Search Through Grants for Performing Arts in Tennessee in the U.S.

Global Impact Cash Grants

Identifying and incubating innovative early-stage solutions. We identify, incubate, and develop innovative early-stage solutions with the highest potential for impact. Global Impact Cash Grants go to nonprofit organizations (NPOs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that address a significant social problem. We're looking for programs that fit within our investment sectors, focus on the underserved, and use technology to improve the reach and efficiency of services.

We accept applications year-round from eligible organizations. A brief Letter of Inquiry (LOI) is used to determine whether your organization will be invited to complete a full application. Please expand and carefully review each of the three sections below to learn more

Our priority social impact sectors

We focus on investing in innovative, tech-enabled solutions to the challenges and opportunities that matter most to communities in need, prioritizing four social impact sectors:

Cisco Crisis Response

Mobilizing to provide essentials to communities in need and those in crisis, including food, housing, secure connectivity, and disaster relief

By leveraging Cisco’s people, technology, financial resources, and strategic partnerships, we help strengthen community resilience and drive long-term recovery from crises.

Education

Supporting students, teachers, and schools by increasing engagement, building skills, promoting subject mastery, and expanding their capacity to thrive

Cisco is committed to inclusive access to digital skills training and supporting those who use technology to educate. Through programs like Cisco Networking Academy and social investments in education, we create new opportunities for individuals to thrive.

Economic Empowerment

Transforming communities through skill development, long-term career opportunities, entrepreneurship, and access to financial products and services

Strategic grants that unlock economic prosperity and growth for individuals and communities.

Climate Regeneration

Building an inclusive, regenerative, and resilient climate future through education, regenerative agriculture, conservation, protection, and clean energy solutions

Our efforts began in 2021, when the Cisco Foundation committed US$100 million over 10 years to fund nonprofit grants and impact investing in climate solutions. 

Community Grants

State Farm is committed to helping build safer, stronger and better-educated communities.

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​We are committed to auto and home safety programs and activities that help people manage the risks of everyday life.
• We invest in education, economic empowerment and community development projects, programs and services that help people realize their dreams.
• We help maintain the vibrancy of our communities by assisting nonprofits that support community revitalization.

Good Neighbor Citizenship company grants focus on safety, community development and education.

Focus Areas

Safety Grants

We strive to keep our customers and communities safe. That's why our funding is directed toward:

• Auto safety — improving driver, passenger, vehicle or roadway safety
• Home safety — shielding homes from fires, crime or natural disasters
• Disaster preparedness and mitigation
• Disaster recovery

Community Development

We support nonprofits that invest and develop stronger neighborhoods. That's why our funding is directed toward:

• Affordable housing — home construction and repair
• Commercial/small business development
• Job training
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Financial literacy
• Sustainable housing and transportation
• Food insecurity

Education

Our education funding is directed toward initiatives that support the following programs:

• Higher education
• K-12 academic performance
• K-12 STEM
• Pathways for college and career success

Our MissionAdvancing Southern vitality through the arts.

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. 

Professional Development Grants for Arts Organizations

Program Description

South Arts strongly believes that skill and knowledge building for arts organizations are integral to success and sustainability. These grants are designed to support the professional development needs of Southern arts organizations for increasing organizational capacity to achieve long-term sustainability, growth, and/or operational stability. This grant program is open to film, visual arts, performing arts, traditional arts, literary arts, and multidisciplinary arts organizations.

Funding can support staff or board participation at conferences, workshops, and other professional development opportunities and events. In addition, these grants can support expenses for in-person and virtual professional development for organization-wide staff learning and training. Funds support travel expenses (for example, lodging and air/ground transportation), admission/registration fees, or other related expenses (for example, consultant/service fees for staff learning/training sessions). 

In Our Community

Republic Bank recognizes the importance of making a lasting IMPACT, and that starts by strengthening the communities in which we live and work. We believe Republic Bank not only serves the community but is also a part of the community.

Together, we can make an impact that goes beyond banking. Bank with us, and let’s strengthen our community – together.

Generally, organizations and activities meeting the established criteria will fall into one of the following categories:

• Education and Youth Programs
• Family and Community Welfare
• Civic Projects
• Healthcare and Human Services
• Performing Arts and Cultural Activities
• Recreation and Preservation Programs

In-Kind Donations

Republic Bank occasionally donates used computer equipment, office equipment, and furniture to community organizations. 

