The Grassroots Multicultural Grants program

The Grassroots Multicultural Grants program is a funding initiative administered by the Arts Council of Greater Greensboro (ACGG), in collaboration with the High Point Arts Council, with financial support from the North Carolina Arts Council’s Grassroots Arts Program. Designed specifically for Guilford County, North Carolina, the program aims to support multicultural arts-based organizations and projects that provide inclusive, high-quality arts experiences to local communities. The grant is divided into two key areas: operational support for nonprofit multicultural arts organizations and project support for multicultural-focused arts initiatives. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations that are either registered 501(c)(3)s or nonprofit in nature and in good standing with the NC Secretary of State. Organizations must have been in existence for at least one year for project support and three years for operational support. All proposed programming must be carried out within Guilford County. Individual artists are not eligible, and organizations must not currently receive or be eligible to receive funding directly from the North Carolina Arts Council. Applications open September 23, 2025, and must be submitted by October 17, 2025. Grants support activities occurring between January 1, 2026, and June 15, 2026. A required one-to-one cash match must be provided by the applicant from non-NCAC funds. Acceptable uses of grant funds include artist fees, marketing, space rental, program materials, and operating expenses for qualifying organizations. Ineligible uses include prizes, tuition, equipment, art supplies, internal school programs, and religious content. Funding priorities are structured to first support multicultural-led nonprofit arts organizations, then art nonprofits serving multicultural communities, followed by civic or community-based organizations offering multicultural programming. Panelists evaluate applications based on five criteria: planning capacity, financial stability, program quality, equitable access, and community impact. Applications are scored on a 20–100 scale, and a minimum score of 60 is required to be considered for funding. All grantees must participate in data reporting and marketing acknowledgment requirements, including submission of a final report with audience demographics, legislative letters, and acknowledgment of funding sources on all promotional materials and the organization’s website. A virtual check-in in March 2026 and compliance with credit and logo usage are also required. If funded, organizations will receive payments in installments and must notify ACGG of any program changes by April 2026. An informational Zoom session is scheduled for September 24, 2025, from 12:00 to 1:00 PM. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend. For assistance, contact Grants Coordinator Deb Ruffino at 336-279-7081 or email grants@theacgg.org.

Use templates; describe access and impact; attend info session; complete required forms accurately