Best Grants for the Arts

The NEA Arts and Artifacts Domestic Indemnity Program provides museums and cultural institutions in the U.S. with financial protection against loss or damage to significant artworks during exhibitions. Established in 1975 and expanded in 2007, the program aims to enhance public access to art by minimizing insurance costs. Managed by the National Endowment for the Arts, it involves thorough evaluations by expert panels to ensure eligibility and compliance, facilitating the safe display of invaluable cultural treasures.

Our Mission is to foster the creative capacity and vibrancy of the capital region through advocacy, resources, teaching & training.

Louisiana Project Grants

Louisiana Project Grants (LPG), formerly the Decentralized Arts Funding program (DAF), solely funds project assistance for innovative, community-based arts projects that will have a lasting community impact. LPG is administered jointly by the Louisiana Division of the Arts (LDOA) and the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.

LPG grants are available to eligible applicants domiciled in one of the ten parishes represented by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. Grant amounts range from $2,500 to $7,500.

CFEM Margaret Dulaney Arts Grant

Margaret Dulaney was a leader in the Meridian arts community who understood the value of the arts and worked tirelessly to share that passion with others.

Through the Margaret Dulaney Art Endowment, the Community Foundation of East Mississippi honors and celebrates the long-standing contributions Mrs. Dulaney made to our community through the arts.

Proposals will be accepted from nonprofit organizations and schools. Projects awarded are focused on enhancing new or existing art programs and activities in East Mississippi.

Women Create Foundation Grants

Empowering women creators.

About

Women Create, LLC is the publisher of two industry leading magazines, Where Women Create and What women Create. Every issue of WHAT & WHERE includes in-depth features about women from diverse geographies and backgrounds, the mediums they use and the projects and studios that support their passion.

Through our search for women artist/creators, we’ve seen the significant barriers and disparities in accessing funding they face to nurture their visions. The Women Create Foundation was created with the mission to empower women creators through grants that help bring projects to life and foster innovation.

The grant amounts vary depending on the artist’s needs. Financial awards typically range from $500-$2,000.

Economic Development New Mexico

The mission of the Economic Development New Mexico is to improve the lives of New Mexico families by increasing economic opportunities and providing a place for businesses to thrive.

Our programs and initiatives support our mission. The New Mexico Partnership is a statutorily-created public-private organization under contract to the department to market the state globally in order to attract new jobs and investment. Department programs provide direct assistance to New Mexico businesses and communities.

Creative Support Organization Grant

This funding opportunity is designed for organizations with a demonstrated history of impactful work in supporting creative entrepreneurs and advancing creative industry development across New Mexico. This includes organizations that support creative industry companies and workers. Whether building networks, offering technical assistance, providing creative business incubation, or strengthening regional creative ecosystems, this grant supports continued leadership in growing New Mexico’s creative economy. Open to local governments, Nations, Tribes, Pueblos, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations.

The grant funds groups that serve creative entrepreneurs, businesses, and workers through technical assistance, business incubation, workforce development, and creative ecosystem and network building.

Impact Grants Clinton County

This opportunity invites you to pursue a bold, high-impact initiative that could significantly strengthen outcomes for our communities. 

The Clinton County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the release of its Impact Grant Opportunity. This one-time, competitive funding opportunity is designed to support nonprofit organizations delivering impactful projects and services within Clinton County, Indiana. Funding may support new or existing initiatives that strengthen the community and address a broad range of local priorities.

Clinton County Community Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life for all residents of Clinton County. This grant program reflects our belief that community challenges are best addressed through strategic investment in nonprofit partners who understand the needs of local residents and have the operational capacity to implement meaningful, sustainable solutions. We invite those nonprofit partners to submit proposals through this opportunity for impact. Proposals should describe how the project will address priority areas, serve Clinton County residents, be implemented effectively, and sustain long-term impact when possible. We also encourage multi-agency partnerships that tackle complex challenges through shared resources, leadership, and vision.