Mission

Driven by a philanthropic calling to support marginalized communities throughout the world, the Semnani Family Foundation partners with on-the-ground organizations and leverages its resources in a cost-effective and efficient manner that delivers the maximum benefit.

History

Guided by his grandmother Maliheh’s example and teachings, Khosrow Semnani and his wife Ghazaleh established the Semnani Family Foundation in 1993. The foundation’s first grant was issued through CARE International to an orphanage in Romania that cared for newborns affected by HIV. Over the last few decades, the foundation has continued to build upon its mission to empower the disaffected, partnering with a variety of organizations in different countries who can make the greatest impact.

In addition to its global influence, the Semnani Family Foundation established roots within the state of Utah with the founding of Maliheh Free Clinic in 2005 to provide free healthcare to thousands of uninsured people in the Salt Lake City area.

Where We Work

The Semnani Family Foundation focuses primarily on promoting health, education, and disaster relief for marginalized communities all around the world. Driven by a clear mission to adapt and serve at the global level, we have leveraged our resources to make a meaningful impact in the following countries so far:

• Afghanistan
• Bosnia
• Colombia
• England
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Guatemala
• India
• Iran
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Mali
• Mexico
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Romania
• Somalia
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Tonga
• Uganda
• United States
• Yemen

At the heart of the Foundation lies a fervent commitment to human welfare, always prioritizing health and the needs of society’s most vulnerable.

The Sidney Stern Memorial Trust is devoted solely to the funding of charitable, scientific, medical and educational organizations.

The Board endeavors to support soundly-managed charitable organizations that give service with a broad scope, have a substantial effect on their target populations, and contribute materially to the general welfare. The Board does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.

Detailed Program Description

South Arts believes that rural communities deserve great art, and can require specialized support to make that vision viable. Distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, Express Grants support rural organizations and communities with expedited grants of up to $3,000. To be eligible for funding, applicants must program arts experiences featuring a Southern artist.

Express Grants are an opportunity for organizations in South Arts' nine-state region to receive fee support to present Southern guest film directors, visual and performing artists, or writers from inside or outside of the presenter's state. Artist fee support is awarded for:

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

Guidelines

Projects must include both a public presentation (film screening, performance, reading, or exhibition) and an educational/community engagement component. Based on the artist fee, the maximum request is $3,000. The grant requires a dollar-for-dollar cash match (for example, an applicant that requests $3,000 must provide a $3,000 cash match for a project with a $6,000 artist fee).

Policies

• The educational/community engagement component is integral to the project and should be carefully planned. A meaningful educational/community engagement component should involve concentrated preparation by the artist/company and presenter, including a learning event that has a lasting impact on the audience (e.g., workshops, lectures, and master classes). The artist(s)/company must conduct the educational/community engagement activity. Please be aware that failure to include an educational/community engagement component will result in ineligibility.
• Grants are NOT transferable to other events. All changes in an event must be submitted in writing to South Arts before the event. Awards may be revised or revoked in light of such changes.
• Grant awards require a dollar-for-dollar cash match. Applicants can request a grant up to 50% of the artist fee as listed in the artist contract or letter of agreement, up to $3,000 (subject to funding availability). For example, a project with an artist fee of $6,000 means the applicant can request $3,000 and must provide a cash match of $3,000. This grant does not support indirect and additional project costs.
• The minimum grant request is $500. The minimum artist fee for this grant program is $1,000.
• The maximum grant request is $3,000.

Arts Resilience Grant 

Arts Engage grants of up to $5,000 are available to arts organizations and local governments operating as arts organizations to support organizational development of effective leadership, sound management practices, diverse financial resources, successful partnerships, and technology improvements in the arts sector. Arts Engage grants are also available to nonprofit organizations and local governments to engage the creative sector to address needs or opportunities in communities through the arts. Applicants are asked to identify appropriate, realistic strategies for developing organizational skills or addressing challenges and opportunities, as well as demonstrate readiness to undertake capacity building activities. Proposed projects should enhance the overall artistic, educational, and/or cultural value of the organization to their communities and help maintain a strong infrastructure for the arts throughout Tennessee.

Applications that seek funds to engage touring artists for public performances should apply for a Touring grant. Funds from this grant opportunity cannot be used for any project or activity currently funded by other Tennessee Arts Commission grants.

