ARTSmemphis Operating Support Grant 2026

ARTSmemphis is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering a strong and inclusive arts community in Shelby County, Tennessee. The organization envisions an accessible, impactful, and sustainable arts environment through active engagement and funding support. In fiscal year 2025, ARTSmemphis invested $1.2 million in arts organizations via its competitive Operating Support Grant, made possible by generous contributors. The FY26 Operating Support Grant for Group 2 applicants—organizations with fiscal years ending between July and December—will open on May 12, 2025. The Operating Support Grant offers unrestricted funding to support arts-based organizations in Shelby County. These funds aim to help organizations sustain operations and programming. The grant does not allow for regranting to other entities. Applications are evaluated comprehensively, with funding decisions based on the documentation of organizational impact and alignment with evaluation criteria. The grant award process includes potential site visits or check-in meetings, and the anticipated minimum award is $5,000. New grantees may receive between $5,000 and $10,000, with final amounts tied to organizational budgets and performance. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations located or permanently based in Shelby County, Tennessee, and have arts as their primary mission and activity. They must have received at least two ARTSmemphis grants since July 2022 and maintain year-round programming, an operating history of three years, a minimum budget of $50,000, and at least one full-time staff equivalent. Ineligible entities include religious organizations, educational institutions, governmental bodies, and organizations that don’t meet criteria such as full-time staffing or prior grant experience with ARTSmemphis. The FY26 Group 2 timeline includes a May 8 information session and weekly office hours from May 14 to July 9. The application and Letter of Intent (LOI) open on May 12, with a June 11 deadline to submit the LOI. For organizations new to the program, a mandatory eligibility interview must be scheduled by May 23. Draft narrative applications may be submitted by June 30 for feedback. Final narrative applications are due by July 14. Site visits and check-ins will take place between August 11 and August 29. Applications are submitted online and consist of two parts: the LOI (organization profile) and the full narrative application. Required documentation includes financial reports, donor lists, board and staff rosters, and IRS Form 990s or financial statements depending on the organization's budget size. Additional policies, such as a Child Protection Policy, are required if the organization serves youth. Organizations are encouraged to maintain a profile on LIVEGIVEmidsouth.org and participate in advocacy groups like the Tennessee Nonprofit Network and Tennesseans for the Arts. For application support or questions, organizations can contact Nur Abdalla at info@artsmemphis.org or call 901-578-ARTS. All submissions must be complete and on time, as no deadline extensions will be granted.