MissionA catalyst for charitable giving where civic-minded individuals, families, and businesses achieve philanthropic goals. We bridge resources and needs to enhance the dynamic communities we serve.VisionCreating a legacy of enrichment that impacts generations to come.Core Values

• Integrity
• Stewardship 
• Community

The Grant Community Foundation of East Mississippi awards grants through several competitive application processes each year. (Cycle 1, Cycle 2, Cycle 3). You are able to apply in each grant cycle.

• Cycle 1 : Education, Arts 
• Cycle 2: Animal Welfare, Education Mini-Grants, Environment/Historic Preservation
• Cycle 3: Community, Leadership, Health and Human Services

About Us

At the Springfield Community Foundation (SCF), our mission is to connect, engage, and inspire our neighbors to elevate our community. Formed in 2004, SCF became an affiliate fund of Midlands Community Foundation (MCF) in June 2013 and was reinvigorated in 2021 to support the growing need for community betterment and targeted improvement projects in Springfield, Nebraska.As an affiliated fund of MCF, SCF operates under a 501(c)(3) charitable umbrella, allowing donors to receive the maximum tax benefits while making a meaningful impact. Together, we are building a stronger, more connected Springfield.SCF supports initiatives that enhance education, arts, wellbeing, and economic development, ensuring that our town remains a thriving place to live, work, and play. 

About Us

A new name. The same dedication to service.

Ives Bank, formerly known as Savings Bank of Danbury, is a full-service Connecticut community bank rooted in history and positioned for the future.

Established in 1849 and headquartered at 220 Main Street in Danbury, Ives Bank is a mutual savings bank with assets in excess of $1.4 billion. We have 16 branch offices in Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Norwalk, Southbury, Stamford and Waterbury. Stamford Mortgage Company, a division of Ives Bank, has a local office on Summer Street in Stamford.

We are about People Serving People.

We are committed to employing the best, motivated people who build relationships with our customers through highly personalized attention and customer service that is second to none.

Foundation

Contributing to the organizations that are essential parts of our daily lives.

We're a local community bank investing in the organizations that enrich our communities.

Mission

We help strengthen our local communities by providing grants to organizations that are vital to the well-being, growth and prosperity of the places where we live and work. The Foundation was established to provide grants to eligible 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations in five primary areas:

• Affordable Housing
• Arts & Culture
• Community & Economic Development
• Education
• Health & Human Services

The Foundation Grants Committee meets once a year to review requests. Awards are made to eligible 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations. Any organization interested in being considered should review the Foundation Guidelines and Instructions listed on the grant request form.

Mid-America Arts Alliance

Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) believes art can be a catalyst for expression, connection, collaboration, and community. This philosophy is reflected in our mission and values.

M-AAA is a nonprofit, regional arts organization representing Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and beyond. We focus on strengthening communities and improving lives by supporting artists, elevating arts organizations, and connecting people to extraordinary cultural experiences.

Artistic Innovations Grants for Individual Artists

Program Objectives

The Artistic Innovations program supports the development of new or original works of art across all disciplines, created exclusively by in-region individual artists and art-based organizations in M-AAA’s six-state region (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and the Native Nations in this geography). Eligible applicants include individual artists and nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts organizations in the region.

Individual Artist Grant Considerations

The Artistic Innovations grant program supports direct project expenses incurred in the art-making process and production of public-facing engagements to individuals through private funds. These grants are funded through private support and, unlike Artistic Innovations grants to organizations, are not supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Wallingford Education Foundation

Our Mission

The Wallingford Education Foundation is a non-profit, community-based partnership supporting educational innovation and excellence in our town.

Our Vision

The Wallingford Education Foundation empowers ideas and enhances educational experiences for students, educators and community members. It provides financial support outside the education budget that is aligned with the goals and focus areas of the school district’s strategic plan.

