Arts and Culture Grants for Nonprofits

Find Foundations that support arts and culture nonprofit organizations

Need arts and culture grants for your nonprofit organization? There are private foundations that fund museums, theaters, music programs, historical societies, cultural organizations, libraries, arts education programs and other nonprofits involved in the arts and humanities. 

Depending on the foundation, the grants can support programming, performances, exhibitions, preservation projects, equipment, accessibility improvement, staffing, facilities, community outreach and even operating expenses. 

But how do you find arts and cultural grants that can benefit your nonprofit organization? 

Instead of broadly searching for grants, try focusing on foundations that have a track record of funding similar work. And once you’ve found a few potential funders, review carefully who they fund, where they give and how much they give. 

In this guide, we’ll discuss how to research arts and cultural grants, what these grants can cover and how to research potential funders. 

What are Arts and Culture Grants? 

Arts and culture grants are funds allocated to organizations and programs involved in visual arts, performing arts, music, theater, museums, literature, humanities, cultural preservation, heritage and community arts. 

Funding can come from: 

• Private foundations 
• Family foundations 
• Community foundations 
• Corporate foundations 
• Government agencies 
• Arts councils 
• Charitable trusts and philanthropic organizations 

Every funder has its priorities. 

One foundation may focus on museums and historic preservation projects. Another may focus on youth music education. And another may focus on public art, theatre, cultural access or community-based arts programming. 

That is why it’s essential to view a particular foundation as an “arts funder” and ask an important follow-up question: 

Does this foundation fund organizations, programs and communities similar to yours? 

How to find foundations for grants

Who Can Apply for Arts and Culture Grants? 

Arts and culture funding can be available to various nonprofit organizations, including: 

• Museums 
• Art galleries 
• Theaters 
• Performing arts organizations 
• Orchestras 
• Choirs 
• Music organizations 
• Dance organizations 
• Cultural organizations 
• Historical societies 
• Heritage organizations 
• Libraries 
• Literary organizations 
• Film and media arts organizations 
• Community arts programs 
• Cultural festivals 
• Arts councils 
• Public arts organizations 
• Cultural preservation organizations 
• Humanities organizations 
• Indigenous arts and cultural programs 
• Youth arts programs 

Some foundations may also fund schools, universities, municipalities, tribal or Indigenous organizations and other organizations providing arts or cultural programming. 

Eligibility will vary by funder, but it’s necessary to confirm that the foundation supports your organization type, geographic location and type of program. 

What Can Arts and Culture Grants Be Used For? 

Arts and culture grants can be used for many expenses, but there isn’t a universal list of allowable expenses. 

What grant funding can be used for depends entirely on each funder, funding program and terms of the award. 

Funding Need Examples: 

Funding Need	Examples
Programs	Workshops, community arts, educational programs
Performances	Theater, concerts, dance, festivals
Exhibitions	Museum and gallery exhibitions
Preservation	Archives, artifacts, heritage sites, collections
Equipment	Instruments, lighting, sound systems, production technology
Technology	Digitization, software, online programming
Staffing	Program staff, artists, instructors, contractors
Facilities	Renovations, performance spaces, galleries
Accessibility	Physical and technological accessibility improvement
Capacity Building	Training, strategic planning, organizational development
Operating Support	Rent, salaries and other operating expenses when permitted

Grants for Arts Programs and Community Programming 

Many foundations support programs bringing arts programming into communities. 

Grants can be used to support: 

• Community arts workshops 
• Artist residencies 
• Public performances 
• Cultural events 
• Festivals 
• Literary programs 
• Film screenings 
• Visual arts programs 
• Community exhibitions 
• Arts programming for underserved populations 

Besides viewing a funder’s “arts and culture” category, review carefully the particular programs it has funded. 

Grants for Museums and Historical Organizations 

Museums, historical societies and heritage organizations have distinct funding needs compared to performing arts nonprofits. 

Foundation grants can support: 

• Museum exhibitions 
• Collections management 
• Artifact preservation 
• Archives digitization 
• Historic preservation 
• Oral history projects 
• Cultural documentation 
• Educational programming 
• Historic site restoration 
• Public access initiatives 

Specifically for preservation projects, it is necessary to know whether a particular foundation has supported capital, preservation or facility-related expenses. 

Grants for Theatre and Performing Arts Organizations 

Performing arts nonprofits including theaters, orchestras, music organizations and dance companies may need grants for: 

• Productions 
• Performances 
• Rehearsals 
• Artist and performer fees 
• Costumes 
• Sets 
• Instruments 
• Lighting and sound equipment 
• Community performances 
• Touring programs 
• Audience development 
• Youth programming 
• Accessibility initiatives 

A particular foundation that repeatedly supports performing arts organizations in your region is worth being researched further. 

Grants for Music Programs 

Music funding encompasses much more than just professional performance. 

