Best Grants for the Arts in Alabama

Alabama nonprofits and charitable organizations seeking support for arts, culture, education, environment, health, human services, or community benefit projects can apply for funding; the deadline is November 1 each year. The Comer Foundation prioritizes educational scholarships and other charitable efforts, especially in counties where Avondale Mills operated, including Jefferson, Talladega, and Barbour.

The Frankenmuth Insurance Foundation Charitable Grant supports qualified charities focused on community betterment and basic human needs. Founded in 2016, it aims to enhance lives through initiatives such as affordable housing, health programs, and the arts. Organizations eligible for funding must be tax-exempt and serve areas where Frankenmuth Insurance operates. Notably, the foundation excludes support for individuals, political groups, and projects typically financed by governments, ensuring its resources benefit the wider community.

Alabama nonprofit arts organizations and qualifying public or tribal entities can receive up to US $1,000 to support staff and board professional development, including conferences, workshops, and organization-wide training. South Arts funds travel, registration, and consultant expenses for first-time opportunities that build capacity and sustainability for arts and culture work across the Southern region.

The Holle Family Foundation Grant supports nonprofits in central Alabama that address societal needs, promote leadership, and celebrate culture. It aims to empower vulnerable populations, foster youth leadership through service, and enhance community appreciation of art and history. Grants are focused on specific needs such as educational opportunities and physical improvements for nonprofits. The Foundation prioritizes innovative solutions to community challenges and looks for measurable impacts from its funding.

With a mission to advance women’s leadership and community impact, Junior League of Birmingham provides Alabama arts and culture nonprofits with up to US $25,000 for transformational projects. Eligible organizations in Jefferson or Shelby County may receive funding that promotes systemic change benefiting women and children through arts, education, health, safety, or related initiatives.

Alabama arts and culture nonprofits, 501(c)(3) organizations, academic institutions, and government entities can seek funding to install roadside markers celebrating local folktales, legends, and folklife traditions. William G Pomeroy Foundation supports community culture and heritage through its Legends & Lore Marker Grant Program, which promotes cultural tourism and preserves shared stories and customs.

The Daniel Foundation of Alabama provides operating grants, up to $25,000, aimed at strengthening communities and enhancing quality of life. Key focus areas include early childhood education, K-12 academic improvements, adult life skills, arts and community support, and health services. Eligible organizations must be based in Alabama and meet specific criteria, including revenue limits and employee requirements, to qualify for funding to benefit local residents.

Nonprofit organizations in Alabama working in areas like arts and cultural enrichment can apply for Alabama Power Foundation’s Elevate Grant, with awards up to Up to US $5,000 to support workforce development, poverty alleviation, and capacity-building projects. Programs should serve underserved communities and demonstrate sound fiscal management and diverse funding support.

Arts and culture nonprofits in Alabama’s Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Pickens, Lamar, Marengo, Sumter, and Tuscaloosa counties can seek project funding for creative, educational, health, environmental, or social welfare initiatives. The Community Foundation of West Alabama favors pilot projects addressing critical community needs, root causes, and collaborative solutions with clear plans for future sustainability.

Nonprofit organizations in Alabama seeking program, operating, or capital support for arts and culture or related community initiatives can apply; awards up to Up to US $30,000 are available for specific programs. Grants from Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation also support education, neighborhood revitalization, environment, and strategic community assets in designated Alabama counties.

Alabama 501(c)(3) public charities and governmental units can seek funding for arts and culture, education, health, human services, and community or economic development projects benefiting Southwest Alabama. The J L Bedsole Foundation supports work in Mobile, Baldwin, Clarke, Monroe, and Washington Counties, especially collaborative, well-managed projects with lasting community impact and service to underserved residents.

With a mission to strengthen communities, Alabama Power Foundation provides Alabama arts and culture organizations with funding up to US $10,000 for projects in educational advancement, arts enrichment, and community development. Eligible programs should create lasting community improvements, encourage collaboration, and be replicable across Alabama Power’s service-area communities.

Arts and culture 501(c)(3) organizations in Alabama can seek funding for charitable programs, with priority for work benefiting children, indigent Native Americans, and neglected animals. With a mission to support diverse charitable causes, Melba Bayers Meyer Charitable Trust also considers projects in education, health, human services, and public benefit that incorporate the arts.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in select Alabama counties working in arts education, educational advancement, environmental stewardship, or community services can seek support for programs, capital campaigns, or general operations. EBSCO Industries’ Community Impact Grant prioritizes quality education, arts education for marginalized populations, and protection of Alabama’s natural resources through a two-step LOI and invitation-only proposal process.

Nonprofit arts and culture organizations in Alabama, particularly in the Greater Birmingham area, can seek funding for programs that enrich community life and expand access to creative experiences. The Joseph S Bruno Charitable Foundation supports initiatives that strengthen community health and education, including arts activities that benefit families and children.

Alabama 501(c)(3) nonprofits offering arts and culture, education, basic needs, health, environment, recreation, or community development programs in Huntsville and surrounding counties can apply for support through the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville’s IronMountain Solutions Employee Peaks Fund. Eligible organizations must be community-based, serve all residents equitably, and fit one of the fund’s quality-of-life priorities.