Distinguished Alumni Award

The Wallingford Education Foundation (WEF) established the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2004 to honor and showcase individuals whose deeds and character exemplify outstanding accomplishments, leadership, and/or service to their community. This award is presented annually and alumni need not have graduated from a Wallingford high school in order to be considered.

Members of the community are invited to nominate candidates for this award by completing the nomination form.

All submitted nominations are reviewed with the final selection of award recipients made by the Distinguished Alumni Committee and endorsed by the WEF Board of Directors. Only those individuals selected for the award are notified of their nomination. Nomination forms of individuals not selected will be kept on file for three (3) years for future consideration. Award recipients are honored at the Distinguished Alumni Dinner held each spring.

Litchfield Area Community Foundation

Litchfield Area Community Foundation began in 2002. Since its inception, the foundation has raised over $100,000 for our permanent endowment fund. An endowment fund is like a ‘savings account’—donations are invested and never spent. Only income generated from the original gift is used for community reinvestment. The endowment fund ensures a permanent, stable revenue stream for the benefit of our community.

LACF concentrates on the overall well-being of the community. We have partnered with parents to realize the construction of new park equipment. We have collaborated with community members to beautify Litchfield through the planting of trees. Through future grants, we anticipate working with concerned citizens to enhance our community.

Litchfield Area Community Foundation Grant

One of the principle purposes of the Litchfield Area Community Foundation is to promote and facilitate the distribution of charitable donations to our area. Since 2008, many lives were enriched thanks to $20,000 in grants being distributed in our area.

All projects should be focused on improving the Litchfield area. Primary focus of giving:

• Arts, culture, humanities
• Health and safety
• At-risk youth
• Youth development
• Community Club/Organizations

Columbia Bank Foundation

Since 1927, Columbia Bank has evolved alongside the communities and businesses we serve. What began as a single branch in Fair Lawn has grown into a regional bank serving New Jersey, Staten Island and Brooklyn. Throughout that growth, we have remained focused on providing the stability, convenience and service customers expect from a trusted financial partner. Today, we offer the strength and capabilities of a larger financial institution while continuing to provide the personal service and practical financial guidance that have long defined Columbia Bank.

Alongside Columbia Bank’s mission to serve the community, the Columbia Bank Foundation helps support local charitable causes and communities with grants on a sustained basis. Our goal is to make a difference in as many people’s lives as we can and to do our part to help make our communities better, stronger and safer.

Columbia Bank Foundation Micro Grants

The Columbia Bank Foundation is committed to serving the needs of its local communities. The Foundation actively seeks and focuses on innovative programs that provide a measurable impact in the communities that it serves.

Our Micro Grant Program allows organizations that meet one of our focus areas to apply for smaller grants under a streamlined application process. Applications under the Micro Grant Program will be accepted anytime throughout the year for $1,000 to $4,999. These are reviewed internally each month. Our Focus Areas:

• Housing Programs
• Community Investment and Economic Development Programs 
• Financial Literacy and Education 
• Health & Human Services
• Food Insecurity 
• Environmental Sustainability 
• The Arts

About Us

Community Foundation of White County

Your community foundation is a philanthropic, nonprofit 501c3 organization that partners with visionary donors who believe that philanthropy has power to positively transform our White County community … forever.

To strengthen and transform our White County community by fostering charitable giving, philanthropic aspirations, and leadership.

Grants Available

Women Giving Together Grants

Grant are available to non-profit organizations serving White County women and children. This year's cycle will have an added focus on early childcare initiatives.

About Us

Community Foundation of White County

Your community foundation is a philanthropic, nonprofit 501c3 organization that partners with visionary donors who believe that philanthropy has power to positively transform our White County community … forever.

To strengthen and transform our White County community by fostering charitable giving, philanthropic aspirations, and leadership.

Grants Available

Glen B. and Lorraine D. Garrott Fund Grants

This grant celebrates Glen and Lorraine's love for Brookston and the community. Through this grant cycle, $3,000 is available to non-profit organizations serving the Brookston community.

