The Regional Arts Partner (RAP) Grant is administered by the Illinois Arts Council (IAC), a state-level agency dedicated to fostering the development of the arts throughout Illinois. This funding opportunity supports the expansion of arts programming at the local level through designated Regional Arts Partners across the state.
The program aims to empower local organizations to respond to the specific cultural and artistic needs of their communities. Each partner organization is tasked with designing and executing grantmaking strategies that reflect the needs within their geographic service area. This structure promotes decentralized, community-focused funding for arts initiatives.
Funding is allocated to Regional Arts Partners, who then distribute subgrants in accordance with their localized criteria. While the Illinois Arts Council does not publicly specify funding ceilings, floors, or number of awards, organizations can expect a responsive and needs-based distribution model.
Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State, branches of government, charitable trusts, religious and higher education institutions, and school-affiliated organizations like PTOs and PTAs. All applicants must have a valid FEIN and UEI, and must be pre-qualified in the state’s GATA system.
The application process opens on May 15, 2025, and closes on June 12, 2025 at 11:59 PM. While there are no stated pre-application deadlines, those requiring accommodations must make a request at least three business days before the closing date. Application guidance and eligibility confirmation can be obtained by contacting Director of Strategic Partnerships, Teresa Davis, at Teresa.N.Davis@illinois.gov.
The grant is recurring, typically reopening each May. The next anticipated cycle is expected to launch in May 2026. All interested applicants are encouraged to engage early and consult their respective Regional Arts Partner for area-specific application guidelines and criteria.
Contact Teresa Davis for guidelines and reasonable accommodation requests must be made at least 3 business days prior to the deadline