• Arts organizations or local governments operating as arts organizations may apply for activities that include (but are not exclusive to) the following:
• Short-term consultations to assist with organizational opportunities and challenges, like contracting with a consultant to address administrative and managerial concerns such as short or long-term planning, audience development, marketing and promotion, board/staff development, accessibility planning/training, financial management, technical skills, and external environment challenges.
• Improvements to technology such as equipment purchases, website development or redesign or computer software purchases (software purchases must be accompanied by related training). Support of expenses related to ongoing website updates and maintenance is not allowed.

Arts organizations and nonprofit organizations and local governments that are considered “non-arts organizations” may also apply for activities that engage the creative sector in ways that:

• Address unique and/or immediate community needs or opportunities through arts activities that are open to the public
• Strengthen communities through arts projects that enhance community and organizational sustainability, resiliency, and rebuilding
• Create a sense of belonging and place, advance quality of life efforts, or promote community dialogue through the arts
• Enlist and employ artists and creative workers in innovative, responsive initiatives that benefit Tennesseans and their communities

Applications are encouraged that address one or more of the following objectives:

• Invest in arts and cultural assets to enhance everyday life for all Tennesseans.
• Foster innovation and excellence.
• Accelerate transformation of rural areas through the nonprofit arts and creative sector.
• Strengthen community vibrancy through cross-sector and public/private partnerships with the arts.
• Facilitate community arts learning for all Tennesseans.

The Lawrence Foundation is a private family foundation focused on making grants to support environmental, human services and other causes.

The Lawrence Foundation was established in mid-2000. We make both program and operating grants and do not have any geographical restrictions on our grants. Nonprofit organizations that qualify for public charity status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or other similar organizations are eligible for grants from The Lawrence Foundation.  

Grant Amount and Types

Grants typically range between $5,000 - $10,000. In some limited cases we may make larger grants, but that is typically after we have gotten to know your organization over a period of time. We also generally don’t make multi-year grants, although we may fund the same organization on a year by year basis over a period of years.

General operating or program/project grant requests within our areas of interests are accepted. In general, regardless of whether a grant request is for general operating or program/project expenses, all of our grants will be issued as unrestricted grants.

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Grant

The Foundation will consider requests to support museums, cultural and performing arts programs; schools and hospitals; educational, skills-training and other programs for youth, seniors, and persons with disabilities; environmental and wildlife protection activities; and other community-based organizations and programs.

Centene Charitable Foundation

Successful corporate citizenship happens when companies invest in the local organizations that know their communities best. The Centene Foundation works with our local partners on initiatives that focus on inclusion, the whole person and community development.

Vision

Centene’s purpose is transforming the health of the community, one person at a time. The Centene Foundation is an essential part of how we pursue this purpose. We achieve measurable impact for the communities we serve through partnerships and philanthropy efforts that invest in initiatives with holistic approaches to dismantling barriers to health.

Areas of Focus

Reflecting Centene’s commitment to the needs of those who rely on government-sponsored health care and to addressing social determinants of health and health equity, preference will be given to initiatives in three distinct areas of focus.

• Healthcare Access
• Social Services
• Education

Arts Access

Support for arts projects that focus on increasing access to underserved and underrepresented people.

The Arts Access Grant (AA) category offers direct support for arts projects which focus on increasing participation in the arts for Tennesseans with limited access.

Grant Categories

Proposed projects or programming must involve one or more Tennessee Arts Commission recognized art forms, including:

• visual arts,
• craft,
• media,
• design,
• music,
• theater,
• dance,
• folk and
• ethnic, or literary arts.

If eligible, Arts Access applicants may also submit applications in the Arts Education, Project or Operating Support and the Arts Build Communities categories. Note that Arts Education-based projects, especially those primarily serving youth, must be submitted in one of the Arts Education grant categories.

The following are examples of activities and expenditures that are consistent with the funding philosophy for AA:

• Contracted artists fees for professional artists
• Master classes, workshops, programs, projects or activities involving artists
• Specific aspects of workshops, festivals and conferences
• Public performances, productions and exhibitions produced by the applicant
• Exhibitions of art by professional artists
• Promotion, publicity and newsletters
• Materials and supplies needed for participants in the proposed art project
• Administrative and artistic staff support (except for applicants who apply for or receive operating support from the TN Art Commission in other grant categories).
• Technical/production support

Arts Education Community Learning

Support for projects that demonstrate creative and innovative arts learning programming in community settings.