Funding may support: 

• Youth music programs 
• Instrument purchase 
• Community orchestras 
• Choirs 
• Music education 
• School partnerships 
• Recording projects 
• Performances 
• Artist development 
• Music therapy or related programming 

An after-school music program looking for grants will have an entirely different search than a professional orchestra seeking performance support. 

Grants for Cultural and Heritage Organizations 

Cultural organizations document and preserve the traditions, histories, languages and creative practices significant to their community. 

Funding can support: 

• Cultural programming 
• Heritage preservation 
• Traditional arts 
• Community celebrations 
• Cultural education 
• Language preservation 
• Oral history 
• Archives 
• Exhibitions 
• Intergenerational programming 

Such organizations can also relate to interests of foundations concerning community development, education, youth, Indigenous programming or equity initiatives. 

Your nonprofit organization does not have to belong to one particular category of funding only. 

Foundations Supporting Arts and Culture Organizations 

Here are some examples of the foundations in Grant Advance that have a history of supporting arts and culture organizations. 

The examples explain why it is necessary to compare past recipients, grant amounts, geography and repeat giving, rather than depending only on funder’s stated interest. 

Foundation	Examples of Arts & Culture Giving	Grant Size	Geographic & Giving Insights	Grant Advance Profile
10129 Foundation	Recent recipients include Root Division – $24,338; GLBT Historical Society – $10,000; ArtCenter College of Design – $5,000; SFMOMA – $2,500; CounterPulse – $500; and SFJAZZ – $500.	Average: $6,728  Median: $3,500  Largest: $50,000	Based in San Francisco, California. Grant Advance shows giving in 5 states, whereas the arts-related grants here are focused primarily on San Francisco and the Bay Area.	View 10129 Foundation in Grant Advance
10-25 Tomorrow Foundation	Recently awarded $90,000 to Firehouse Performing Arts Center in 2024, $55,000 in 2023, $45,000 in 2022 and $45,000 in 2021. The foundation also awarded $105,000 to Oceanic Preservation Society in 2023.	Average: $34,350  Median: $25,000  Largest: $105,000	Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its giving history shows repeat funding to the same performing arts organization, which is helpful when researching the long-term funding relationships.	View 10-25 Tomorrow Foundation in Grant Advance
1011 Foundation Inc.	Recent grants include $25,000 to Simon Wiesenthal Center – Museum of Tolerance for human rights, anti-Semitism and museum programs, and $20,000 to BODYTRAFFIC for dance promotion and performances.	Average: $165,682 Median: $25,000  Largest: $7.3 million	Based in Santa Monica, California. Grant Advance shows giving in 26 states. Arts and culture is one of the components of a diverse portfolio that also includes education, health care and community programs.	View 1011 Foundation Inc. in Grant Advance
Andrew F and Barbara Veres Charitable Trust	It gave $5,000 to Theatre Under the Stars in 2024, a nonprofit theater organization based in Houston.	Average: $17,019  Median: $1,000  Largest: $257,200	Based in Houston, Texas. Grant Advance shows giving in 13 states, but several visible recipients are located in Houston. Also, it has quite diverse range of grant sizes.	View Andrew F and Barbara Veres Charitable Trust in Grant Advance

What Can Arts and Culture Nonprofits Learn From These Examples? 

The above-mentioned foundations show how different funders belonging to the same sector can be. 

One foundation repeatedly supports a performing arts organization. Another funds museums, jazz, visual arts and cultural organizations. Another one integrates arts funding into a much broader portfolio of philanthropic activities. 

When comparing arts and culture funders, take a look at: 

• Past recipients: Did the foundation fund organizations similar to yours? 
• Grant purposes: What kinds of programs did it fund? 
• Grant amounts: Were the previous awards realistic for your funding need? 
• Geography: Does it give regularly in your region? 
• Repeat giving: Does it repeatedly fund the same organizations? 

A foundation’s stated interests tell you what it claims to support. But its giving history can reveal what it really funds. 

How to Find Arts and Culture Grants for Your Nonprofit Organization 

Funding is easier to find when you stop looking broadly for grants and start researching particular funders. 

Step 1. Clearly Describe What You Need Funding For 

The funding need is a starting point. 

Do you need: 

• $5,000 for a youth music program? 
• $20,000 for community arts programming? 
• Funding for a museum exhibition? 
• Equipment for a theatre? 
• Operating support? 
• A capital grant for a historic facility? 

All of these are different funding searches. 

The more precisely you specify your funding need, the easier it is to identify foundations whose past funding matches it. 

Step 2. Identify All Relevant Funding Categories 

Don’t limit your organization to just one category. 

For example, a free music program for youth in an underserved community could potentially fit into: 

• Arts and Culture 
• Education 
• Children and Youth 
• Community Development 
• Poverty Reduction 

Depending on your program, Mental Health or Social Services can be relevant as well. 

