General Operating Support Grant for Large Organizations

The Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) is offering the FY26-FY27 General Operating Support for Large Organizations grant. This two-year funding opportunity is designed to help arts organizations in Washington State cover general operational expenses. The grant supports the core activities that enable organizations to deliver accessible and inclusive creative experiences in communities across the state. The application for this opportunity opens on March 3, 2025, and closes on April 7, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Applicants can request $6,000 in total funding, to be distributed in two equal payments of $3,000 over two years. These grants are structured as reimbursement-based, meaning funds are provided after eligible expenses have been incurred. Typically, reimbursement occurs at the end of the organization’s operating year. Final reports for each fiscal year are due by July 31 of the following year. Priority consideration will be given to organizations located in Washington State counties identified as economically distressed, including Clallam, Cowlitz, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Skamania, Stevens, Wahkiakum, and Yakima. Additionally, organizations that serve communities with at least 25 percent representation from underserved groups—defined as those limited in arts access due to geography, historical exclusion, or racial and ethnic marginalization—are prioritized. To be eligible, applicants must be either a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, a fiscally sponsored group meeting ArtsWA requirements, a local arts agency officially designated by local government, or a tribal government. Organizations must have a physical address in Washington State, a mission centered on arts, culture, or heritage, publicly accessible programming, at least three years of programming history, and an annual operating budget exceeding $350,000. Ineligible applicants include individuals, for-profits, religious organizations (unless applying for project support), most government agencies, universities, and K-12 schools. Applicants are encouraged to attend one of two informational webinars scheduled for March 11 and March 26, 2025, and can also register for office hours starting March 12 for additional support. Notifications of award decisions will be sent by the last week of May 2025. The funding period runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. Grant reimbursement forms must be submitted by June 30, 2026, and final reports are due by July 31 for each fiscal year of the grant. For further assistance, applicants may contact Ashley Marshall, Grants to Organizations Program Assistant, at 360-485-1524 or ashley.marshall@arts.wa.gov, or Miguel Guillen, Grants to Organizations Program Manager, at 360-252-9970 or miguel.guillen@arts.wa.gov.