Funding & grant resources for nonprofits focused on arts & culture
Similar to the list I shared for nonprofits focusing on education, arts and culture tends to be a very popular issue area for American foundations. The large difference is that most funders tend to direct a majority of their arts funding to local and regional organizations. So, while there are a few global and national options below, most are targeted to their communities.
The arts and culture focus areas in this list include performing arts, artists, art education programs, museums, visual arts, and beyond. These organizations are currently offering grant and funding opportunities and/or accepting letters of inquiry or project ideas.
Grant research tip: When searching for grants, using geography is an effective way to target funders. Start small and work your way out. This means look first at foundations that are located in your city and state before searching across the country. As this list makes clear, many foundations tend to primarily fund organizations in their city and/or state. Visit Grantli to learn more about how I do my grant research and how your own organization can find the most appropriate funders and funding opportunities.
Funding Priority: Arts & Culture
- Ford Foundation
- Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
- The Shubert Foundation
- The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts
- The Kresge Foundation
- Knight Foundation
- Highland Street Foundation
- Bernard Osher Foundation
- Oregon Community Foundation
- The Pew Charitable Trusts
- The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
- Cleveland Foundation
- Rasmuson Foundation
- Moody Foundation
- The Brown Foundation
- Texas Instruments Foundation
- Robert W. Woodruff Foundation
- Howard Gilman Foundation
- Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation
- Daniel & Pamella DeVos Foundation
- Albuquerque Community Foundation
- The Ahmanson Foundation
- RedLine Contemporary Art Center
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or inquiries; however, they do have a year-round open funding opportunity in the arts, specifically for documentary filmmakers.
Areas served: Worldwide
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation seeks to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive.
Areas served: Worldwide
The Shubert Foundation
The Shubert Foundation is dedicated to sustaining and advancing the live performing arts in the United States, providing general operating support.
Areas served: US
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Art's grantmaking activity is focused on serving the needs of artists by funding the institutions that support them.
Areas served: US
The Kresge Foundation
The Kresge Foundation works to expand opportunities in America's cities through grantmaking and social investing.
Areas served: US
Knight Foundation
The Knight Foundation believes arts and culture are at the core of community, connecting people to place and to each other.
Areas served: San Jose, St. Paul, Detroit, Akron, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Macon, Miami
Highland Street Foundation
The Highland Street Foundation is committed to addressing the most pressing needs and concerns for children and families in Massachusetts and California.
Areas served: Massachusetts, California
Bernard Osher Foundation
The Bernard Osher Foundation accepts applications from a wide variety of arts and educational organizations, principally in the San Francisco Bay Area and in the state of Maine.
Areas served: San Francisco (Greater Bay Area), Maine
Oregon Community Foundation
The Oregon Community Foundation's mission is to improve the lives of all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy.
Areas served: Oregon
The Pew Charitable Trusts
The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage is a multidisciplinary grantmaker and hub for knowledge-sharing, funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, dedicated to fostering a vibrant cultural community in Greater Philadelphia.
Areas served: Philadelphia/Pennsylvania
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
Nonprofit organizations working to improve the well-being of residents of Middle Tennessee are eligible and are encouraged to apply for a discretionary grant.
Areas served: Tennessee
Cleveland Foundation
The Cleveland Foundation is the community foundation serving Greater Cleveland, including Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties.
Areas served: Cleveland/Ohio
Rasmuson Foundation
The Rasmuson Foundation works to promote a better life for Alaskans.
Areas served: Alaska
Moody Foundation
The Moody Foundation strengthens the future of Texas by investing in charitable projects that exhibit innovative ideas and make long-term improvement in Texas communities.
Areas served: Texas
The Brown Foundation
The Brown Foundation aims to support organizations dedicated to ambitious goals, excellence, and exceptional impact.
Areas served: Houston/Texas
Texas Instruments Foundation
The Texas Instruments Foundation supports arts programs that help make Dallas a vibrant place to live and work.
Areas served: Dallas/Texas
Robert W. Woodruff Foundation
The Robert W. Woodruff Foundation recognizes the importance of arts and cultural institutions in creating a vibrant community and attracting economic development.
Areas served: Atlanta/Georgia
Howard Gilman Foundation
The Howard Gilman Foundation supports a cross-section of New York City-based performing arts organizations of varying structure, style, and budget size.
Areas served: New York City
Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation
The Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation focuses its philanthropic activities on the performing and visual arts, with the majority of grants being awarded to organizations in Kansas City.
Areas served: Kansas City/Missouri
Daniel & Pamella DeVos Foundation
The Daniel & Pamella DeVos Foundation strives to make a positive impact in the greater Grand Rapids community.
Areas served: Grand Rapids/Michigan
Albuquerque Community Foundation
The Albuquerque Community Foundation's arts & culture grants focus on two primary funding areas: organizations and programs that provide access to arts and culture for low-income and/or underserved populations.
Areas served: Albuquerque/New Mexico
The Ahmanson Foundation
The Ahmanson Foundation serves Los Angeles County by funding cultural projects in the arts and humanities.
Areas served: Los Angeles/California
RedLine Contemporary Art Center
The RedLine Contemporary Art Center fosters education and engagement between artists and communities.
Areas served: Colorado
