Best Grants for Performing Arts in South Dakota

South Dakota 501(c)(3) nonprofits working in performing arts, music, education, health, human services, or religion can seek US $5,000 - US $20,000 to support charitable programs. Focused on social services for women, especially domestic violence survivors and those with mental illness, the Adams-Mastrovich Family Foundation also favors projects offering housing, self-sufficiency training, and arts opportunities for high school and college students.

Grants from Illinois Arts Council Agency help South Dakota performing arts organizations and other small nonprofits in the Midwest offer public-facing arts projects and activities. 501(c)(3) and tribal organizations with expenses under $2 million may receive US $2,000 - US $15,000 for performances, festivals, exhibits, public art, and related costs that engage underserved audiences.

Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in South Dakota can access funding through Arts Midwest’s GIG Fund: Arts and Wellness to support performing arts and other creative projects that address health and wellness. Eligible 501(c)(3)s, hospitals, clinics, and tribal organizations may receive US $2,000 - US $15,000 for performances, workshops, clinical programs, or creative aging initiatives.

Arts and cultural nonprofits and tribal organizations in South Dakota can receive $2,000 - $15,000 to present professional artists and offer educational activities. Arts Midwest provides flexible GIG Fund support for touring or local artist fees, accessibility accommodations, marketing, and at least two public, accessible events including one serving underserved audiences.

Kalamazoo Community Foundation

Fueling Equity & Racial Justice Since 1925

KZCF is dedicated to our mission to create a thriving community where people, resources and expertise are mobilized to advance racial, social and economic justice in Kalamazoo County.

Scholarships & Education Grants

For All Levels of Education After High School

Kalamazoo Community Foundation is dedicated to creating pathways to higher education so students can thrive in their academic pursuits and for a lifetime. We oversee more than 60 scholarships and education grants (many of which are multiyear awards) for college, graduate school, career training and more.

Dominic & Barbara Court Family Arts Scholarship Fund

This fund was established from the estate of Barbara Court to provide scholarships for students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program that would lead to a career in the arts.

Multiyear Award; Renews Annually

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts administers over 160 scholarships. Some of the funds help students from a particular school or area; others provide financial assistance to those pursuing a specific field of study; still others assist students that are most in need. Students who apply to the Scholarship program may be eligible for many of these funds. 

Scholarships are provided for one academic year and are not automatically renewed each year. You can reapply to our program every year you are going to attend college, and the application you submit that year will be considered for all scholarships for which you are eligible.

Edward A. and Shirley B. Livi Scholarship Fund

To support residents of Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire Counties who are pursuing fine or performing arts beyond their college freshman year.

Additional Guidelines

• Students can receive up to $3,000 in scholarships from the Community Foundation.
• Scholarship awards could impact the financial aid offered by a college, and students are advised to check with their college financial aid offices about this.
• Scholarships may be used to offset tuition, fees, room and board, and other items included as part of the cost for attending the institution. Some part and/or all the award could be considered taxable income. It is advisable students check with the college or tax accountant regarding this matter.

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities and career/technical schools.

Elaine Sirkin Forbes Scholarship Fund

The Elaine Sirkin Forbes Scholarship Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships for high school seniors graduating from Allegheny County Schools who wish to major in visual, performance or media art.

Award Type: Single-Year Award

The Columbus Foundation

In 1943, during the darkness of World War II, a group of passionate citizens, led by Columbus businessman Harrison M. Sayre, envisioned a way to improve the well-being of the community and the quality of life in central Ohio. With little more than this sound idea and faith, The Columbus Foundation was established.

Our Mission

To assist donors and others in strengthening and improving our community for the benefit of all its residents.

Craig Memorial Scholarship Fund

This scholarship fund was established by the family of John E. Craig, Jr. and Larry William Craig. Both John and Larry were extremely gifted musicians. John was a noted musician in the central Ohio community, studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston at the time of his death. A well-known musician and businessman, Larry excelled at playing the piano and worked with his father in Craig & Sons Wrecking Company. This scholarship fund will provide support to students who are pursuing careers in musical arts, theatre or drama.

The Jean T. Grant Scholarship, established by The Columbus Foundation, honors the legacy of Jean Terry Grant, a devoted librarian and arts advocate. Providing $1,000, this scholarship supports graduating seniors from Columbus City Schools pursuing studies in music or the arts. Jean's commitment to education and the arts inspires future generations, ensuring that her passion for creativity and philanthropy continues to impact the community positively.

Performing arts and entertainment professionals facing unexpected financial hardship can receive emergency help with basic living expenses through this fund, including those in South Dakota. Focused on crisis relief, the Entertainment Community Fund’s Hunter Brown Emergency Assistance Fund supports current or former Oregon Shakespeare Festival employees dealing with natural disasters or unforeseen personal crises.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) presenters of free outdoor performing arts and music festivals in South Dakota can apply for Levitt Festival Grants supporting 2026 events. Focused on live music in underused outdoor spaces, the Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation offers up to US $5,000 to help create inclusive, community-building festival experiences.

