Grassroots Art Project Grant

The Grassroots Art Project Grant, administered by the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, supports programs that advance the arts within the Cumberland County community. Backed by allocations from the North Carolina Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, this funding opportunity encourages the proliferation of artistic, cultural, and historically significant programming by local organizations. The grant aims to foster a vibrant and inclusive arts ecosystem by providing resources for initiatives that utilize a wide range of creative disciplines. These include, but are not limited to, visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, digital and media arts, public art, arts education, folk and traditional arts, and innovative artistic forms. Eligible applicants can request up to $15,000 in grant funding, although total funds awarded must not exceed 25% of the applicant organization’s total operating expenses. The project period for funded initiatives runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Importantly, funding cycles occur twice annually. For the first cycle, applications are due by March 5, 2026, and awards will be announced by May 31, 2026. The second cycle has a submission deadline of September 1, 2026, with notification expected by November 30, 2026. Applicants may only submit one proposal per funding cycle and may receive only one Grassroots Art Project Grant per fiscal year. The program is open to 501(c) nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and institutions of higher education that are based in Cumberland County and offer arts-related programming to its residents. Applicants must be in good standing with the IRS and NC Secretary of State, maintain a diverse board representative of the local community, and fulfill prior grant obligations from the Arts Council if applicable. Additionally, entities must not be recipients of State Arts Resource Grant funding from the North Carolina Arts Council. Unincorporated collectives, guilds, and groups with a near-nonprofit operational model may apply using a qualified fiscal agent, provided they meet with the Director of Grants and Allocations in advance and submit a formal fiscal agent agreement. Applications must be submitted digitally through the Arts Council’s online grant portal. Required components include an organizational overview, financial documentation such as a prior year 990 and a three-year budget comparison, and a detailed project proposal. Applicants must also provide an itemized budget, narrative responses, and at least three high-quality work samples produced since January 2023 that reflect the organization’s ability to deliver arts, culture, or history-focused programming. Required uploads include the organization’s tax determination letter, board listing with demographic details, and governing documents for first-time applicants. Fiscal agent documentation is required if applicable. Applications are evaluated by a panel consisting of Arts Council Trustees and community members with professional experience in relevant fields. Proposals are scored on artistic quality (50 points), community impact (25 points), and organizational capacity (25 points). Projects that engage underrepresented artistic disciplines, provide equitable access to programming, and demonstrate strong planning and evaluation strategies are prioritized. Funding recommendations are based on aggregate scores, with final decisions made by the full Board of Trustees. Certain activities and expenses are ineligible for funding. These include large capital projects, programs that serve closed populations or promote specific religious ideologies, fundraising events, lobbying, K–12 school initiatives, and any costs related to deficit reduction or litigation. Grant recipients are expected to begin project implementation no earlier than July 1, 2026, and complete final reporting by July 15, 2027. Mid-cycle reporting and meetings may be required between November 2026 and March 2027. Organizations are encouraged to contact Michael Houck, Director of Grants and Allocations, or Kashia Knight, Arts Education Manager, for application support or clarifications.

Focus on work samples, DEI, and clear artistic vision. Use Cumberland County-based professionals and strong evaluation plans.