Community Access & Participation Grant Program

The Community Access & Participation (CAP) program is a project-specific grant initiative administered by the City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division. Designed to reinforce a vibrant arts and cultural landscape within Santa Monica, the CAP program offers annual funding to nonprofit arts and culture organizations whose operations are based within city limits. This initiative reflects the City’s commitment to ensuring that residents and visitors alike have equitable access to high-quality arts and cultural experiences. The CAP program’s primary objective is to fund local arts and culture nonprofits in delivering programs that increase public access to the arts within Santa Monica. Eligible organizations must be physically located within the city, maintain 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, and comply with all federal non-discrimination and labor laws. Additionally, applicants must have a completed IRS Form 990 for their most recent fiscal year, and if their operating budget exceeds $2 million, a financial audit must be provided. Organizations must also be in good standing with prior Santa Monica grant awards, having submitted all required reports. Project proposals must directly serve Santa Monica residents and take place within city boundaries during the funding period, which runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. Ineligible applicants include governmental bodies and organizations receiving more than 25% of their funding from the City of Santa Monica. Funds cannot be used for capital improvements, equipment purchases, deficit reduction, or non-public fundraising events. CAP grants are typically awarded in the range of $2,000 to $5,000, with $5,000 as the maximum award, determined in part by the applicant’s organizational budget size and the availability of program funds. The application process is conducted entirely online through the Survey Monkey Apply platform. The application opens on January 29, 2026, and closes on February 27, 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. An online application workshop will be held on February 11, 2026, at 11:00 AM to guide prospective applicants through the guidelines and process. Additionally, one-on-one appointments with Cultural Affairs staff are available throughout February for further assistance. Applicants are advised to begin the submission process early, as staff will not be available to troubleshoot technical issues after 4:00 PM on the deadline day. Applications will undergo a non-scored review to determine eligibility and alignment with the program’s goals. The review will focus on the feasibility of the project, the level of benefit to Santa Monica residents, and how well the proposed activities align with the program's intent of increasing access to arts and culture. Award notifications are expected in May 2026, followed by contracting in June and July. Grantees may invoice for 75% of their award upon contract execution, with the remaining 25% payable upon submission of a final report and invoice. Failure to submit a final report may disqualify an organization from future funding. Grant recipients are required to provide several documents as part of the contracting process, including proof of insurance, a current Santa Monica Business License, an updated W-9, and a Levine Act Form. Grantees must also credit the City of Santa Monica in all promotional materials and notify Cultural Affairs staff in advance of program-related events. For additional information or questions, applicants can contact the program at [email protected] or call 310-905-0828. A secondary contact is available at 310-458-8350 or via email at [email protected].

Submit at least 3 days before the deadline; staff support ends at 4:00 PM on deadline day.