Woods Family Music and Arts Grant

The Woods Family Music and Arts Grant is a community-focused funding opportunity administered by the Community Foundation of North Central Washington (CFNCW). The grant was established in 2011 through the Woods Family Music and Arts Fund, with the purpose of enriching the arts and music culture in North Central Washington (NCW). Specifically, it supports programs that expand access to high-quality arts and culture, particularly among youth and underrepresented communities. It also emphasizes celebrating cultural heritage and enhancing the quality and availability of arts programming in the region. This grant provides financial support of up to $5,000 per award to eligible applicants, which include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and public schools located in Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties—excluding the Methow Valley. Government entities and religious organizations defined under IRS Sections 170(c)1 or 170(b)1A are also eligible. Organizations that do not have a 501(c)(3) status are required to secure a fiscal sponsor meeting the same IRS criteria before applying. Only one application per cycle is allowed for each organization, except when serving as a fiscal sponsor for another applicant. Similarly, schools are limited to one application per building and may submit one additional district-wide request. Funds awarded through the Woods Family Music and Arts Grant must be used within one year of the award date. Importantly, the grant cannot be used to fund retroactive expenses, meaning projects, equipment, or programs that were completed before the award date are ineligible for reimbursement. At the end of the grant period, recipients are required to submit a final grant evaluation report to the Foundation. This ensures accountability and provides insight into the outcomes and impacts of the funded work. Applications open on August 1 and close on September 30. Awards are made in November. The application process involves completing a detailed submission, which includes describing the proposed project, its alignment with grant priorities, intended impact, population served, and organizational capacity. Applicants are also required to outline their service area and specify a primary area of interest from predefined categories such as Arts, Culture, and Humanities; Education; or Public and Social Benefit. Additional sections require demographic breakdowns of target populations, funding needs, and how the grant complements the organization’s mission and other funding sources. If an organization applies using a fiscal sponsor, they must provide the sponsor’s name, address, and EIN number, along with a signed agreement letter from the sponsor’s Executive Director and Board President. The application must be fully completed and submitted by the final deadline. There are no noted pre-application steps or required letters of intent. For questions or support regarding the application, interested applicants can contact Jennifer Short, Director of Community Grants, via email at jennifer.s@cfncw.org. A sample application is available as a reference on the Foundation’s website. As of August 27, 2025, the grant is currently accepting applications for the 2025 cycle. Given its annual recurrence, the next cycle is expected to open again on August 1, 2026.