Texas Women for the Arts Grants

Texas Women for the Arts Grants is a program of the Texas Cultural Trust, established in 2005 to support arts education across the state. As a statewide giving circle, Texas Women for the Arts (TWA) brings together women philanthropists to fund programs that awaken and nurture the artist in every Texas child. This initiative reflects the Trust’s broader commitment to enriching the state's cultural landscape by investing in youth-centered artistic initiatives. TWA members review, select, and allocate grant awards during their annual spring meeting. The grants are awarded annually and designed to increase access to the arts for Texas children through direct funding of educational programs. Applications open on October 1 and must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. CST on December 1. Funding is awarded in the spring, and awarded programs must expend their grants between June 1 of the award year and May 31 of the following year. Awards may range from $1,000 to a maximum of $30,000, though amounts are determined at the discretion of the TWA Grant and Executive Committees and may differ from the requested sum. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations in good standing with the Texas Secretary of State, although religious organizations and city, county, or state historical agencies may also apply. However, organizations such as individuals, businesses, or fiscally sponsored groups are not eligible. Additionally, organizations may not receive funding for more than two consecutive years and must observe a one-year hiatus before reapplying. A critical requirement is that each application must be sponsored by a current TWA member, and applicants are responsible for securing this sponsorship independently. Programs proposed for funding must directly align with the mission of TWA, supporting artistic exploration and access for children in Texas. Funded projects must be implemented by the applying organization; redistribution or regranting of funds is not allowed. Amendments to the use of awarded funds require written approval before the project concludes. The application process takes place via the Texas Cultural Trust website and includes detailed questions about project alignment with TWA’s mission, artistic significance, community impact, innovation, organizational capacity, feasibility, and budget. Finalists will be notified in March and required to submit a digital presentation, such as a video or slide deck, for review by the full TWA membership. These presentations are evaluated on artistic quality (30%), capability (30%), and impact (40%). All award recipients must acknowledge the Texas Cultural Trust and Texas Women for the Arts in promotional and program-related materials. Applicants are also encouraged to include the Trust in any communications or updates regarding funded initiatives. For inquiries, applicants may contact info@txculturaltrust.org with the subject line “TWA Grants.”

Ensure the proposed program aligns directly with the mission of TWA to support arts for Texas children. Secure a TWA member sponsor early, as this is required for eligibility.