The Delaware Division of the Arts’ StartUp Program supports emerging arts organizations by enhancing their management capacity and providing modest operating support. It serves as a pathway for organizations to qualify for General Operating Support (GOS), Education Resource, or Arts Stabilization Fund grants. Eligible applicants must have a primary focus on the arts, a functioning board, nonprofit status, continuous arts programming for at least two years, and an operating income of over $16,000. A Letter of Intent must be submitted by January 15, 2025, with approval required to proceed to the full application.
Grants include up to $2,500 for operating expenses and access to training through the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA). A Standards for Excellence® Licensed Consultant provides customized training on nonprofit management topics such as governance, resource development, and financial management. Organizations must demonstrate board engagement by documenting board approval to participate in the program.
Applications, due by 4:30 p.m. on March 3, 2025, must include an organizational profile, narrative responses, board and staff lists, a two-year budget comparison, financial reports, board minutes, and other supporting materials. Organizations are also required to complete a Cultural Data Profile through SMU DataArts, a mandatory survey for applicants seeking General Operating Support.
Grant funds may be used for operating expenses such as administrative costs, artist fees, marketing, and professional development but exclude activities outside Delaware, capital expenditures, fundraising costs, or lobbying. Funding must support activities occurring between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026.
Applications are evaluated on artistic quality, community service, and management capacity. Final funding decisions are announced after July 1, 2025, following review by the Delaware State Arts Council. Grantees must submit final reports by September 30, 2026, and comply with contractual obligations, including crediting DDOA appropriately and maintaining updated public event information on DelawareScene.com. For assistance, applicants are encouraged to contact DDOA directly.
