DCASE Arts Relief Fund Program

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) in the City of Chicago has launched the DCASE Arts Relief Fund to address challenges faced by arts and culture organizations due to changes in federal funding priorities. These shifts have especially impacted recipients of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), with similar effects observed from agencies like the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The Arts Relief Fund offers one-time grants to eligible nonprofit organizations whose federal awards have been terminated or withdrawn, aiming to restore lost income and opportunities that would otherwise support the delivery of arts and cultural programming in Chicago. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations based in the City of Chicago and must have a valid street address—P.O. boxes are not accepted. The organization must have been the primary recipient of a federal arts-related grant that was terminated or withdrawn in 2025. Additionally, eligible organizations must have a primary mission centered on creating, producing, presenting, or supporting arts and culture activities and must primarily serve the residents of Chicago. Ineligible applicants include individuals, religious institutions, public or governmental agencies, athletic teams, and social or fraternal organizations. The grant awards will range between $10,000 and $25,000. These are one-time payments determined by DCASE based on application review. The review process is conducted by a panel of external arts experts, who will assess applications with an eye toward equitable geographic distribution across Chicago and across various artistic disciplines. In cases where demand exceeds available funds, priority will be given to applicants based on urgency and scope of need, the benefit to the community, benefit to the applicant, and whether the applicant is already receiving other relief funding. Use of funds is restricted and may not include capital improvements, equipment purchases over $5,000, religious ceremonies or lobbying activities, travel expenses, vehicle rentals, food and beverages, or pass-through funding to other organizations. DCASE will also not issue grant payments to organizations with outstanding debt to the City of Chicago, including unpaid parking tickets or utility bills. Applicants with such obligations must resolve them prior to receiving funds. The application process opened on Friday, August 1, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time and will close on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. CT. Notifications are expected in October 2025, with payments anticipated by December 2025. Successful applicants must complete a brief final report due in 2026. All applications must be submitted via CyberGrants, and no extensions to the application deadline will be granted under any circumstances. Applicants must provide a copy of their federal funding termination letter, the associated project budget if available, a narrative explanation of the terminated project, current and prior financial documentation including their FY25 budget, FY24 actuals if needed, and their most recent financial statements. Proof of nonprofit status is also required. For support, applicants can contact Melissa Thomfohrda at melissa.thomfohrda@cityofchicago.org. Reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities or those requiring assistance in another language.

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