Mission Based Grant

The Mission Based Grant offered by the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County (ACFCC) is a general operating support opportunity targeted at 501(c)(3) organizations whose core work centers around the arts, culture, or history. This grant supports nonprofit organizations that serve the residents and communities of Cumberland County, North Carolina, through high-quality, artistic, cultural, and educational programming. The fund is specifically aligned with the ACFCC’s mission to connect communities, embrace diversity, promote creativity, foster lifelong learning through the arts, and advance tourism and economic development in the region. The Mission Based Grant provides funding for organizations whose work demonstrates alignment with at least two of the five tenets of the ACFCC’s mission. This includes producing programming that promotes artistic engagement, expands cultural tourism, and contributes to community enrichment. Applicants must demonstrate that they are rooted in Cumberland County through both governance and programming, and show evidence of financial responsibility, artistic merit, and public impact. The project period for this grant spans from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. The application window for the 2026–2027 cycle closes on March 5, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Applications require submission of a full application initially and every two years thereafter, with streamlined update applications in alternate years. New applicants must submit comprehensive documentation, including a mission statement, program descriptions, financial records (such as a prior year 990, three-year budget comparison, and current/proposed budgets), as well as samples of artistic work from the past five years. Update applications focus on financial and programmatic progress reports and updated materials for the upcoming fiscal year. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations that have provided three years of high-quality, arts-based programming. They must show a track record of engagement with the Cumberland County community, demonstrated by regional marketing efforts and representative board membership. Additionally, applicants must engage qualified artists and arts professionals and meet a 1:1 matching requirement unless their annual operating expenses are under $250,000, in which case the match is waived. Ineligible applicants include educational institutions, municipal entities, start-ups, unincorporated groups, and organizations operating with deficits in their past two fiscal years. The evaluation process includes a multi-tiered review, beginning with staff-level screening for eligibility and completeness, followed by review and recommendation by a board-level Grants Assessment Committee, and concluding with a final decision by the full board. Applications are scored on mission alignment, program quality, tourism and economic impact, organizational sustainability, community accessibility, financial accountability, and leadership. Final funding notifications will be issued by May 15, 2026. Project start dates begin as early as July 1, 2026. Projects may run through June 30, 2027, with final reports due by July 31, 2027. Additional updates and meetings may be required between November 2026 and March 2027. While this grant opportunity is not listed as recurring, the guidelines suggest a biannual application structure for returning grantees, implying future funding cycles may occur subject to ACFCC’s funding calendar and updates.

Emphasize alignment with 2+ ACFCC tenets, strong artistic samples, regional marketing, and financial accountability.