The Arts Education Community Learning (AE-CL) grant program provides funding for single projects that use the arts in creative and innovative ways to offer education in communities or non-traditional school environments. There are no age restrictions. Projects should include hands-on learning experiences focused on performing, visual, traditional folk, and/or literary arts for the participants.

Applications must have a single project focus with outcomes listed for one project only. Applicants should not describe extensive educational programming involving multiple projects offered by the organization. Applicants may not apply for funds for the same project in another Tennessee Arts Commission grant category in the same fiscal year. Funds vary depending on the group being served, refer to the Guidelines below for more detail.

This category provides two tiers of funds:

• Tier One: For innovative arts education programming in community settings or non-traditional school environments for populations of all ages

• Tier Two: For projects serving elementary, middle and/or secondary students through hands-on, experiential arts education programs. A minimum of 500 students must be reached through the proposed project with each student receiving at least three contact sessions with professional teaching artists involved in the design and implementation of the project. The proposed project must include a strong curriculum-based approach and thorough assessment plan that measures student learning in the art skills being taught, as evidenced through a well-constructed lesson plan and evaluation tools submitted with the application.

Program Requirements: 

• serve a population defined by the organization’s mission
• have a clear beneficial educational focus which demonstrates thorough planning and implementation
• include an instructional component that clearly defines the goals and objectives of the project, provides learners with historical and/or social context, and demonstrates and/or reinforces the skill sets needed for the artistic medium being used. The instructional component details the content of the project – how subject matter will be taught and reinforced, the goals of the project, hands-on activities, and any problem-solving or critical thinking components. A sample lesson plan or content outline from one class session must be submitted with the application.
• include an evaluation component that measures the planning, implementation, and successes of the program and addresses plans for improvements or expansion of future projects. Evaluations should effectively measure the goals and outcomes of the project. Recently funded continuing projects must demonstrate to what extent outcomes were met.

Purpose:

Support for providing intensive professional development in arts education.

Opportunities include hands-on, immersion-style curriculum planning sessions for participants. Applicants must be nonprofit arts organizations, art councils, schools or school districts, or institutions of higher learning. Applications must have a single project focus. Applicants may not apply for funds for the same project in another Tennessee Arts Commission grant category in the same fiscal year.

Funds support outstanding professional development activities that promote curriculum-based arts education and/or arts integration which correlate with state and/or national standards. Activities may involve visual, performing, traditional folk, and/or literary arts. Teacher Training grant-funded projects are intended for immersion-style professional development opportunities with in-depth hands-on involvement and curriculum planning sessions for participants. Lecture-oriented workshops, clinics, or conferences with minimal immersion activities will not be funded under this category.

This category provides two tiers of funds:

Tier One: For curriculum-based arts education or arts integration professional development with a minimum of two, one-day intensive professional development workshops or institutes, but the days do not need to be consecutive. The subsequent workshop must be a continuation of the first workshop to deepen or extend learning by participants. Additionally, the majority of participants should attend both one-day workshops.

Tier One Requirements:

• Professional development trainees should include classroom teachers, arts specialists, curriculum coordinators, teaching artists, principals, and/or administrators.
• Training must be participatory and hands-on but not limited to “make it and take it” workshops.
• Projects must have a strong instructional component that includes collaborative planning and lesson plan development and implementation in curriculum-based arts education or arts integration instruction. The instructional component should detail the content of the project: how subject matter will be taught and reinforced, the goals of the project, collaborative lesson planning, hands-on activities, etc. When linking content to state and/or national standards, do not simply list the standards. Explain how the standards will be incorporated as part of the instruction and how they relate to the project outcomes being evaluated.
• Clinicians must be highly trained and recognized professionals in the field of arts integration and/or education. Applicants may be asked to provide resumes of clinicians.
• Include a method of evaluation that effectively measures the professional development activity. Applicant organizations seeking to train teachers are expected to demonstrate a thorough and effective evaluation plan for the proposed project. Evaluations should effectively measure the goals and objectives of professional development activity. Recently funded continuing projects must demonstrate to what extent outcomes were met.

