Community Arts Development Operating Grants

The Community Arts Development (CAD) Grant Program, administered by the Howard County Arts Council (HoCo Arts), supports arts initiatives in Howard County, Maryland. HoCo Arts is a private, nonprofit organization that fosters the arts and supports local artists and cultural organizations. With a mission to promote the vibrancy and diversity of the arts in Howard County, HoCo Arts serves as a key vehicle for distributing public funds from both county and state sources, notably the Maryland State Arts Council. CAD Grants are an essential mechanism through which HoCo Arts advances its goals by providing both operating and project-based funding to qualifying nonprofit arts organizations. The CAD program offers two types of grants: Operating Grants and Project Grants. Operating Grants provide core support to established arts organizations whose primary mission involves artistic production, presentation, or exhibition, while Project Grants support specific artistic initiatives conducted by smaller or mid-sized arts or non-arts organizations. To qualify for Operating Grants, organizations must have successfully completed two CAD Project Grants in consecutive years, demonstrate sound management practices, and have a paid executive staff member. Project Grants, on the other hand, are available to both new and returning applicants and are capped at $6,000 or 50% of project costs. Notably, Project Grants must fund direct artistic expenses only, and all funded activities must take place within Howard County. The CAD program imposes strict eligibility and accountability standards. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits in good standing with state and federal agencies, as well as with HoCo Arts. They must also conduct at least 50% of their programming, operations, and governance within Howard County. The use of funds is tightly regulated: CAD Grants cannot be applied to capital expenses, land acquisition, tuition assistance, refreshments, political activities, or travel, among other restricted uses. Importantly, applicants must provide a cash match, with the required match ratio increasing with the size of the grant request—from 1:1 for grants up to $10,000, up to 9:1 for grants exceeding $80,000. In-kind contributions cannot be used to meet this match requirement, although they may still be noted in application materials. The application process is highly structured. All applications must be submitted through the online platform (https://hcac.gosmart.org) by May 7, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Only one application per organization is permitted, either for a Project or Operating Grant, not both. First-time applicants are required to schedule a meeting with HoCo Arts staff before applying. Following submission, applications undergo a multi-tiered review, beginning with administrative checks and followed by evaluation from an Artistic Review Panel composed of artists and arts administrators. Recommendations from the panel are reviewed by the Committee on Grants and ultimately approved by the HoCo Arts Board of Directors. Awards are expected to be announced as early as September 2026. Applicants are evaluated on three main criteria: artistic merit, service to the community, and organizational capacity. Artistic merit considers the qualifications of the artists involved and the projected quality of the artistic output. Community service is measured through audience development, diversity initiatives, and accessibility. Organizational capacity includes financial stability, staff qualifications, and governance structure. Grant recipients must comply with federal non-discrimination laws and accessibility requirements, and are responsible for submitting timely interim and final reports. Reporting requirements vary by grant size, with grants of $15,000 or more requiring financial reviews or audits. The performance period for FY 2027 grants is July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 for Operating Grants, and September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027 for Project Grants. Final reports for Operating and most Project Grants are due July 15, 2027, with the exception of summer project activities, which must report by August 31. While this program is recurring annually, specific application dates and deadlines must be confirmed each year. Questions regarding the CAD program should be directed to the Howard County Arts Council at 410-313-2787.

Maintain strong fiscal documentation; clearly articulate artistic objectives and community service; submit reports on time