Project Grant

The Project Grant offered by the Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) is a funding opportunity designed to support arts-related initiatives throughout the state of Georgia. As part of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, GCA works to strengthen communities by promoting access to the arts in both rural and urban settings. The Project Grant exemplifies this mission by providing funding to a broad spectrum of applicants, including nonprofit organizations, public libraries, government entities, and educational institutions. The FY27 cycle encourages both first-time and experienced applicants to submit proposals that foster cultural enrichment and community engagement. The primary aim of the Project Grant is to provide financial support for arts projects that take place between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027. These projects can include performances, exhibitions, workshops, artist residencies, and other arts programming. Applicants may also propose arts-based capacity building projects, such as hiring consultants for strategic planning or organizational development. All projects must demonstrate a cohesive goal and a clearly defined public benefit. Capacity-building proposals must be directly connected to an arts-related mission; for example, a strategic plan for a history museum would not qualify unless the museum primarily focuses on the arts. The funding range for this grant is between $1,000 and $5,000. All applicants are required to provide a 50% cash match relative to the requested grant amount, meaning that the GCA award cannot exceed two-thirds of the total project budget. Matching funds may not be derived from other Georgia state agencies or from the National Endowment for the Arts, except in the case of public colleges or universities, which must still meet specific outside income thresholds. The grant operates on a reimbursement basis, meaning grantees must first spend the funds and then request reimbursement from GCA. Ineligible uses of funds include capital expenditures over $10,000, fundraising costs, programming outside of Georgia, tuition, scholarships, and food or entertainment expenses, among others. The application must be submitted online through GCA’s portal no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, February 6, 2026. Applicants must complete several components including general information, a project narrative, a detailed budget form with breakdowns, a board or advisory committee list, and support materials that include a work sample. For nonprofit applicants who have not been funded by GCA since FY23, an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter is also required. Failure to include any of these components will render the application ineligible for panel review. Applications cannot be amended after the deadline. Once submitted, eligible applications will be reviewed by diverse grant panels organized by applicant budget size. Panelists will score applications across four criteria: project quality (20 points), community impact (40 points), goal clarity and evaluation (20 points), and fiscal/organizational stability (20 points). GCA uses a scoring matrix and averages panelist scores to determine funding recipients. Final award amounts are based on the score rankings and availability of funds, and most grants are awarded at the requested amount if the budget meets the stated requirements. Applicants will be notified of their award status in July 2026. For assistance during the application process, prospective applicants may contact Tyrone Webb, GCA’s Rural and Community Programs Manager, or Allen Bell, Director of Grants and Research. Accessibility accommodations are available upon request. The GCA website offers resources such as a recorded application training webinar and downloadable budget forms to aid applicants in preparing their submissions.

Clearly explain community served and project details. Ensure all components are complete and accurate. Do not assume prior reviewer knowledge. Panel scoring is strict and based only on submitted material.