Tier Two: For curriculum-based arts education or arts integration professional development. Training session must extend over a minimum of 4 consecutive days. Workshop series (2 or more) are eligible only if each workshop in the series is a minimum of 2 consecutive days serving a minimum of 50 educators at each workshop.Tier Two Requirements:

• Training must be for teams of educators (minimum 2 from each school) and be inclusive of any combination of classroom teachers, arts specialists, curriculum coordinators, teaching artists, principals, and/or administrators.
• Institutes for professional development training must be based on national models.
• Include a Monitoring Plan – The Commission is interested in programs that provide ongoing assistance and communication with educators after the training activity. Provide a brief explanation (limit one page) of how the applicant organization will provide assistance and communication after the project concludes.

Rural Arts Project Support

Support for arts projects and activities across all disciplines that focus on community vitality and engagement in rural counties.

Appropriate Activities

Proposed arts projects must involve one or more Commission recognized art forms, including: visual arts, craft, media, design, music, theater, dance, folk and ethnic, or literary arts. The following are example activities and expenditures that are consistent with the funding philosophy Rural Arts Project Support:

• Projects that involve and promote professional artists, especially Tennessee artists
• Visiting artists conducting master classes
• Specific aspects of workshops, festivals, and conferences
• Public performances, productions, and exhibitions produced by the applicant
• Exhibitions of art by professional and folk artists, especially Tennessee artists
• Projects involving and promoting folk and traditional artists
• Promotion, publicity, and newsletters
• Administrative and artistic staff support
• Research and documentation as part of an arts project or program development
• Consultancies and residencies for administrative and artistic activities
• The development of long-range planning documents
• Improved program accessibility for underserved constituencies, e.g. children, people living in rural communities or isolated settings, people with living with disabilities, people of color, and senior citizens
• Art in public places
• Extensions of literary projects, journals with continuing publication, or juried anthologies
• Apprenticeship programs
• Computer software/training
• Technical/production support
• Technical assistance projects
• Touring/presenting projects that bring professional and/or traditional folk performers to communities across the state

Arts Project Support

Support for arts projects and activities across all disciplines that focus on community vitality and engagement in urban counties.

Appropriate Activities

Proposed arts projects must involve one or more Commission recognized art forms, including: visual arts, craft, media, design, music, theater, dance, folk and ethnic, or literary arts. The following are example activities and expenditures that are consistent with the funding philosophy for APS & RAPS:

• Projects that involve and promote professional artists, especially Tennessee artists
• Visiting artists conducting master classes
• Specific aspects of workshops, festivals, and conferences
• Public performances, productions, and exhibitions produced by the applicant
• Exhibitions of art by professional and folk artists, especially Tennessee artists
• Projects involving and promoting folk and traditional artists
• Promotion, publicity, and newsletters
• Administrative and artistic staff support
• Research and documentation as part of an arts project or program development
• Consultancies and residencies for administrative and artistic activities
• The development of long-range planning documents
• Improved program accessibility for underserved constituencies, e.g. children, people living in rural communities or isolated settings, people with living with disabilities, people of color, and senior citizens
• Art in public places
• Extensions of literary projects, journals with continuing publication, or juried anthologies
• Apprenticeship programs
• Computer software/training
• Technical/production support
• Technical assistance projects
• Touring/presenting projects that bring professional and/or traditional folk performers to communities across the state

Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

For over 30 years, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT) has been driving meaningful, positive change in our community. We do this by bringing together those who want to help and those who need help. Through the power of collective philanthropy, our goal is to amplify donor intent while remaining flexible enough to ensure that resources are directed to where they can do the greatest good.

We know the greater Nashville area. We understand its neighborhoods, its most pressing challenges, its unsung nonprofit heroes, and its emerging partnerships with the greatest potential. As our region continues to rapidly change, that knowledge gives us a unique vantage point to bring people and places together to do what none of us can do on our own—build a more thriving and inclusive community.

Mission: Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee strives to build a more thriving and inclusive community — today and for generations to come — by transforming thoughtful generosity into positive change.

Ernest and Selma Rosenblum Fund for the Performing Arts

Ernest and Selma Rosenblum always valued music and the performing arts. Born in Chausy, Russia, Ernest and Selma immigrated to Nashville, Tenn. in the early 1900s. Ernest was an accomplished violinist, Selma played the piano, and to the delight of their eight children, their house was always filled with music, song and dance. In 2008, Dr. Marvin J. Rosenblum, son of Ernest and Selma, established the Fund in honor of his parents, who considered music and the performing arts a vital part of life and education.

