Community Support Grant

The Community Support Grant is administered by the Wyoming Arts Council to enhance access to the arts throughout the state of Wyoming. This program provides general operating support, project-specific support, and arts learning support to Wyoming-based nonprofit organizations and government agencies. The program is part of the Council’s commitment to strengthening communities through high-quality, accessible arts programming and ensuring that the arts remain a foundational component of community development and education across the state. Funded by a combination of state appropriations and federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the Community Support Grant is a vital tool for fostering public engagement in the arts. This grant opportunity is specifically designed for organizations that demonstrate a significant impact in their communities through arts-based services. Eligible applicants may apply for up to $10,000 in general operating or project support and an additional $5,000 in arts learning support, totaling a maximum request of $15,000. However, all funding is contingent upon a 1:1 cash match requirement, and applicants may not request more than 50% of their total project or operating budget in grant funds. Funding requests must align with the implementation period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, which corresponds with the Wyoming Arts Council’s fiscal year. Applications are reviewed through a competitive process that involves peer panel scoring and final approval by the Wyoming Arts Council Board. Applications must be submitted through the online grants portal; paper applications are not accepted. All prospective applicants must possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and are encouraged to thoroughly review the Council’s Grant Guidelines, which detail both NEA compliance requirements and Council-specific conditions. New for the Fiscal Year 2026 cycle, the NEA has updated its general terms and conditions, which are incorporated into all grant agreements and must be reviewed prior to application submission. The Community Support Grant application opens on February 16, 2026, and closes on March 27, 2026. Once applications are received, a panel review will take place in April, with the panel meeting scheduled for May 4, 2026. Funding recommendations are then presented to the Wyoming Arts Council Board, which meets on May 18–19, 2026. Applicants are expected to receive award notifications in May 2026. Following this, grant contracts are submitted to the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office in early July, with final contracts sent to grantees by late July. All signed contracts must be returned by August. Final reports from grantees are due in August of the following year, post-project completion. The grant program is recurring annually, with the next application cycle anticipated in February 2027. All funded projects must be accessible to the public, and applicants are encouraged to involve local and state officials in funded events. Acknowledgment of funding support is a requirement, with standard crediting language provided by the Wyoming Arts Council. Organizations are expected to publicly recognize both the Council and the NEA in printed materials, websites, and media associated with funded activities. Further support resources, including webinars and scoring rubrics, are made available to applicants to strengthen their proposals and ensure compliance with funding criteria.

Ensure compliance with updated NEA Terms and Conditions for FY26; confirm UEI registration and review the full Wyoming Arts Council Grant Guidelines before applying.