Cultural Fund Grant Program

The Cultural Fund Grant Program, administered by the Evanston Arts Council, provides support to nonprofit and community-based arts organizations that serve the Evanston, Illinois community. Established by the Evanston City Council in 1975, the Arts Council fosters the development, accessibility, and advocacy of the arts in Evanston. The Cultural Fund seeks to sustain the city’s creative ecosystem, promote artistic excellence, and create inclusive opportunities for public engagement with diverse forms of cultural expression. For the 2026 application cycle, eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) arts or community organizations that are based in or serve Evanston. Grants of up to $5,000 may be awarded for general operations or specific arts programs. While some applicants may receive full awards, others may receive partial funding based on scoring and available funds. The program prioritizes proposals that demonstrate artistic merit, engage the Evanston community, and show a clear and feasible use of requested funds. Projects may also incorporate programming related to the America250 celebration in 2026–2027. Applications will be evaluated by a panel of arts professionals using three equal criteria: artistic excellence, community impact, and the proposed use of funds. Organizations must demonstrate their capacity to implement the program and align with federal requirements, including nondiscrimination, accessibility, and environmental compliance. Organizations must also obtain a SAM.gov Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and be current with vendor registration through the City of Evanston. Applications open on February 26, 2026, and must be submitted online no later than April 1, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. Technical assistance is available by email throughout February and March. An optional info session will be held via Zoom on March 12 and made available online. The grant review panel will meet on May 9, and the Arts Council will finalize allocations on May 19. Notification to applicants will occur by June 1, and grants will be disbursed by June 30. All funded activities must occur between July 2026 and June 30, 2027. Final reports are due by July 31, 2027. Organizations are required to retain documentation for three years and acknowledge the City of Evanston, the Evanston Arts Council, the Illinois Arts Council Agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts in all funded materials. Questions should be directed to [email protected], and applicants must follow all online instructions to ensure their application is complete and eligible for consideration.

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