While the arts play an integral part in the lives of Middle Tennesseans, exposure and education are a constant priority to maintain that. From grand orchestras to a theater in the heart of a small town, the spirit of Ernest and Selma Rosenblum can be heard and felt across Middle Tennessee. The tradition of the Rosenblum family is carried on so others can be as enriched as they were.

The Community Foundation encourages grant requests for program/project support. 

Funding Goals

• Support for Performing, Musical, and/or Related Arts

Nonprofits may request grants up to a maximum of $15,000.

The Foundation is dedicated to providing financial assistance to organizations committed to improving our world. Solutions to the problems of today's world still lie in the values of innovation, practicality, hard work, and compassion.

The Foundation considers applications for grants in the following areas:

• Education
• Social Service
• Health care
• Civic and cultural
• Environmental

The categories above are not intended to limit the interest of the Foundation from considering other worthwhile projects. In general, the Foundation guidelines are broad to give us flexibility in providing grants.

The majority of our grants are made in the U.S. However, like Dr. Scholl, we recognize the need for a global outlook. Non-U.S. grants are given to organizations where directors have knowledge of the grantee.

About the Foundation

The Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation was established in 1985 by Mrs. Adams out of her desire to support various charitable initiatives. Arthur Adams was a business entrepreneur who managed the Gary Group of telephone interests in the Midwest. Under his leadership as president and CEO, the Strowger Automatic Electric Company of Chicago developed and patented the dial telephone. Alice (“Elise”) Adams was born in Istanbul, Turkey. Her family relocated to Egypt during her childhood, and she spent much of her time in private school in Switzerland. She became proficient in the use of foreign languages and eventually mastered eleven of them. In the late 1930s, Arthur met and married Elise. They maintained several homes and eventually settled in Miami Beach, Florida. Following Arthur's death in 1958, Elise spent much of her time supporting philanthropic causes until she passed away in 1987.

Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Charitable Foundation Grant

The Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation was established in 1985 as a private foundation to honor its founders, Mr. and Mrs. Adams. The foundation provides grants to charitable organizations primarily to benefit arts, culture, humanities, and education in the Memphis, Miami, and New York City areas.

Program areas

• Arts, culture, and humanities
• Education

Presentation Grants Program

Presentation Grants are an opportunity for organizations in South Arts' nine-state region to receive fee support to present Southern guest film directors, visual and performing artists, or writers from outside of the presenter's state. Artist fee support is awarded for:

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

Projects must include both a public presentation (film screening, performance, reading, or exhibition) and an educational/community engagement component. These grants are limited and very competitive. Based on the artist fee, the maximum request is $9,500 for modern dance and contemporary ballet or $7,500 for other artistic disciplines. 

South Arts is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We have prioritized this commitment to ensure that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) led organizations, LGBTQIA+ led organizations, and organizations representing persons with disabilities are represented as both applicants and grantees. In addition, we encourage applications for projects that engage BIPOC artists, LGBTQIA+ artists, and artists with disabilities.

Arts & Culture Alliance

The Alliance was created in 2001 through a highly participatory community-driven process. Its predecessor was the Arts Council of Greater Knoxville, formed in 1974.

ADVOCACY: The Alliance operates as a unifying voice representing the arts and culture community to government, businesses, the media, and the general public, all of which benefit from a healthy, thriving arts and culture industry. The Alliance’s advocacy projects also create a channel for artists and cultural organizations to express their unique voices individually. Each year, the Alliance membership makes a positive impression on the Tennessee state legislature when more than 50 member artists and cultural representatives convene for the annual Legislative Arts Day.

SERVICE: The Alliance provides many services and tools to help artists and organizations become more successful, including administrative assistance, planning tools, grant preparation, and access to information services. The Arts & Culture Alliance, in cooperation with the local arts community, proudly presents Penny4Arts, a program developed in 2010 to meet the local arts community’s long-term goal of serving and educating East Tennessee’s children. Penny4Arts provides children an opportunity to attend local arts and culture events/activities at the maximum cost of ONE PENNY when accompanied by an adult.

SUPPORT: The Arts & Culture Alliance is the area’s premier united arts fund, distributing $2,000,000 annually to local artists and arts and culture organizations. There are five components to ACA’s Arts & Heritage Fund: Knox County Tourism Consortium Grants, Bailey Opportunity Grants, General Operating Support Grants, American Rescue Plan Grants, and Arts Build Communities (ABC) Grants.