About The James Foundation

Mission Statement

The James Foundation believes that education is a lifelong journey and learning experiences should be made available to all. Through education, quality of life will be enriched; strengthening both families and community.

The James Foundation’s Mission

The James Foundation believes that education is a lifelong journey and learning experiences should be made available to all. Through education, quality of life will be enriched; strengthening both families and community.

Grant Giving Focus:

The James Foundation strives to create change, enhance quality of life, and provide opportunities to individuals to thrive by focusing on the following funding priorities:

• Educational Impact and Innovation
• Arts and Culture

The James Foundation is continually testing new ideas and pushing boundaries of the current concept of operations, searching for new grant opportunities to be funded that explore thought provoking and motivation projects with benevolent intent.

About Americans for the Arts

Building Collective Power for the Arts

Americans for the Arts is the nation's leading arts advocacy organization. We mobilize advocates, produce trusted research, and secure bipartisan wins that protect funding and expand arts access nationwide — work we've been doing for more than 65 years.

Americans for the Arts advances the people, organizations, and systems supporting arts and culture across America through advocacy, research, and national convening.

We envision a nation where freedom of creative expression is upheld as a fundamental human right, where arts and culture are woven into the fabric of civic life, resourced in every community, and accessible to everyone.

Request for Proposals (RFP)

Strengthening Leadership Capacity of Local Arts Agencies

Given the essential role of LAAs, and to meet this important moment, AFTA seeks an energized and experienced consulting team with expertise to help it develop a comprehensive strategy to strengthen leadership and field capacity across the LAA ecosystem. This work is not intended to operate in isolation, but rather to complement and build upon existing efforts already underway in the field. The focus is on identifying where AFTA can add value through targeted, strategic support that enhances and aligns with broader sector-wide initiatives. 

This effort will focus on empowering LAA agency leaders—a critical component of AFTA’s strategic direction—to expand their capacity, foster innovation, and advance equity in a rapidly evolving environment. Building on existing efforts across the field, AFTA will invest in strong, effective LAA leadership, broaden cultural access and participation nationwide, and position the field for a more vibrant, resilient, and sustainable future. 

With approximately 2,200 LAAs nationally validated in AFTA’s LAA Wayfinder, the selected consulting team will help AFTA gain a deeper understanding of the gaps, needs and opportunities shaping LAA leadership capacity, with attention to Native, rural, small, midsize, and large communities, and identify where AFTA is uniquely positioned to contribute. These insights will guide AFTA’s future direction in its service to LAAs nationwide and ensure AFTA’s contributions complement—rather than duplicate—the work of other entities, collectively strengthening the broader LAA ecosystem.  

In addition, by intentionally working in partnership with peer organizations and stakeholders across the field—and by understanding gaps in coverage and opportunities for growth—AFTA will be positioned to work with partners to support the expansion of the LAA network in communities where local public cultural infrastructure is limited or absent. This collaborative approach will help ensure more equitable access to arts and culture while reinforcing the role of LAAs as essential community anchors, particularly in underserved regions. 

About the Fund

The Community Catalyst Grant Program is an evolution of the Arts Access Grants. The Community Catalyst Grant Program has the goal of uplifting historically under-resourced populations in Santa Clara County through community-driven, impactful artistic projects. Rather than a change, this is an evolution of the program intended to accomplish three things:

Lower the Barrier to Entry: The Community Catalyst Grant opens up funding to individual artists, informal collectives, and unincorporated groups who were previously ineligible

Narrow the Focus to Community Ownership: The review process places its highest emphasis (40%) on community leadership, co-creation, and lived experience rather than institutional longevity or traditional "artistic excellence".

Simplify the Application and the Reporting: The new program significantly reduces administrative burden by streamlining application materials and offering multi-format final reporting options.

