Equity-Based Operating Grants

Arts Midwest is launching "Cultural Sustainability: Equity-Based Operating Grants," a pilot program in partnership with the six U.S. Regional Arts Organizations (USRAOs) and The Wallace Foundation. This initiative aims to provide general operating support to small arts and cultural organizations deeply embedded in communities of color. The program is designed to enhance the stability and growth of these vital cultural institutions, aligning with The Wallace Foundation's mission to foster arts participation and strengthen the capacity of arts organizations, particularly those serving diverse communities. The grants, ranging from $55,000 to $67,000, are specifically for organizations with annual operating expenses up to $500,000, ensuring support reaches those most in need. The primary beneficiaries of this program are 501c3 nonprofit organizations of color, fiscally sponsored organizations of color, and federally recognized tribes or tribal communities. To be eligible, organizations must demonstrate at least two of the following criteria: leadership by a person(s) of color (artistically and/or administratively), predominant service to Indigenous/Native American, Black, Latine, Asian, Pacific Islander, Caribbean, or other communities of color, or being founded by and for a community of color. The program's impact goals are centered on strengthening the operational capacity and cultural sustainability of these organizations, empowering them to continue their crucial work in their respective communities. The program prioritizes organizations operating within Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Native Nations sharing this geography. Arts Midwest will award a total of 18 general operating grants across this nine-state region. Nine organizations with operating expenses between $0-$249,999 will receive $55,000, while another nine with operating expenses between $250,000-$499,999 will receive $67,000. This tiered funding structure is designed to provide appropriate levels of support based on an organization's scale. Expected outcomes include enhanced organizational resilience, improved capacity for program delivery, and sustained cultural vibrancy within communities of color. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed in the provided information, the nature of general operating grants suggests that success would be measured through the ongoing stability and growth of the recipient organizations, their ability to maintain and expand their services, and their continued impact on their communities during the project period of March 2025 to June 2026. The Wallace Foundation's strategic priorities often involve supporting effective arts leadership and fostering high-quality arts experiences for diverse audiences, and this grant program directly contributes to those goals by investing in culturally rooted organizations.