The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation, in collaboration with The Miami Foundation, administers the Pérez CreARTE Grant Program to bolster Miami-Dade County’s status as a world-class urban center through artistic and cultural advancement. The Foundation, with a primary commitment to arts, culture, and education, is dedicating over $5 million over two years to support exemplary arts organizations that expand access to high-quality art, nurture artistic talent through residencies and fellowships, and ensure equitable arts education. Since its inception, the CreARTE initiative has been a cornerstone in promoting artistic excellence and community engagement across Greater Miami.
The 2025 grant cycle, its fourth, prioritizes nonprofit organizations with an "arts-first" mission, defined as those whose core mission and programming are centered around the arts. This year, general nonprofits with peripheral arts programming will not be eligible. Only 501(c)(3) public charities, government entities, and universities located in or serving Miami-Dade County are eligible, including those with fiscal sponsors. While organizations may only submit one application, universities can submit up to three, provided they come from distinct departments.
Applications opened on April 29, 2025, and are due by June 13, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST through the Miami Foundation’s online portal. Awards will be announced in Fall 2025, with the grant period running from November 1, 2025, to October 31, 2027. An informational session was held virtually on May 6, 2025, and applicants can also book 15-minute office hour sessions to discuss their proposals with the Foundation.
Funding is available in three focus areas: Arts Access, Arts Education, and Artist Fellowships and Residencies. Grants of up to $250,000 over two years may be requested. Organizations may apply for funding that supports programming, general operations, or capital projects, provided space for such projects has already been identified. Funding may not be used for one-off events or conferences.
Application components include detailed organizational and proposal information, such as budget, audience demographics, program impact, community partnerships, and a thorough articulation of goals, metrics, and anticipated outcomes. Proposals are reviewed by a panel that includes Foundation staff, Pérez family members, Related Group staff, and select external community reviewers who are not eligible for funding themselves.
For questions, applicants are encouraged to contact Jacki Altman, Community Investments Manager, at JAltman@miamifoundation.org or Belissa Alvarez, Director, at Belissa.Alvarez@relatedgroup.com.