Bailey Opportunity Grants

Through the generosity of Ann and Steve Bailey, the Arts & Culture Alliance offers Bailey Opportunity Grants, providing opportunities for growth to individual artists and small, professionally oriented arts and culture organizations. Opportunity Grants are meant to help Knoxville’s artists and small 501(C)(3)-designated art and culture organizations advance artistically and professionally.

The Program

Professional Development and Artistic Planning Grants are available to support the professional development needs of Southern presenters, programmers, or curators, for strengthening program design or increasing organizational capacity. South Arts strongly believes professional development for presenters/programmers/curators is integral to success, including traveling to see new works and attending convenings. This grant program is open to film, visual arts, performing arts, traditional arts, literary arts, and multidisciplinary organizations.

This funding can support staff’s travel expenses to conferences, festivals, exhibitions, workshops, and other professional development opportunities. Funding also supports guest artists’ or guest curators’ travel expenses for onsite planning meetings with presenting organizations. These grants support travel expenses (for example, lodging and air/ground transportation), admission/registration fees, and other related expenses. In addition, these grants support expenses for virtual professional development opportunities and staff training (for example, diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility training or technology training for virtual engagements).

South Arts is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We have prioritized this commitment to ensure that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) led organizations, LGBTQIA+ led organizations, and organizations led by people with disabilities are represented as both applicants and grantees. In addition, we encourage applications for projects that engage BIPOC artists, LGBTQIA+ artists, and artists with disabilities.

Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award recognizes outstanding nonprofit organizations in the United States that have shown exemplary leadership by facilitating partnerships with public, private or social sector leaders who are working together as equal partners, not as donors and recipients, to build a cohesive community that serves as a model for collaborating with others for the greater good.

Each year, the Mutual of America Foundation sponsors a national competition in which hundreds of organizations demonstrate the value of their partnership to the communities they serve, their ability to be replicated by others and their capacity to stimulate new approaches to addressing significant social issues.

Six organizations are selected by an independent committee to receive the Community Partnership Award.

• The Thomas J. Moran Award is given to the national award-winning program and includes $100,000 and a documentary video about the program.
• The Frances R. Hesselbein Award is given to a partnership that is addressing social challenges in more than one community, or which demonstrates the potential to be replicated in other communities. This recipient receives $75,000.
• Four other organizations are named Honorable Mention recipients for their programs, and each receives $50,000.

Since its inception in 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 262 partnerships from cities and towns across America. Like so many of our clients working in the nonprofit community, Mutual of America is dedicated to having a direct, positive impact on society.

Cross-Sector Impact Grants

South Arts’ mission is advancing Southern vitality through the arts, and this program addresses a strategic goal to cultivate and strengthen deep, cross-sector partnerships that are artist and community centered. As our communities continue to change, the arts play an incomparable role in addressing many of our communal and individual challenges and strengths. The value of partnership and working together across sectors brings new opportunities, increased effectiveness, and greater depth to our collective work. Through this program, South Arts seeks to provide significant support to projects developed by partners that harness the power of “Arts & …” (these are projects at the intersection of arts and other sectors). This year, we are shifting to a new program model.

Over the next three years, South Arts is committed to one community impact area – Health and Wellness. Eligible projects must focus on the “Arts & Health and Wellness” theme - for example, arts & mental wellness or arts & physical health. Matching grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded to support approximately 18 projects. We anticipate funding these 18 projects for three grant cycles and expect applicants to commit to the collaborative work for a three-year duration. Funding will be awarded in three separate fiscal years with streamlined, grant renewal forms submitted for cycles two and three. Matching grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to continue or advance the project with the same two partners in cycles two and three.  

South Arts’ mission is advancing Southern vitality through the arts. This program addresses two of South Arts’ strategic goals:

• Connect artists and arts professionals in the South to resources that will increase opportunities for success within and outside the region
• Advance impactful arts-based programs that recognize and address trends and evolving needs of a wide range of communities in the South

Project Requirements

SSouth Arts welcomes applications from partnering entities working together on a project that addresses Arts & Health and Wellness through cross-sector partnerships. Projects must utilize the arts as a tool in creative approaches to address and advance a health and wellness issue that is of importance in their community. Projects should also establish or advance relationships across at least two different sectors, one being in the arts. 

Arts disciplines may include, but are not limited to:

• Performing arts, including dance, music, theater, musical theater, opera;
• Literary arts, including fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry;
• Visual arts, including craft, drawing, experimental, painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media;
• Film or media;
• Traditional and folk arts, including music, craft, storytelling, dance; or
• Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary artforms.

