supporting documents, including budget forms, a performance measurement plan, resumes of key staff, and a data management and sharing plan for research projects, are also required. Applicants must ensure their project aligns with one of the program’s goals: advancing experiential and cross-disciplinary learning, addressing community needs through partnerships, or improving collections care and access. IMLS evaluates applications through a peer review process, considering factors such as the project’s alignment with program goals, clarity and feasibility of the work plan, and potential impact and sustainability. Successful projects will demonstrate the ability to create innovative tools, research findings, or practices that address field-wide challenges and improve museum services. Proposals must include plans for broad dissemination of results to ensure benefits extend beyond the participating institutions. Awardees are required to submit interim and final financial and performance reports and comply with all federal regulations and IMLS award conditions. IMLS provides additional resources, including webinars and technical assistance, to support applicants in developing competitive proposals. Further details about the program, including sample applications and contact information for program staff, are available on the IMLS website.

The Grow grant program, offered by the Grassroots Fund, is designed to support groups with existing project implementation experience in their communities. The program aligns with the Grassroots Fund's broad interpretation of "environment," funding a wide range of activities focused on local, grassroots work. The mission is to deepen community work by fostering vision development, increasing participation, identifying new stakeholders, and incorporating diverse voices and lived experiences into decision-making processes. Target beneficiaries for the Grow grant program are community-based, local initiatives, specifically those operating in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont. The program emphasizes supporting groups that represent a broad range of community voices and are not currently being reached by other funders. The overarching impact goal is to strengthen community-led efforts and ensure that decision-making processes are inclusive and reflective of various perspectives. The program prioritizes volunteer-driven groups or those with no more than two full-time paid staff (80 hours/week combined) and an approximate annual operating budget under $100,000. These priorities underscore the fund's strategic focus on supporting smaller, community-rooted organizations that may have limited access to other funding sources. The Grassroots Fund's theory of change appears to be centered on empowering local groups to drive community development and foster more equitable and participatory processes. Expected outcomes include communities with further developed visions, reduced barriers to participation, engagement of new stakeholders, and increased integration of diverse voices and lived experiences in core decision-making. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond these outcomes, the emphasis on "deepening their work" and "bringing more voices" suggests qualitative and potentially quantitative shifts in community engagement and project effectiveness. The grant size ranges from $1,000 to $4,000, providing crucial financial support to these initiatives. It's important to note that the fund does not support individuals, national or international work, lobbying, partisan political activity, land/building acquisition, studies without follow-up, publication of books/reports, micro/re-granting programs, or retroactive expenses. This clear outline of what is not supported further defines the strategic priorities of the Grassroots Fund, ensuring that grants are directed towards community-level, action-oriented initiatives that align with their mission of fostering grassroots environmental and social change.

This grant provides funding for innovative projects led by alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to strengthen connections between the U.S. and its global alumni community while celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary.

The Douglas County Community Foundation in Kansas is inviting applications for its Livewell Community Wellness Grants, aimed at supporting organizations that promote healthy eating and physical activity, or offer programs to reduce lifestyle-related chronic diseases, with the proposal required to come from a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or government entity and benefit the residents of Douglas County.

The Richardton Area Community Foundation, an affiliate of the North Dakota Community Foundation, is currently accepting applications for grants to support projects or nonprofit organizations within the Richardton area. Established in 1981, the foundation's core mission is to address the lack of funding for local organizations and foster community development. This grant program is a direct extension of that mission, aiming to provide financial assistance to initiatives that positively impact the residents of the Richardton–Taylor area. The primary target beneficiaries for this grant program are 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax-exempt groups, government agencies, and organizations operating within the Richardton–Taylor area. Groups without 501(c)(3) designation can apply with a fiscal sponsor. Religious organizations are eligible, provided their activities are non-denominational and serve the entire community. The overarching impact goal is to fund projects that offer broad community benefit, addressing various needs and improving the quality of life for a greater number of residents. The foundation prioritizes projects or programs that benefit a greater number of residents and those that demonstrate the applicant will seek or has secured other funding sources. This indicates a strategic focus on initiatives with widespread community reach and a commitment to leveraging diverse funding streams for sustainability. Conversely, low priority is given to requests for multiple-year funding and those for operating funds or day-to-day expenses, suggesting a preference for project-specific funding with clear objectives and a defined timeline. Expected outcomes include the successful implementation of community-benefiting projects and the strengthening of local nonprofit organizations and government agencies. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed in the provided information, the emphasis on projects benefiting a "greater number of residents" implies that successful applications will demonstrate a quantifiable positive impact on the community. The Advisory Committee retains discretion over funding decisions and extensions, allowing for flexibility and ensuring alignment with the foundation's strategic priorities. The foundation does not fund grants or scholarships for individuals.

