Mission Support Grants

The Mission Support Grant, administered by United Arts of Wake County, provides unrestricted funding to nonprofit arts organizations operating within Wake County, North Carolina. The program is designed to support arts and cultural nonprofits that directly produce, present, or support arts programming. The funder, United Arts, has a longstanding commitment to supporting local arts organizations and fostering a vibrant cultural landscape in the county. This grant program reflects that mission by enabling organizations to sustain or enhance their operations and programming with flexible financial support. The grant is available to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations that meet specific eligibility criteria. These include possessing 501(c)(3) status, having a primary mission centered on arts programming, being based and primarily operating within Wake County, and having produced arts programs in the county for at least one year. Additional requirements include maintaining a board of directors that meets quarterly, and having nondiscrimination, conflict of interest, and accessibility policies. Organizations must also be in good standing per United Arts’ general grant policies. Secondary eligibility allows access for groups with programs targeting youth, those serving specific Wake County municipalities, newly incorporated nonprofits (less than 8 years), or organizations identified as culturally-specific based on both mission and leadership. Funding amounts vary based on the applicant’s most recently completed fiscal year operating budget, with maximum grants ranging from $1,500 to $25,000. The funds may be used for programming, general operating, and administrative expenses incurred between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027. However, funds may not be used for capital expenditures, fundraising events, scholarships, lobbying, religious programming, and other restricted activities. Notably, organizations with budgets exceeding $2 million or receiving direct State of North Carolina allocations are ineligible. The evaluation process consists of a staff eligibility review, peer grant panel evaluation based on budget tiers, and a financial health review. Evaluation criteria include artistic merit, community value, financial management, and organizational management. Special financial review panels examine applicants’ financial statements and IRS Form 990s to ensure fiscal responsibility and sustainability. Organizations with culturally-specific designations receive an additional $1,000 funding supplement if recommended for award. Applicants are required to attend a virtual information session relevant to their budget size and may schedule one-on-one application review appointments between March 11 and March 27, 2026. The application is submitted through Submittable, with a deadline of April 3, 2026, before midnight. Organizations with budgets under $150,000 will complete a streamlined application with reduced narrative and financial requirements. Grant award decisions will be finalized by the United Arts Board of Directors in June 2026, with notification occurring the same month. The grant performance period will run from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The grant program is recurring annually, with future cycles expected around the same timeframe. Inquiries should be directed to Ragen Carlile, Vice President of Programming, via [email protected] or (919) 839-1498 x209.

Emphasize artistic merit, financial management, and community value per scoring rubric.