Private Arts Grants

The Humanities Montana’s Community Project Grants support public humanities programming throughout Montana. This initiative aligns with the foundation's mission to strengthen community and culture by promoting civic engagement, sparking thoughtful community dialogue, and reflecting on the human experience across the state. These grants are designed to foster bold and innovative projects that are meaningful to local communities and inspire timely community conversations. The primary target beneficiaries are the general public across Montana, with a particular emphasis on engaging diverse communities and cultures. The impact goals include deepening public understanding of significant humanities questions, building on sound humanities scholarship, and fostering analytical approaches that present a variety of perspectives. The program aims to strengthen cultural understanding and civic participation through accessible and appealing formats. The program prioritizes projects focused on clearly defined humanities themes. Funding is available for a wide array of formats, including storytelling, historical analysis, public writing workshops, literacy programs, ethical inquiry, interpretation at historic sites, book festivals, exhibits, lectures, speaker series, panel discussions, teacher institutes & workshops, humanities program planning, reading & discussion programs, and various humanities events. All projects must involve humanities scholars (academic, professional, or subject-expert) in all aspects and require at least one confirmed subject-expert. Expected outcomes include increased public engagement with humanities topics, enhanced community dialogue, and a deeper reflection on the human experience. Measurable results will likely be demonstrated through the reach and participation in the programs, the quality of humanities scholarship integrated, and the active involvement of communities and cultures represented in project content. For projects involving Native American communities, letters of support from participating scholars, researchers, and/or program participants are required, outlining their involvement. The maximum award for these grants ranges from $2,000 to $10,000.

The Devasthali Family Foundation Fund, established by Drs. Ammu and Rama Devasthali in 2011, is dedicated to fostering community development through the support of the arts, education, and initiatives addressing child hunger in southern New Mexico. This fund aims to enhance the quality of life for residents across twelve counties by financing both new and ongoing projects. Non-profit organizations operating within Catron, Chaves, Doña Ana, Eddy, Grant, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, Otero, Sierra, and Socorro Counties are invited to seek funding. Grants are typically awarded in amounts ranging from $1,500 to $4,000, targeting efforts that have a significant, positive impact on the community.

This funding opportunity supports projects that improve the quality of life in Greenwood County through initiatives in arts, community development, parks, recreation, and animal welfare.

The Greater Worcester Community Foundation is inviting applications for its 2024 Community Grant Program, focusing on projects in Arts & Creativity, Basic Needs, and Economic Opportunity. This program is designed to be responsive and flexible, incorporating trust-based philanthropic principles to streamline the application process, encourage more interactive engagement, and offer diverse methods for storytelling. The foundation's mission aligns with this grant by seeking to build a diverse arts and culture ecosystem, ensure access to food and shelter, and promote economic opportunity through English Language Learning and Job Training & Financial Literacy programs within Worcester County. The grant program targets residents of Worcester County as its primary beneficiaries, with a strong emphasis on access and barrier reduction. Organizations based in or having a meaningful physical presence in Worcester County, or those providing unduplicated services with authentic local partnerships, are eligible. The impact goals revolve around addressing pressing community needs through creative and innovative solutions, fostering equity, amplifying community voice, and disrupting existing systems. The program prioritizes three key focus areas. Arts & Creativity aims to build and support a diverse and strong arts and culture ecosystem where all individuals feel they belong. Basic Needs concentrates on ensuring all community residents have access to food and shelter. Economic Opportunity focuses on English Language Learning programs and Job Training & Financial Literacy programs to empower individuals and enhance their financial well-being. Projects will be assessed based on several selection criteria, which inherently define the expected outcomes and measurable results. These include the feasibility of the proposed work and budget within the grant range ($2,500 - $25,000), the level of access and barrier reduction created for Worcester County residents, and the degree of creative or innovative solutions provided for community needs. Furthermore, projects must demonstrate measurable and manageable goals and outcomes aligned with one or more of the specified focus areas, along with an organizational commitment to equity, community voice, and systems disruption, backed by sound financial and governance functions.

