General Operating Support

The General Operating Support (GOS) Grant, administered by the Kansas Arts Commission (KAC) under the Kansas Department of Commerce, is a strategic funding opportunity designed to bolster the operational capacity of nonprofit arts and cultural organizations across the state of Kansas. The program supports entities whose missions are directly centered on arts and culture, including museums, arts councils, commissions, and service organizations. These organizations must be engaged in disciplines such as music, dance, theater, creative writing, visual arts, folk arts, and similar major art forms. The overarching aim is to strengthen Kansas’ cultural infrastructure and enhance the sustainability and impact of arts organizations serving communities statewide. Eligible applicants must be either Kansas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or arts-based units of public entities such as state and local governments, school districts, community colleges, and federally recognized tribal governments. Applicants must have at least one year of completed arts and cultural programming and be in good standing with both KAC and the Kansas Secretary of State. Independent components within larger institutions may also apply if they meet specific criteria including having a separate advisory board, a distinct mission, and their own operating budget. Organizations must also have an active and valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) at the time of application. Grant awards range from $1,000 to $25,000 based on the applicant's total operating income. A 1:1 matching requirement applies to all grants, using a combination of cash and in-kind expenses from non-state and non-federal sources. Applicants located in designated Rural Opportunity Zones may claim in-kind contributions for up to 100% of the required match. These donations must be well documented and may include volunteer labor or professional services. All activities and expenses supported by the grant must occur between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027. The application window is from February 23, 2026, through March 23, 2026. Applications must be submitted through the Submittable platform. Applicants must submit an operating budget covering three fiscal years, a project budget for the grant year, and various support materials such as work samples, organizational charts, and documentation of in-kind contributions. All required uploads must be submitted by the deadline, and failure to comply may result in disqualification. The review process includes staff eligibility screening, panel evaluation, and final approval by the Kansas Department of Commerce based on panel scores and available funding. Evaluation criteria include four areas: Excellence (up to 40 points), Impact (30), Management (20), and Accessibility (10). Applications must receive an average panel score of at least 80 to be eligible for funding. Panel meetings are open to the public and include opportunities for applicants to provide updates or respond to questions. Following panel scoring, the Kansas Arts Commission reviews and ranks applications, which are then submitted to the Department of Commerce for funding approval. Key contacts for the GOS program are Curtis Young ([email protected], 785-296-3481), Director of the Kansas Arts Commission, and Kate Van Steenhuyse ([email protected], 785-379-1608), Assistant Director. The guidelines, worksheets, and other resources can be downloaded directly from the Kansas Department of Commerce website to assist with preparation and submission. Award notifications follow funding approval, and recipients must submit a final report by July 31, 2027.

Ensure clear mission alignment with arts/culture; Emphasize accessible programming; Meet 1:1 match and documentation standards; Target 80+ panel score for eligibility