Arts & Culture Organization Grant Program

The Arts & Culture Organization Grant Program is a municipal funding initiative administered by the City of Sedona to support nonprofit organizations deeply rooted in the local arts and cultural landscape. This program, introduced for fiscal year 2026–27, reflects the city’s commitment to fostering creativity, strengthening community identity, and enhancing Sedona’s cultural vitality. Through this grant, Sedona aims to invest in organizations whose mission and programming directly contribute to the implementation of Chapter 3 of the Sedona Community Plan, which prioritizes cultural enrichment and civic well-being. This competitive grant opportunity is open exclusively to Sedona-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with arts and culture as their primary focus. Applicants must demonstrate year-round or recurring cultural programming that primarily serves Sedona residents and can also attract out-of-town visitors. Additional eligibility criteria include maintaining good standing with the Arizona Corporation Commission and operating with a minimum annual budget of $1,000,000. Programs eligible for funding must clearly show a direct benefit to the community and include marketing, programming, festivals, supplies, collaborations, or other initiatives aligned with the city’s cultural goals. The total available funding for fiscal year 2026–27 is $200,000, with individual grants ranging from $50,000 to $100,000. Successful applicants are limited to receiving funds from this program only and may not concurrently receive grants from other City of Sedona funding streams within the same fiscal year. The use of funds is restricted to the fiscal year, and awardees are required to acknowledge city support in their promotional materials. Furthermore, grantees must submit an annual financial review conducted by a licensed CPA and a final program report by April 30, 2027. Applications must be submitted via email to [email protected] with the subject line "Arts and Culture Grant Application" by noon on April 30, 2026. The grant portal opens on March 2, 2026. While optional, a workshop on March 19, 2026, is highly recommended for new applicants. The selection process includes in-person evaluations conducted from June 1–3, 2026, by a Citizen Work Group experienced in grant review. Final funding decisions are subject to approval by the Sedona City Council following the recommendation process, which concludes on July 14, 2026. Eligible programs include a broad array of artistic and cultural disciplines such as visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, folk traditions, creative industries, and community-based arts. This comprehensive definition underscores the city’s inclusive approach to culture, recognizing both professional and grassroots initiatives. Importantly, all applications must include documentation verifying nonprofit status, financial health, programming descriptions, community benefit metrics, and budget worksheets. This grant program is designed to support programs that are otherwise cost-prohibitive for the city to manage internally. It provides an opportunity for high-capacity nonprofit organizations to partner with the City of Sedona in fulfilling its cultural mission while reaching local residents and broader audiences. Organizations that do not meet this program's stringent eligibility criteria may consider applying to the Small Grants Program in February 2027, which offers awards between $2,000 and $20,000 to a broader range of nonprofits.

Emphasize alignment with Chapter 3 of the Community Plan and clearly articulate resident vs. visitor impact.