The Children’s Foundation of Mississippi (CFM) is offering up to 10 small planning grants to establish local Early Childhood Councils (ECCs) across all counties in Mississippi. The primary goal of these grants is to foster community-led initiatives that improve conditions for children aged 0-5 and their families. This aligns with CFM's mission to advance early childhood programming by empowering local communities to identify needs and promote solutions. The grants, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, are designed to support the initial planning stages of these councils. The target beneficiaries are children aged 0-5 and their families in Mississippi, particularly those in neighborhoods, cities, and counties where early childhood programming is lacking. The impact goals include expanding civic engagement with policymakers on children's issues, advocating for and supporting policies that increase state funding for high-quality public Pre-K, and building partnerships with established non-profits and programs like Excel By 5 and the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. The grants prioritize communities that seek to build a committee focused on one or more key areas: expanding civic engagement with policymakers, advocating for high-quality public Pre-K funding, serving as a facilitator for partnerships with existing programs, implementing unique early childhood programs in underserved areas, and identifying unmet program or service needs within their communities. These focus areas are critical to CFM's strategic priorities of fostering local leadership and collaborative efforts to address early childhood development challenges. Expected outcomes include the establishment of new or strengthened Early Childhood Councils that are actively working to improve conditions for young children and their families. Measurable results will stem from the successful planning and initiation of activities aligned with the council's goals, such as increased community leader involvement, development of local action plans, and the identification of specific programming or policy advocacy targets. The foundation's theory of change posits that by empowering local entities to assess needs and lead initiatives, sustainable improvements in early childhood outcomes can be achieved at the community level.

This grant provides financial support to farmers in specific Massachusetts counties for purchasing essential equipment to improve their agricultural operations.

The Koch Family Foundation's grant program aims to foster a vibrant and inclusive community within Kansas. This mission aligns with the foundation's core belief that every individual possesses unique gifts and talents. The foundation's strategic priority is to "unleash" these abilities by supporting programs that create opportunities for all people to develop their full potential and make lasting contributions to society. This theory of change suggests that by empowering individuals, the foundation can contribute to a stronger and more dynamic community. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are individuals within Kansas, although grants are awarded to charitable organizations (501(c)(3)) that serve these individuals, not directly to individuals themselves. The overarching impact goal is to enable people to reach their full potential, thereby contributing positively to society. The foundation focuses on programs that facilitate development and allow for meaningful societal contributions. The foundation prioritizes initiatives that align with its goal of individual empowerment and community building. It explicitly states what it does not fund, which helps to define its focus areas by exclusion. These excluded areas include individual support (with the exception of the Koch Scholarship Awards Program), individual schools and churches, venture capital, athletic associations, trip sponsorships, initiatives outside Kansas, political or lobbying activities, endowment funds, and capital campaigns. This indicates a focus on program-specific funding that directly impacts people's development and contribution within the state. Expected outcomes and measurable results are broadly tied to the development of abilities and the making of lasting contributions to society. While the provided text does not specify quantitative metrics, the qualitative goals are clear: fostering individual potential and societal contribution. Organizations seeking funding would likely need to demonstrate how their programs lead to these outcomes, aligning with the foundation's strategic priorities and its theory that empowering individuals strengthens the community.

The City of Spokane, through its Accounting and Grants Department, is offering a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) to support community-serving organizations with capital campaign expenses. This grant program aims to provide capital dollars to help organizations secure physical locations for operation, ultimately expanding services and benefiting historically marginalized communities. The program aligns with a mission to foster community development and support vital organizations within the City of Spokane. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are 501c3 organizations registered within the City of Spokane, particularly those establishing or expanding multicultural centers. These centers must be located within city limits and dedicate over 50% of their space to outward-facing multicultural activities. The impact goal is to strengthen the infrastructure of community-serving organizations, enabling them to provide expanded and more accessible services to their target populations. The program prioritizes organizations demonstrating a clear need for a capital project, a proven history of serving historically marginalized communities, and fiscal responsibility. Key tasks for funding include strategic planning, feasibility studies, campaign implementation, and staff training related to capital campaigns. The focus is on ensuring that the funded projects are well-planned, sustainable, and directly contribute to the organization's ability to serve its community effectively. Expected outcomes include the successful implementation of capital campaigns, resulting in organizations securing or expanding their physical operating locations. Measurable results will include the completion of projects by June 30, 2026, with funds contracted by December 31, 2024. This initiative reflects a strategic priority to invest in community infrastructure and empower organizations that are vital to the social and cultural well-being of Spokane's diverse population. The theory of change is that by providing capital for physical locations, the City can enable organizations to better serve and expand their reach within the community.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in the Berkshire Taconic region to support capacity-building projects that enhance governance, diversity, and overall effectiveness in serving their communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to small professional theaters in New York State with limited budgets, helping them enhance their operations and compensate artists while promoting inclusivity in the arts.