Viewing your mission from multiple angles can help uncover some funders you would have overlooked otherwise. 

Step 3. Research Foundations That Support Those Areas 

Once you know what you need and what funding categories are applicable, research foundations supporting those areas. 

But don’t stop at the keywords. 

Look for the evidence that the foundation has actually funded comparable work. 

Step 4. Analyze the Foundation’s Giving History 

Look at: 

• Past grant recipients 
• Grant purposes 
• Grant amounts 
• Geographic focus 
• Types of organizations funded 
• Frequency of giving 
• Repeat recipients 
• Program vs. operating support 

For example, a foundation describes itself as a supporter of arts and culture, but its giving history might show that almost all of its funding goes to museums in one city. 

If you are a rural youth theatre hundreds of miles away, this information is vital to know. 

Step 5. Compare Grant Amounts and Geography 

Suppose your nonprofit needs $40,000. 

One foundation regularly gives arts organizations between $5,000 and $10,000. 

Another one regularly gives between $25,000 and $75,000. 

This does not automatically mean that you should request a grant in the same range. This information provides context for you to determine whether your funding need is realistic. 

Geography is important, too. 

Some foundations fund nationally. Some foundations concentrate their funding within one city, county, state, province or region. 

Compare what the foundation claims about its geographic focus with the actual locations of its previous recipients. 

Step 6. Prioritize the Strongest Matches 

Not every foundation you find deserves to be in your pipeline. 

Prioritize your best prospects using: 

Mission + Program + Population + Geography + Grant Size + Grant History 

The better those components match, the stronger the funding prospect is. 

What Do Foundations Look for When Funding Arts Organizations? 

There is no one-size-fits-all approach that all arts funders use, but there are several criteria that they may consider. 

Alignment 

Does the program really fit the foundation’s priorities? 

A youth arts funder, museum funder and historic preservation funder can all fall into the “arts and culture” category while supporting very different projects. 

Demonstrated Need 

Why is the program important? 

Describe: 

• Who you serve 
• What is the need 
• What is the barrier to overcome 
• Why does the project matter to the community 

Clear Use of Funds 

Foundations should clearly understand what their money will be used for. 

Clearly describe your program, budget, activities and outcomes instead of requesting just “program support.” 

Evidence of Results 

Arts organizations don’t have to reduce every outcome into one figure. But they should still be able to demonstrate an impact. 

Depending on the program, possible outcomes include: 

• Number of participants 
• Attendance 
• Performances presented 
• Students taught 
• Audience composition 
• Repeat attendance 
• Accessibility improvement 
• Collaborations in the community 
• Skills acquired 
• Cultural materials preserved 
• Feedback from participants 
• Engagement with audience 

Choose metrics that are relevant for the program. 

Public Arts Grants vs. Private Foundation Grants 

Arts organizations can apply for funding from various sources. 

For example, the National Endowment for the Arts gives project funding in many disciplines including arts education, dance, design, museums, music, theater, folk and traditional arts, literary arts and visual arts. 

Funding opportunities from state arts agencies, provincial arts councils, municipalities and other public institutions also exist. 

Private and family foundations are another source of funding for arts and cultural nonprofits. 

One distinguishing feature of foundation research is the ability to identify potential funders by analyzing their past giving patterns, rather than current opportunities only. 

How Grant Advance Helps Arts Organizations Research Foundation Funding Opportunities 

Finding foundations manually means visiting individual web sites, checking previous grants, analyzing Form 990-PF filings and organizing everything in spreadsheets. 

Grant Advance Solutions brings this research into one place. 

Arts and cultural organizations can leverage Grant Advance for: 

• Searching for foundations that have an interest in arts and culture 
• Checking out associated funding categories 
• Filtering foundations geographically and more 
• Viewing Foundation Profile Pages 
• Searching grants’ history 
• Learning previous recipients 
• Comparing grant amounts 
• Identifying patterns of giving 
• Saving promising funders 
• Managing prospects 
• Tracking outreach and deadline management 
• Preparing LOIs and grant proposals 
• Managing grant opportunities through the process 

The objective isn’t creating the most extensive list of foundations but a list of foundations which give you a good reason to say: 

We should talk to this funder. 

Research Arts Foundation Prospects Using Form 990-PF 

Form 990-PF filings can provide useful information about: 

• Foundation assets 
• Annual giving amount 
• Officers and directors 
• Past grants 
• Past grant recipients 
• Amounts of past grants 
• Purposes of past grants 

This data will enable nonprofits to understand the actual distribution of the funding by the foundation, not just the mission statement and website information. 

Finding Arts Foundation Funders 

Grant Advance Solutions helps nonprofits to research foundation funders, analyze previous giving, identify opportunities and organize the grant process all in one place. 

Start looking for foundation funders for arts and culture. 

Arts & Culture Foundation Grant Application FAQ