South Dakota performing arts students may be eligible if they are residents of Carroll County, Ohio pursuing aviation, art education, or fine and performing arts studies. The Melvin L. and Frances E. Tolson Scholarship Trust Fund from Stark Community Foundation offers renewable awards of more than US $500 for college, university, technical, or vocational education.

Performing arts students pursuing full-time study at accredited 2- or 4-year colleges can receive US $1,000 through the O'Shea Patrick McCarthy Scholarship, including those from South Dakota. Focused on higher education in the arts, Legacy Foundation supports undergraduate tuition or books for students in performing and visual arts programs.

American Indian and Alaska Native vocational, undergraduate, and graduate students in the U.S. pursuing performing or fine arts and related creative fields can apply for Native Forward Scholars Fund’s Hillman Barnett Adkins Endowed Fund Scholarship; awards $100 to $30,000 per year for tuition and educational costs. Students from South Dakota may be eligible if they meet Tribal and academic requirements.

American Indian and Alaska Native female graduate students in the arts can receive need-based scholarships to support full-time study at accredited institutions across the U.S., including South Dakota. Grants from Native Forward Scholars Fund help those pursuing fine, visual, media, performing, and literary arts, including creative writing and poetry, who can document Tribal affiliation.

Performing arts nonprofits and fiscally sponsored projects in South Dakota can apply for the Aaron Copland Fund for Music’s ACFM Project Support Program, awarding US $2,000 - US $20,000 for special projects in contemporary American concert music and jazz. Eligible ensembles, presenters, service organizations, and record companies can fund performances, recordings, residencies, and related public engagement activities.

Performing arts organizations with a strong record in contemporary American concert music or jazz can receive unrestricted general operating support through the Aaron Copland Fund for Music. South Dakota ensembles, presenters, service organizations, and eligible record companies with at least two years of professional-level activity may be funded for performances, recordings, live streams, residencies, and related programs.

Performing arts and visual arts students in South Dakota can apply for scholarships supporting higher education studies. The Burrell Family Scholarship, administered by Crown Point Community Foundation, is for graduating high school seniors and college students pursuing degrees in the visual or performing arts; one application is used to determine eligibility for many scholarships.

Graduating high school seniors involved in theatre and pursuing higher education in the performing arts can receive scholarship support that may benefit South Dakota students. With a mission to enrich community life, Crown Point Community Foundation uses one common application to match applicants to over 100 scholarships, including the Marion Kellum Performing Arts Scholarship.

Students pursuing degrees in design, architecture, fine art, performing arts, or construction management can use the Walter Blackburn Scholarship for tuition and related educational expenses at accredited institutions. Focused on higher education, Central Indiana Community Foundation invites applicants who are Marion County residents; South Dakota students may be eligible if they meet residency and field-of-study criteria.

High school seniors and college students pursuing performing arts degrees can receive scholarship support for post-secondary education through the Sarah Creech Performing Arts Scholarship. Community Foundation of the Lowcountry provides performing arts students, specifically legal residents of Beaufort County with a minimum 3.0 GPA, with annual funding that may interest similar South Dakota performing arts students seeking opportunities.

Focused on performing arts, East Texas Communities Foundation invites South Dakota performing arts students to explore its Partners in Arts Scholarship, a one-year US $1,000 award for graduating seniors majoring in visual or performing arts. Smith County, Texas high school and homeschool seniors active in band, choir, dance, orchestra, theater, or visual art may be eligible.

South Dakota performing arts students seeking college funding for music, musical theater, or dance studies can access support through the R. Don Cowan Music & Performing Arts Scholarship, administered by East Texas Communities Foundation. Eligible graduating seniors and current college students pursuing music or performing arts may receive US $5,000 toward tuition, fees, room and board, or books and supplies at any U.S. college.

South Dakota performing arts and related students can access funding through the John Lennon Endowed Scholarship, which supports undergraduates at UNCF member institutions majoring in music, performing arts, communications, or media arts. Awards up to US $5,000 help U.S. nationals or permanent residents with demonstrated financial need continue their higher education.

South Dakota performing arts and communication students attending a UNCF-member HBCU can receive scholarship support for the 2025–26 academic year. This one-time Michael Jackson Scholarship award from United Negro College Fund offers up to US $4,000 based on financial need to eligible U.S. nationals or permanent residents with at least a 3.0 GPA.

The George S. Souten Performing Arts Scholarship, offered by the Four County Community Foundation, supports high school seniors from Armada, Capac, Imlay City, and Romeo who plan to major or minor in performing arts. Applicants must demonstrate a strong background in the arts and submit an essay. Awardees will be recognized during the Foundation's Scholarship Celebration in May and at their respective high school awards events.

The Emergency Assistance Funds, provided by the Entertainment Community Fund, offer vital support to performing arts and entertainment professionals facing unforeseen financial hardships. This program aids with essential living expenses, including healthcare and housing, to prevent eviction or service shut-offs. Eligible applicants must document their earnings and demonstrate a genuine need for assistance. Established in 1882, the Fund understands the unique challenges faced by those in the arts industry, ensuring they receive the help necessary to maintain stability.