This grant provides financial support for Cuyahoga County-based artists to fund public projects, events, or specific needs related to their creative practices.

The Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation (IWCF) invites applications for its 2024–2025 Grants Cycle to support projects that address critical needs in Southwestern Idaho. Eligible organizations include nonprofit 501(c)(3) entities, educational institutions, government agencies, and tax-exempt religious organizations serving the counties of Ada, Adams, Boise, Camas, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley, and Washington. Proposals should present creative solutions to community challenges, with plans for sustainability beyond IWCF funding. Funds may be distributed over one or two years but are expected to be used within the year they are received. For this cycle, IWCF will consider proposals in six interest areas. These include Cultural Arts, supporting visual and performing arts and humanities for underserved populations; Education, targeting learning opportunities for all ages, such as early childhood programs and literacy initiatives; Environment, focusing on conservation, reclamation, and environmental education; Financial Stability, addressing poverty, homelessness, and job training; Health, which includes health care, substance abuse, and wellness programs; and Rural Communities, assisting towns with populations under 30,000 or rural-focused programs provided by urban-based organizations. Applicants must select one area when applying. Funding requests may range from $20,000 to $30,000. IWCF will not fund organizations with annual revenues under $50,000, general operating costs unrelated to the specific grant request, ongoing program costs not tied to expansions or new initiatives, or activities such as lobbying, scholarships, or endowment contributions. Applications currently receiving IWCF funding must wait 12 months after submitting their End-of-Grant report to apply again. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. The grant timeline begins with the application opening on October 2, 2024, followed by a Virtual Nonprofit Education and Q&A Session on November 4, 2024. Applications are due by January 7, 2025. The grants committee will review applications and conduct site visits between January and March 2025. Organizations will be notified of funding decisions in April, with grants awarded in May 2025. Applicants are encouraged to prepare proposals carefully, aligning them with IWCF’s funding priorities and demonstrating measurable outcomes and clear sustainability plans. For more details, organizations can participate in the virtual Q&A session and access additional resources provided by IWCF.

The Jackson County Community Foundation is offering community grants to qualified charitable organizations that serve the local community within Jackson County, North Carolina. This grant program aligns with the foundation's mission to address a broad range of local needs, supporting essential services and development within the community. The grants are intended to foster local initiatives that improve the well-being of residents and strengthen community infrastructure across various sectors. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are diverse, encompassing individuals and groups benefiting from human services, education, youth development, health, food/nutrition, and arts programs. The impact goals are to meet a wide array of community needs, providing support to vulnerable populations, enhancing educational opportunities, promoting healthy lifestyles, and enriching cultural experiences. The foundation prioritizes organizations that are 501(c)(3) public charities, local governments (including public schools), fire and rescue departments, and religious entities engaged in social outreach programs. The program focuses on funding initiatives that provide tangible benefits to the community-at-large, with a particular emphasis on services that are accessible and non-discriminatory. Expected outcomes include improved access to essential services, enhanced community programs, and a strengthened local support network. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the range of grants, the implied results are the successful implementation of programs in the areas of human services, education, youth development, health, food/nutrition, and arts. The Jackson County Community Foundation's strategic priorities are to address local needs comprehensively through community-focused grantmaking. Their theory of change appears to be that by funding a diverse range of charitable organizations and public service entities, they can collectively create a more resilient, educated, healthy, and culturally vibrant community. The grant size typically ranges from $1,000 to $3,000, indicating a focus on supporting numerous local projects rather than a few large-scale initiatives.

