Grassroots Arts Grants 2026

The Grassroots Arts Grants offered by the Chatham Arts Council support nonprofit organizations in Chatham County, North Carolina, to carry out impactful arts-related projects during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. These grants are part of the North Carolina Arts Council’s broader Grassroots Arts Program, which is funded through the North Carolina General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Chatham Arts Council serves as the Designated County Partner to the NC Arts Council for this initiative. The council is responsible for distributing $29,130 in funding, with grant awards ranging between $1,000 and $5,000. The goal of this program is to empower local nonprofits that use the arts to enrich the community. Eligible projects include arts programming or operational support for arts organizations. Examples of acceptable expenses include artist fees, travel, space rental, marketing, electronic media, costumes, props, and other production or administrative needs. Emphasis is placed on the fair compensation of local artists and outreach to underserved or diverse communities. To qualify, applicants must be organizations with at least one year of operation, have 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor, and be located in Chatham County. Eligible applicants must also have an arts-centered mission or utilize the arts in their programming. Specific restrictions apply: for instance, religious institutions must ensure programming is community-focused and non-religious; academic institutions cannot use the funds for internal programs or equipment; and individuals are not eligible to apply. Additionally, all applicants must be able to provide required documentation such as tax forms, board lists, and conflict of interest policies. Applications are accepted through the Chatham Arts Council website until 11:59 p.m. on June 26, 2025. The council encourages applicants to preview the entire application via a provided PDF and save frequently while working on the online form. Grant recipients will be announced by September 15, 2025, and all funded activities must be completed by May 31, 2026. Retroactive funding for projects starting July 1, 2025, is permissible but less competitive. Each applicant must match awarded funds dollar-for-dollar from other sources, excluding other NC Arts Council funds. Grant recipients are also required to use designated logos in their publicity and acknowledge local and state government support. Final reports documenting expenditures, participant demographics, publicity materials, and legislative acknowledgements are due by May 31, 2026. For inquiries, applicants may contact Heather at heather@chathamartscouncil.org.

Save the form often due to potential for data loss; preview the full application via the PDF before starting; ensure all materials and matching funds are in place before submission.