Nonprofit and governmental arts presenting organizations in Alabama and the broader South Arts region can apply for South Arts’ Professional Development and Artistic Planning Grants, with awards up to US $1,000 for staff or guest artist travel and related training costs. Funding supports conferences, festivals, workshops, virtual professional development, and organizational capacity-building in multiple artistic disciplines.

Alabama arts and culture 501(c)(3) organizations can access funding through the Andrew Burgin Charitable Trust to support charitable, educational, scientific, and religious purposes. Grants of US $5,000 - US $20,000 are typically awarded, with support also available for humanities, environment, health, human services, and public benefit programs.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, government entities, educational institutions, and religious organizations in Alabama’s Tri-City communities can seek up to US $25,100 total in funding for arts, mental health, education, workforce, leadership, and economic opportunity programs. Community Foundation of South Alabama supports project, program, and capacity-building efforts serving Foley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and nearby areas.

Alabama schools and education-focused organizations serving PreK–12 students in arts education can apply for Alabama State Council on the Arts curriculum-based project grants, with awards of US $1,000 - US $10,000. Funding supports sequential, curriculum-connected arts learning that enhances educational experiences and expands youth involvement in the arts across Alabama classrooms.

Alabama arts organizations and community groups can receive US $1,000 - US $10,000 for public arts projects and events in Alabama. Alabama State Council on the Arts supports festivals, performances, exhibitions, classes, workshops, commissioned works, and other activities that enhance arts education, preserve folk traditions, and expand access to diverse cultural expressions statewide.

Alabama State Council on the Arts

The mission of the Alabama State Council on the Arts is: To enhance the quality of life and economic vitality for all Alabamians by providing support for the state’s diverse and rich artistic resources.

Agency Goals:

• Support excellence and professionalism in the arts.
• Provide opportunities for high-quality arts education for every Alabama student and lifelong learner.
• Provide opportunities for all Alabamians to experience the arts.
• Identify, preserve, and present folk art traditions.
• Promote diverse cultural artistic expressions.
• Recognize and support the arts as a driver of economic vitality.
• Increase public recognition and appreciation for the arts, arts organizations, and individual artists.

Projects

Project Grants are the most frequently applied for grant type, allowing a wide range of activities and events that result in positive arts experiences for the public. Project Grant proposals have included:

• Festivals.
• Performances.
• Research and field surveys.
• Exhibitions.
• Author readings.
• Juried competitions.
• Theatrical productions.
• Classes and workshops.
• The creation or commissioning of works of art.
• …And many other arts-oriented activities.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, religious institutions, and government agencies in Greater Huntsville can seek up to US $50,000 for high-impact, collaborative, visionary programs. Grants from Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville help Alabama arts and culture groups, alongside other quality-of-life initiatives, fund program costs and related staff or volunteer training across multiple focus areas.

The Philip A. Morris Fund for the Design Arts, established by Philip Morris in 2015, aims to enhance community awareness of the design arts and their impact. This fund supports various design initiatives, including urban planning and architecture, through grants awarded annually. Eligible applicants, primarily nonprofit organizations serving specific Alabama counties, can request funding for new programs or operational support. The fund emphasizes community building and collaboration within the design arts sector in the Greater Birmingham area.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and eligible public agencies in nine Northeast Alabama counties can seek support for programs serving needy children, disadvantaged youth, and the arts. Focused on community betterment, the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama’s Farley Moody Galbraith Fund offers flexible project funding that may benefit Alabama arts and culture initiatives.

South Arts Inc

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, South Arts is a nonprofit regional arts organization empowering artists, organizations, and communities, and increasing access to arts and culture.

In partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the State Arts Agencies of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee — with additional funding from other public and private donors such as the Doris Duke Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and Mellon Foundation — South Arts supports artists and organizations through a rich and responsive portfolio of grants, fellowships, and programs. Why? Because South Arts believes that the arts elevate the region, increasing connectedness and inspiring meaningful change in the process.

Our mission: Advancing Southern vitality through the arts.

Arts in Community Grants

Program Description

Arts in Community Grants are designed to support deeper engagements between Southern communities and artists. Through these grants supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, we aim to increase access to the arts, expand audiences for artists, and broaden our reach. Eligible projects require a Southern artist/company visiting another Southern state for public activities, offering access to arts programming by professional artists. Funding supports Southern film directors, traditional artists, visual artists, performing artists, or writers:

• film (documentary, fiction, experimental, and animation),
• traditional arts (music, dance, storytelling, and visual arts/crafts),
• visual arts (crafts, drawing, experimental, painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media),
• performing arts (theater, music, opera, musical theater, and dance), and
• literary arts (fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry).

Projects require an artist or artist ensemble and a host or partner organization. Project must include at least two in-person or live, virtual public activities – both a public presentation (a film screening, performance, reading, or exhibition) and an educational/community engagement activity (a workshop, demonstration, lecture, facilitated discussion, or master class). The grant requires a dollar-for-dollar cash match.

Nonprofit arts and culture organizations in Alabama’s Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile areas can apply for First Horizon Foundation’s funding to strengthen community programs. Grants support initiatives in arts and culture alongside education, health and human services, environmental sustainability, and financial literacy, offering flexible support for organizations enhancing local quality of life.