The Cambridge Arts Council offers the Organizational Investment Grant to provide operating support for nonprofit cultural organizations based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This annual grant opportunity awards $9,000 to each selected organization to support sustainability, resiliency, and the continued delivery of public-facing cultural programs that benefit Cambridge residents.
To be eligible, applicants must be either a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural organization or a Cultural Affiliate operating under a parent entity such as a university or government agency. All applicants must have operated in Cambridge for the past two years, offered consistent cultural programming during that time, and maintained a minimum of $50,000 in annual cash expenses for each of those years. Cultural Affiliates must additionally maintain a dedicated full-time staff member, manage their own budget, and have an advisory board.
Funded organizations must provide arts, humanities, or science programming that reflects access, excellence, diversity, and education. Review criteria include alignment of core programming with the mission, significance to diverse and underrepresented communities, fiscal health, planning and evaluation practices, and qualifications of key personnel. The review panel will consider how well an organization engages BIPOC communities and Cambridge artists, and how it supports creatives who lack access to traditional platforms.
Applications open September 2, 2025, and close at 11:59 p.m. on October 16, 2025. Applicants may submit only one Cambridge Arts grant application per cycle. All applications must be submitted through the Cambridge Arts SlideRoom portal and include an organization chart, board chart, financial documentation, and letters of support.
Final award decisions will be made by February 2026. Grant-funded activities must be carried out between July 1 and December 31, 2026, with final reports due by year-end. For assistance, applicants may contact Deena Anderson at danderson@cambridgema.gov. Projects involving schools or public art require early eligibility confirmation by October 8, 2025.
Submit only one application per cycle. Use concise language. Contact Deena Anderson for support. Include all required uploads (org chart, board list, budget, financials). No late or hard-copy submissions accepted.
