The Dennis Mangers Fund for Young Performing Artists, administered by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, supports performing arts education for high-promise youth in California’s El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties. Named after Dennis Mangers, a lifelong public servant and former chair of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, the fund honors his personal experience of overcoming financial barriers to arts training. It aims to ensure that all students passionate about the performing arts can access meaningful educational opportunities, regardless of socioeconomic background.
For the 2026 grant cycle, the fund will accept applications between October 6 and November 7, 2025. Grants of up to $5,000 are available to eligible nonprofit organizations. Funding is designated for enhancing established, in-house youth performing arts training programs. These programs must support high-promise youth—defined as children ages 8–17 from communities of color who have lacked access to private arts education due to financial limitations.
Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits located in and serving the four-county Sacramento region. They must maintain a current profile on GivingEdge, the region’s nonprofit database, by the end of their grant term. In addition, the performing arts must be a major component of the organization’s programming.
Allowable program activities include instrumental, vocal, theater, dance, or spoken word training; experiential learning; peer-based education; mentorship by professional artists; and “front-of-house” or “back-of-house” instruction (such as business planning, marketing, and costume or set design). Grant funds can cover tuition subsidies, teaching artist fees, program materials, and stipends for youth internships or apprenticeships. Indirect costs may not exceed 10% of the total request.
Applications will be evaluated using a two-part rubric: program design (60%) and fiscal soundness (40%). Competitive proposals must align with the Foundation’s mission, present clear goals and evaluation metrics, and demonstrate fiscal responsibility and sustainability. All proposals must be submitted through the Foundation’s online portal. Paper or email applications are not accepted. Questions can be directed to the Foundation at info@sacregcf.org or by calling 916-921-7723.
Ensure alignment with program goals; emphasize impact on high-promise youth; maintain GivingEdge profile.
