Arts, Culture & Heritage Grant Program

The Napa County Arts & Culture Advisory Committee (ACAC) administers the 2025-2026 Arts & Culture Grant Program to strengthen local arts and culture for the economic and social benefit of Napa County residents and visitors. The grant program is funded by the County’s Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), which is primarily generated by tourism. The Board of Supervisors allocates a percentage of TOT revenue to support arts and culture initiatives, with ACAC overseeing the grant selection and recommendation process. The primary goals of the program include investing in organizations that benefit the community and attract visitors, supporting organizations with long-term viability, and fostering diversity in artistic discipline, cultural representation, public impact, and accessibility. The grant supports two main categories: Tourism-Generating Arts & Culture Organizations, which must derive at least 20% of revenue or attendance from outside Napa County, and General Arts & Culture Organizations, which primarily serve local residents. Within these categories, applicants may request funding for Capacity Building, Special Programs & Projects, and Capital Improvement. Additionally, a separate Leadership & Professional Development category is available, and collaborative grant applications may be submitted. Grant amounts vary based on an organization’s annual operating budget. Small organizations (budget up to $100,000) may request up to $7,500, mid-sized organizations (budgets between $100,000 and $500,000) may request up to $17,500, and large organizations (budgets above $500,000) may request up to $27,500. Leadership & Professional Development grants are capped at $2,500, while collaborative grants have a maximum of $20,000, with no more than $10,000 per participating organization. Organizations may apply for funding in up to two subcategories in addition to the Leadership & Professional Development and collaborative grants. Eligibility is limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations based in Napa County that have been in operation for at least 12 months and whose primary purpose is arts, culture, or heritage programming. Fiscal sponsorship is allowed only for Capacity Building and Special Programs & Projects applications, and the fiscal sponsor must be a nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status. Applications are evaluated on criteria including artistic and cultural merit, community impact, project design, relevance to county priorities, organizational capacity, budget feasibility, and completeness. Applications must achieve at least 50% of the total possible score to be considered for funding. Grant awards may be partially funded, and applicants must demonstrate the ability to complete their projects with the awarded amount. Final funding decisions are made by the Napa County Board of Supervisors. Applicants must submit a complete application along with supporting documents, including IRS determination letters, operating budgets, tax returns, and a statement of non-discrimination. 2023-2024 grantees must provide an overview of how previous funds were used. A mandatory grant workshop is scheduled for early 2025, and applicants must also attend the ACAC meeting on April 21, 2025, to present their proposals. The application deadline is March 6, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.. For further inquiries, applicants may contact Anthony Halstead, Director of Library Services & Community Outreach, at 707-253-4061.