Project Grant for Organizations (PGO)

The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) offers the Project Grants for Organizations (PGO) program to support arts and culture projects that are relevant and meaningful to communities across the state. RISCA is a state agency dedicated to ensuring a rich and inclusive cultural life for all Rhode Islanders by supporting artists and cultural organizations. Through this grant, RISCA seeks to fund a broad range of cultural activities, with equal value placed on both large-scale public events and smaller, community-specific initiatives. The goal is to support artistic vibrancy, promote access to the arts, and foster community engagement through projects that are both impactful and accessible. The PGO program provides funding of up to $6,000 per project. While partial awards are common, the minimum partial award will be either 50% of the requested amount or $1,000, whichever is higher. Projects must be distinct sets of connected activities with defined beginnings and ends. Examples include festivals, exhibitions, performance series, or classes. However, the program is not intended to fund the entire programming season of an organization. Instead, it supports discrete arts projects that fulfill RISCA’s mission to provide a meaningful cultural life for all residents, particularly those from underserved communities, as defined by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations based in Rhode Island or groups fiscally sponsored by a qualified nonprofit in the state. Organizations must be incorporated in Rhode Island and registered with the R.I. Secretary of State. Fiscal sponsorship is allowed if the sponsor accepts full responsibility for grant compliance and documentation. Sponsored groups must provide a letter of agreement using the RISCA template. Organizations cannot receive support for the same project or apply for multiple RISCA grants in the same cycle. Additionally, organizations receiving General Operating Support from RISCA are ineligible for PGO funding. The application opens annually on February 1 and closes on April 1 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Funded projects must take place within the Rhode Island state fiscal year, from July 1 to June 30. Notifications of awards are tentatively scheduled for mid-June, and final reports are due by July 31 following the project period. Applications are submitted through the Euna Grants Portal. To begin the application, applicants must create or log into their profiles and upload the required eligibility documents, including IRS determination letters, recent 990 filings, and a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov. Fiscal sponsors must also submit their own documentation and the fiscal sponsorship agreement. The application process involves two main components: eligibility review and panel evaluation. The eligibility review requires uploading documentation proving nonprofit status and compliance with RISCA rules. The panel evaluation is based on three criteria: logistics, artistic vibrancy and impact, and community engagement. Applicants must describe their project timeline and budget, explain the artistic and community value of the work, and provide testimonials and work samples that demonstrate the relevance and experience of the participating artists. Evaluation prioritizes projects with strong artistic focus, engagement of underserved communities, and logistical and financial feasibility. RISCA places restrictions on grant spending, excluding uses such as capital improvements, debt reduction, fundraising, hospitality, prizes, regranting, academic credit activities, or religious programming. All funded activities must occur in ADA-compliant spaces and within Rhode Island. For questions or accommodations, applicants may contact Seamus Hames, RISCA’s Arts Education Program Director and 504 Accessibility Coordinator. Additional inquiries regarding the application system should be directed to Sara Leonard, RISCA Deputy Director. Applications are judged competitively, and grant awards are contingent upon state and federal funding availability.

Prioritize underserved communities and ensure project locations are ADA-compliant.