The focus of this program are projects that utilize arts and culture as a catalyst for community dialogue, healing, collective action, and/or capacity building in under-resourced communities. This grant is funded by The County of Santa Clara and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

Grant Amount:

• $5,000 - $20,000 (One-time only, renewable up to one time)

The Dorothy Gaines Foundation Grant provides vital funding to nonprofit, governmental, and educational organizations in Hill and Tarrant counties, Texas. Established in 2003, the Foundation prioritizes projects that promote economic development, education, and support for underprivileged populations. Preference is given to innovative initiatives that demonstrate community engagement and sustainable impact, ensuring that funded projects can thrive beyond initial support. This grant aims to enhance the quality of life and address pressing social issues in the region.

The National Leadership Grants for Museums, offered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, support innovative projects addressing critical needs in the museum sector. These grants aim to enhance museum services for the public by fostering the development and replication of effective practices, tools, and collaborations, particularly leveraging new technologies. Eligible projects can significantly advance the professional field, ensuring museums remain vital community resources.

The Museum Grants for American Latino History and Culture (2027) program aims to strengthen American Latino history and culture museums by enhancing their capacity to serve communities. It supports initiatives that foster professional development within these cultural institutions, ensuring they can effectively promote and preserve Latino heritage. This grant, offered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, is crucial for advancing the growth of a dedicated workforce in the American Latino cultural sector.

The Museums for America (MFA) program, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), supports museums across the nation in enhancing their educational programs, community partnerships, and collection stewardship. This initiative aims to serve diverse audiences through experiential learning, address community needs, and ensure the proper management of collections. By investing in museums of all sizes, the MFA program plays a vital role in preserving America's cultural heritage for future generations.

Our Mission

The Baughman Family Foundation aims to make an impact on our local communities by supporting organizations nominated by family members. The goal of the foundation is twofold: to make a meaningful impact on our selected charitable organizations and to encourage family members to become active in charitable giving.

Submission Guidelines

When submitting an application, please keep the following guidelines in mind:

The focus of the Baughman Family Foundation is on supporting local charities where the Foundation can make a direct, tangible impact on causes that matter to our family.

The Scioto Foundation

The Scioto Foundation is a collection of hundreds of endowment funds created by people, businesses, families, and nonprofit organizations in our community. These funds are linked together by our mission to improve and enrich the quality of life for the community by:

• Promoting philanthropy,
• Providing a continuous stream of income to meet community need and the intent of our donors,
• Demonstrating leadership through collaborative partnerships with community organizations,
• Maximizing the outcomes of grant making, and
• Practicing wise and careful investment of assets.

We are a tax-exempt public charity governed by a board of volunteer civic and business leaders. We use professionals to invest and manage our assets in a cost-effective way. Our staff researches and understands the charitable needs of our community, and our board awards grants that advance the good work of our local nonprofit sector. We identify current and emerging issues, stimulate resources to address those needs, and help our community prepare for the future.

Scioto Foundation Grant

The Scioto Foundation is a community foundation serving the people of the Scioto County area. Since 1975, the Scioto Foundation has awarded approximately $30 million in grants and distributions to local non-profit organizations, schools, and local governments. 

Typically, the Foundation funds projects in the following areas: education, healthcare, community development, economic development, arts and culture, social services, and civic benefit.

Robert And Adele Schiff Family Foundation Inc

The Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation was started by Robert (Bob) and Adele Schiff in 2003, though earlier iterations of a family foundation, with a very slight variation in name, stretch back to 1983. Bob, who grew up in Price Hill, and Adele, raised in Fairview Heights, came from modest backgrounds and felt immensely fortunate about their success over the years. As a result, they established a foundation that could support organizations vital to their community. Their hope was mostly to give back, largely in thanks for all that the community had done for them during their lives. Since 2006, the Schiff Foundation has donated approximately $200 million to organizations, at a current rate of at least $15 million annually.

The Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation is dedicated to assisting organizations, primarily in the fields of education and children's health, that seek to improve, transform, and enhance lives and communities.

Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation Grants

Our primary focus is on education and children's health, particularly in the Greater Cincinnati community, but we are also invested in supporting the arts and culture as well as human services. While our giving history reveals several focal points – the humanities, cancer survivorship, college scholarships, Cincinnati public education – other gifts speak to our objective of giving back to those organizations that have sustained and enhanced our lives.

About

A History Of Making Waves

Carnival Foundation oversees the many philanthropic endeavors of Carnival Corporation as well as its employee-driven service group, the “Friends Uniting Neighbors” (F.U.N.) Team.

Carnival Foundation’s contributions are widespread, touching the communities where the brands visit and operate. From the cities where our brands are headquartered to ports we visit around the world, we endeavor to make a difference to the lives of many.

Through monetary and in-kind donations, innovative philanthropic programs, employee fundraisers and hands-on volunteer initiatives, Carnival Foundation and the brands of Carnival Corporation support a variety of organizations. Whether it’s providing meals to the homeless and abuse prevention or working toward medical advancement and educating youth, Carnival Foundation’s reach is communitywide.

Grants Or Sponsorships

To apply for a grant or sponsorship from Carnival Foundation, prospective applicants must complete an online application and include the following information and documents:

• A letter of request with a brief description of the organization, including its legal name, history, activities, purpose and governing board
• Purpose for which the grant is requested
• Grant amount requested
• Listing of other sources of financial support
• Operating budget of the project for which the funds are requested
• Organization’s annual budget
• Copy of the organization’s most recent audited financial statement
• Copy of organization’s most recent 990 filed with the Internal Revenue Service
• Copy of Internal Revenue Service determination letter indicating 501© (3) tax-exempt status as an organization that is not a private foundation
• Organization’s completed W-9 form
• Geographical area(s) served
• Organizations applying for a grant renewal must submit a final report detailing use of the prior grant award. Interim and final reports will be submitted through our online portal.

Okoboji Foundation

The Okoboji Foundation was started in 1988, by a group of dedicated lovers of The Lakes Region who wished to improve the quality of life of those who call this area home.

Originally named the University of Okoboji Foundation, Berkley Bedell served as the first Board Chairman.  In 2006, the foundation changed its name to the Okoboji Foundation to establish the organization as a Community Foundation. Over $5.24 million has been granted to more than 80 different nonprofit agencies located around The Lakes since its inception and preserving the stories that make Iowa Great Lakes a place of local legends.

Today, the Okoboji Foundation is the center point of giving for vital capital projects. Current funding priorities focus on arts & culture, economic development, lake quality & environment, and outdoor experiences & recreation. It’s through the generosity of donors that the Okoboji Foundation continues to make a positive, lasting impact in the Lakes community.

Areas of Focus

We fund projects in the Iowa Great Lakes Region that align with one or more of the following:

• Arts & Culture – Enriching community life and sustaining nostalgia and legacy for residents and visitors.
• Outdoor Recreation – Expanding opportunities for active, healthy lifestyles.
• Lake Quality & Environment – Protecting and sustaining our lakes and natural resources

What We Fund

We fund VITAL CAPITAL PROJECTS, such as buildings, equipment, or physical property that will be available for many years of use in our Lakes communities. We want to help develop communities where people want to live, work, visit, and play

Projects should be visible, available to a large portion of the public, and have a long lasting impact in the Iowa Great Lakes region.

Professional signage must be included on structures or property funded by Foundation grants. The Okoboji Foundation will provide official logos and style guidelines for signage.

Funding Levels

There are two categories of funding: Leadership Grants and Community Needs Grants.

Leadership Grants

Grant requests of $25,000 or more will be reviewed by the Okoboji Foundation grants committee. The committee may request an in person follow-up presentation by the nonprofit. Projects should be completed and request reimbursement with receipts totaling amount of grant award within three years of the award notification.