The G. William Hartzell Charitable Fund of The Piqua Community Foundation invites charitable organizations serving Piqua residents to apply for unrestricted funding. The Piqua Community Foundation's mission is to encourage charitable giving to benefit the citizens of Piqua, and this grant program directly aligns with that mission by providing financial support to local organizations. The foundation offers various methods for donors to fulfill their charitable giving wishes, and the Hartzell Fund is a key component of this strategy, focusing on direct community benefit. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant are the residents of Piqua, as served by eligible charitable organizations. The impact goal is to support a wide array of charitable activities that improve the lives of Piqua citizens, without specific programmatic restrictions. This allows recipient organizations to address their most pressing needs and implement initiatives that they deem most effective for the community. The program's priorities and focus are on broad community support, rather than specific sectors or types of projects. While the foundation's community grants often go to school organizations, the Hartzell grants are explicitly not intended to be school-specific. However, organizations that operate within school systems, such as UVMC Rachel’s Challenge or Brukner’s Owl Extraordinaire program, are still eligible to apply, indicating a nuanced approach to supporting educational or youth-focused initiatives within a broader community context. Expected outcomes include the sustained operation and enhanced services of charitable organizations within Piqua, ultimately leading to a stronger, more vibrant community. While specific measurable results are not detailed in the provided information, the unrestricted nature of the funding implies that recipient organizations will be responsible for defining and achieving their own impact metrics, which align with their individual missions and the overall benefit of Piqua residents. The Piqua Community Foundation's strategic priority, as evidenced by this fund, is to act as a significant enabler of local philanthropy and community development. Their theory of change appears to be that by providing flexible, unrestricted funding to well-established and impactful charitable organizations, they empower these groups to most effectively address community needs. This approach allows for a dynamic response to evolving challenges within Piqua, fostering a resilient and supportive environment for its residents.

The Café Royal Cultural Foundation NYC offers a writing grant specifically for authors of fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry. This grant program aligns with the foundation's mission to support the arts, specifically by fostering the creation of written works that explore and interpret the world. The foundation emphasizes the role of the writer as a storyteller, someone who seeks truth, rejects falsehoods, and uses their unique gifts to pursue enduring literary contributions. The target beneficiaries for this grant are individual authors who are current citizens or residents of the United States and who currently reside in New York City, having lived there for a minimum of one year prior to applying. They must also plan to remain a resident through the completion of their project. The impact goal is to empower these writers to develop and complete original written material, contributing to the rich literary landscape and offering new perspectives on the human experience. The program prioritizes original written material from the applicant. Grants are not intended for research-only purposes or for the purchase of equipment, focusing instead on the direct creation of literary works. This focus underscores the foundation's strategic priority to directly support the artistic process of writing, rather than ancillary activities. The theory of change suggests that by providing financial support to talented writers, the foundation enables the production of significant literary works that might otherwise go undeveloped. Expected outcomes include the completion of new works of fiction, creative non-fiction, or poetry by the grant recipients. Measurable results could include the publication of these works, their presentation at literary events, or their contribution to a deeper cultural understanding. The grant size, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, provides substantial support to facilitate these outcomes, reflecting the foundation's commitment to investing in the creative endeavors of New York City-based writers.

The Welch Charitable Fund, administered by the Maine Community Foundation, is dedicated to supporting organizations that address the needs of individuals within the Greater Portland (Cumberland County) area. This grant program is designed to align with the foundation's broader mission of fostering community well-being by channeling resources to critical areas of need. The fund's strategic approach emphasizes targeted support for local initiatives, ensuring that grants directly benefit the communities they serve. The fund's primary beneficiaries are individuals residing in the Greater Portland area, with a specific focus on vulnerable populations. The grants are intended to create a tangible impact by supporting projects centered on youth, education, healthcare, recovery from substance use disorder, and arts and culture. The overarching impact goal is to enhance the scope, efficiency, or effectiveness of organizations, ultimately improving the quality of life for residents in Cumberland County. The Welch Charitable Fund has clearly defined priorities, including a particular interest in capital investments and select capital campaigns. This strategic focus aims to strengthen the long-term capacity of recipient organizations. Projects must serve the Greater Portland area and concentrate on the identified areas of youth, education, healthcare, recovery, and arts and culture. This ensures that funding is directed towards initiatives that address pressing community challenges. The expected outcomes of this grant program include an increase in the number of people served or services provided, as well as improvements in organizational efficiency and effectiveness. The median award of $10,000 suggests that the fund aims to provide meaningful support to a range of projects. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed, the focus on increasing scope and improving efficiency implies a commitment to quantifiable progress in the target areas. The foundation's theory of change appears to be rooted in the belief that targeted financial support for vital community services will lead to stronger, more resilient communities.