This funding opportunity provides up to $10,000 to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions for creating engaging media projects that promote public understanding of humanities topics in Oklahoma.

This funding program provides financial support for projects that improve access to the arts for underserved groups, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, seniors, and military families.

This grant supports the well-being of California’s cultural vitality by helping sustain a robust and diverse arts workforce and infrastructure. Funds may be used to support any eligible expenses associated with the general operations of an arts or cultural organization, including but not limited to rent, utilities, and staff salaries. Applying for this grant does not restrict an organization from applying for other CAC project-based grants. General Operating grants areintended to support the applicant organization in carrying out its mission. Funding is not intended to support a specific project.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in West Alabama to address critical community needs in areas such as arts, education, health, and social welfare through innovative and collaborative projects.

This grant provides financial support to Illinois artists and non-profit organizations for various arts-related projects, programming, events, and professional development opportunities.

This program provides financial support to nonprofit arts and culture organizations, local arts districts, and individual professionals in Pennsylvania to help them recover and stabilize after the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This funding opportunity provides up to $1,500 for urgent needs to government, Tribal, and non-profit organizations within specific counties in Oregon and Washington, excluding event sponsorships and operational budget support.

This grant provides funding for journalists and media producers in North America to create nonfiction content that explores the various forms of love and its impact on society, aiming to promote understanding and connection in the face of division and loneliness.

This funding program provides financial support to local artists and nonprofit arts organizations in Los Angeles County to create engaging cultural arts projects that benefit the Burbank community.

This fund provides financial support for nonprofits working on projects that improve the quality of life in rural communities across West-Central Texas.

This grant provides funding for nonprofit arts organizations, schools, and higher education institutions in Tennessee to conduct immersive professional development workshops focused on arts education and integration.

These grants support 501(c)(3) organizations in preserving Texas history. Eligible projects include historic property preservation, events promoting state history, preservation of artifacts or archival materials, Texas history education, museum programming, publications on Texas history, archeology, and cultural heritage. Grants are awarded quarterly for up to $5,000 (micro-grants) and annually for up to $25,000. Applicants must submit a letter of inquiry detailing their project to grants@texashistoricalfoundation.org by no later than April 1, 2024. Approved funding for 2024 will be announced by the last week of September, 2024.

This funding opportunity supports scholarly publications and conservation projects related to the art, architecture, and material culture of the Islamic world prior to 1920 CE, aimed at individuals and institutions dedicated to preserving and promoting Islamic heritage.

The Rochester Area Community Foundation is offering the Bullis Grant, an "ACTIVE" grant program focused on improving the quality of life for residents of Wayne County, Utah. Specifically, the grant aims to benefit the Town of Macedon or areas served by the Palmyra-Macedon Central School District within Wayne County. The foundation's mission, as reflected by Miss Bullis's interest, emphasizes providing a "hand up" rather than a "hand out," aligning with a strategic priority to foster self-sufficiency and sustainable community development. The target beneficiaries are residents of southwest Wayne County, with a particular emphasis on Macedon and the Palmyra-Macedon Central School District. The impact goal is to make these areas significantly better, demonstrating a substantial community-wide impact. The foundation's theory of change appears to be that by supporting projects that require matching components and demonstrate ongoing stability, they can achieve lasting positive change rather than short-term fixes. The priorities and focuses for this grant include projects that show direct or indirect benefit to residents of southwest Wayne County, make the area significantly better, and have a significant community-wide impact. A key focus is on projects that secure matching or leveraged support, as Bullis Fund grants will not cover 100 percent of any project. This highlights the foundation's strategic priority to encourage shared investment and broader community engagement in funded initiatives. Expected outcomes include improved quality of life for residents and significant community-wide impact in southwest Wayne County. Measurable results are implicitly tied to the project's ability to demonstrate how it makes the area "significantly better" and its "significant community-wide impact." The foundation also prioritizes projects with ongoing stability and financial sustainability, indicating an expectation that funded initiatives will continue to thrive beyond the grant period. The grant explicitly states that it will not fund administrative overhead, general operating support, or projects that do not directly benefit the target residents, further defining its strategic priorities and the types of outcomes it seeks to achieve.