Support for Organizations Grant Program

The Support for Organizations Grant Program is an annual funding opportunity administered by the Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) with funds sourced from the City of Houston’s Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT). HAA serves as a local arts and culture organization under contract with the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA), facilitating civic art investments and grantmaking aligned with the city’s cultural goals. This specific program supports nonprofit and fiscally sponsored organizations conducting arts and cultural programming that is open to the public and takes place within the City of Houston. The program is divided into three funding categories, each with distinct eligibility criteria. Category 1 is for nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations that have existed for at least one year and have arts explicitly named in their mission. These organizations can request up to $125,000 or 20% of their operating expenses, excluding in-kind support. Category 2 includes fiscally sponsored programs or newly formed nonprofits with less than one year of operating history. These may request up to $62,500 or 10% of their arts programming budget. Category 3 is intended for more established 501(c)(3) organizations with at least five years of operating history and public programs throughout the calendar year. These organizations may apply for up to $1,000,000 or 3% of their operating expenses. Each award is subject to availability of HOT revenue, and all award ceilings are capped by a formula tied to panel scoring and objective financial evaluation. Funding must be used to support public arts programming, including exhibitions, performances, and events that are accessible to the general public. The program explicitly disallows the use of funds for programs outside of Houston city limits, duplicate HOT funding, educational workshops, K–12 schools, and projects that are not open to all audiences. Applicants must host at least one public event, either in-person or virtually, within the grant year, and are responsible for securing all necessary permits. Applications will open on June 16, 2025, and must be submitted through the HAA Online Grants Portal by July 25, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CDT. All applicants must be headquartered in Houston and provide documentation such as utility bills or lease agreements to verify eligibility. Category 3 applicants must additionally submit audited financials and statements from their Chief Financial Officer. A Funder Report must be submitted through SMU DataArts for all applicants with prior financial history. For new entities without such a history, a budget table must be completed in the application portal. The evaluation process includes an eligibility check by HAA staff, followed by a peer panel review scored on a 100-point scale. Criteria include artistic programming (45 points), public benefit and community engagement (30 points), and stewardship of public resources (25 points). Organizations demonstrating strong community connections and effective artist compensation may also qualify for a 45% BIPOC Boost, with a cap of $20,000. Final funding decisions are made by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs after approval by the HAA Grants Committee and Board of Directors. Grant notifications will be issued via email, and awardees must publicly credit the City of Houston and HAA in all promotional materials. A final report is due within 30 days of the end of the grant term, including a link to the publicly funded event posted on the Cultural Events Calendar. For assistance, applicants may contact the HAA Support Desk at 713-527-9330 or email the Grants team during business hours. Additional technical support for financial reporting is provided by SMU DataArts.

Applicants are advised to attend informational workshops and maintain contact with HAA for scope and budget clarification. Financial documentation errors must be cured within four business days.