The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (IEJF) awards grants to support legal assistance for low-income Illinois residents who cannot afford an attorney, aligning with its core mission of promoting equal access to justice. These grants enable not-for-profit organizations to provide critical civil legal aid, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent vulnerable populations from addressing legal challenges. The foundation's strategic priority is to support direct service staff positions, including attorneys, paralegals, pro bono coordinators, and social/caseworkers, to enhance the capacity of legal service providers to deliver efficient and effective assistance. The grant program targets two primary beneficiary groups: families in crisis and older Illinoisans. For families, the focus is on civil legal assistance in areas such as family law (e.g., orders of protection, child custody, guardianship, divorce), consumer law, and veterans and disability benefits. For older Illinoisans (aged 65 and above), the program aims to protect them from physical and financial abuse and hardship through civil legal assistance in cases involving orders of protection, guardianships, healthcare, consumer and credit issues, housing, and public benefits like Social Security and Medicare. Housing assistance is specifically excluded for families in crisis this year due to existing IEJF programs funded by IDHS and IHDA. The IEJF's grants are designed to achieve significant impact by strengthening the delivery of civil legal services. By funding staff positions, the foundation seeks to increase the availability of legal aid to those most in need. Expected outcomes include improved legal protection for families facing domestic issues, financial difficulties, and challenges related to veteran and disability benefits, as well as enhanced safeguarding of older adults from abuse and financial hardship. The theory of change posits that by investing in direct service staff, legal aid organizations can better address complex legal needs, leading to more equitable justice outcomes for low-income individuals. Measurable results will stem from the effective deployment of grant funds to support direct service staff. Applicants must demonstrate how proposed staff positions will enhance the organization's ability to provide efficient and effective legal assistance in the priority areas. While specific quantitative metrics are not detailed in the provided information, the emphasis on direct service staff suggests a focus on the volume and quality of legal aid cases handled and the number of individuals served within the designated priority areas. The foundation's commitment to organizations with a proven track record (e.g., continuous operation for at least two years, expenditures of at least $200,000 for civil legal assistance, and employment of four or more full-time attorneys or provision of legal representation to at least 200 low-income persons via pro bono attorneys) indicates a desire for sustainable and impactful interventions.

This grant provides funding for DC-based individuals, community groups, and nonprofit organizations to create innovative public programs that showcase existing oral history collections and engage the local community.

This funding opportunity supports small and mid-sized organizations and individual artists in San Francisco who are connected to historically marginalized communities, helping them sustain their work and remain in the city.

The Facility Start-Up/New License Grant, offered by Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI) in Maine, aims to support entrepreneurs in establishing new child care facilities or expanding existing ones. This grant provides funding to help new child care businesses cover up to 50% of their start-up costs, with a total award ceiling of $80,000, and a general grant size ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. CEI's mission, though not explicitly detailed in the provided text, can be inferred as supporting economic development and community well-being through strategic investments, particularly in vital services like child care. The target beneficiaries of this grant are individuals and organizations (sole proprietors, partnerships, cooperatives, nonprofit organizations, and employers) interested in starting or expanding child care facilities outside of a home environment. The impact goals are to increase access to quality child care, particularly in specific counties of Maine, and to foster business growth in this essential sector. By providing start-up capital, the program seeks to alleviate financial barriers for new and expanding child care providers, thereby strengthening the child care infrastructure. Priority is given to applications from Aroostook, Franklin, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, and Washington Counties in Maine, indicating a strategic focus on underserved or high-need areas within the state. Additionally, bonus points are awarded to applicants who commit to providing care for infants and toddlers, serving income-eligible families (those receiving subsidies), and participating in the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program. These priorities align with broader goals of supporting vulnerable populations and improving the nutritional well-being of children. The grant funds can be used for a wide range of purposes, including purchasing, renting, or renovating buildings for child care, constructing new facilities, acquiring educational materials, indoor furniture, outdoor learning environments, playground equipment, and health and safety supplies. Importantly, funds can also cover working capital for the first month, including pre-opening payroll and initial food costs. The expected outcomes include a measurable increase in the number of high-quality child care slots, particularly for infants, toddlers, and income-eligible families, in the designated priority counties. This initiative directly supports community development by addressing critical social and economic needs related to child care accessibility and quality.