Community impact areas may include, but are not limited to:

• Physical (overall well-being and the ability of the body to function properly);
• Mental/Emotional (overall well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life and their emotions);
• Social (overall well-being that stems from connection and community); or
• Occupational (overall physical, mental, and social well-being of workers). 

Matching Requirements

The minimum grant request is $5,000 and the maximum request is $15,000 (subject to funding availability). A match of at least 1:2 is required; meaning for each grant dollar, the grantee must provide $.50 towards the project expenses. For returning grantees, in cycles two and three, the maximum request is $10,000 (subject to funding availability).

Up to half of the match may be comprised of in-kind contributions such as donated materials, donated services, or other contributed non-cash assets or staff time diverted to this project. At least half of the match must be cash. For staff time diverted to this project, up to 10% of the total project expenses, but no more than $5,000 can be included as a cash expense or cash match for staff time. The remaining staff time must be an in-kind contribution. Contracted individuals and services specifically for this project are eligible cash expenses. 

Detailed Program Description

Grants of up to $2,500 for organizations to make arts programs accessible to persons with disabilities.

The Southeast is home to some of the world’s more diverse and vibrant artistic communities. At South Arts, we believe that the arts are for everyone. The arts enrich the lives of people of all abilities and backgrounds. In our commitment to amplifying the success of the Southeast’s arts ecology, South Arts offers micro-funding to supplement the efforts of arts organizations throughout our service area.

Art making is for everyone too! South Arts encourages arts organizations to hire artistic personnel of all abilities at all levels; for these grants in particular, we encourage arts organizations to work directly with artists who identify as disabled. 

Through our partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, South Arts offers small grants that compliment existing efforts by arts organizations to include audiences and artists with disabilities. Accessibility micro-grants are available to support Nonprofit, 501c3, arts organizations located within the South Arts Service region states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. This funding program is open to a wide variety of organizations, including community cultural organizations, museums, performing arts presenters, theatre companies, visual arts and music organizations. Priority funding will be given to new applicants to South Arts.

South Arts has prioritized the following:

• South Arts prioritizes applications from BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ identifying organizations.
• South Arts prioritizes applications from organizations led by persons with disabilities or organizations that provide significant programming to artists or audiences with disabilities.
• South Arts is committed to funding artists organizations in rural communities (with populations under 50,000).
• Primary consideration will be given to new applicants.

Usage of Funds

Grants awards may reimburse the applicant for any combination of qualifying expenses incurred during the grant period. Projects may include but are not limited to the following:

Programs

• Usage of large print or braille program materials for patrons/audiences with low vision
• Artist/consultant fees to provide accessibility training or audits
• Transportation of constituents or performers with disabilities
• Preparation for special exhibitions (i.e. space modifications or accessibility audit)
• Audio description
• Sign language interpretation
• Website accessibility
• Docent training for visual or audio enhancement
• Consultant fee to develop an overall accessibility plan for your organization
• Inclusive programming
• Staff training to learn about accessibility as it relates to programming, operations, or facilities modifications (i.e. travel to a workshop and/or training)
• Other accommodations that make programs accessible

Facilities Enhancements

• Accessibility signage for exterior and/or interior space
• Modification of restroom(s) signage
• Modification to drinking fountain(s) signage
• Installation of Braille plaques

Corporate Contributions

Community involvement and corporate citizenship are an example of Insperity’s mission in action. We are committed to helping the communities where we live and work because together, we know we can make great things happen.

Grants

Philanthropic grants are a strong part of our community outreach and aid institutions needing financial support to meet important service goals.

Event Sponsorship

Fundraising events are an important part of nonprofit support. Insperity provides event sponsorships to approved charities to assist them in meeting their financial and community goals.

The Arts Fund for East Tennessee was established in 1986 to serve as a source of funds to support excellence in the arts, expand access to the arts, and connect artists with each other and with East Tennessee communities. 

In 2024, the Arts Fund for East Tennessee will focus its grantmaking on celebrating our region’s richness in artistic expressions and cultural diversity. Grants will be awarded to sustain cultural traditions and to encourage all forms of artistic expression. 

Grants will be awarded for two-year terms in July 2024. The grant term is July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026.

Amounts will range from $5,000 – $15,000.