California Arts Grants

The LA County Department of Arts and Culture is offering a two-year Organizational Grant Program for Los Angeles County nonprofit arts organizations to fund projects that increase accessibility, sustainability, and capacity in arts programming, with eligibility criteria including tax-exempt status, a primary mission in arts programming, and a minimum of two years of programming history in the county.

The Legacy Business Recovery Grant Program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation to the City of Los Angeles, offers grants of up to $20,000 to eligible Legacy Businesses. This initiative is designed to provide crucial financial assistance to aid these businesses in their recovery from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program's core mission aligns with broader efforts to support local economies and preserve established community businesses, recognizing their historical and cultural value. It underscores a commitment to helping businesses adapt, reopen, and sustain operations in a challenging economic landscape. The primary beneficiaries of this program are Legacy Businesses listed on the Legacy Business Registry, operating within Los Angeles city limits, and functioning from commercial, industrial, or manufacturing locations with a valid commercial lease. Home-based businesses are not eligible, and annual revenue cannot exceed $3 million. The impact goal is to facilitate the recovery and continued operation of these vital businesses, ensuring their survival and contribution to the local economy and community fabric. Businesses must demonstrate how the funds will be used for COVID-19 recovery expenses, with a focus on necessary expenditures. Funding priorities emphasize equitable distribution across finalists, with a particular focus on City of Los Angeles geographic diversity and low-to-moderate income neighborhoods. Grant application submissions from businesses located in or owned by individuals in low- and moderate-income communities (50% and 80% of Area Median Income as defined by HUD) are more heavily weighted, as are businesses facing an imminent threat of displacement. This weighted selection process reflects a strategic priority to support businesses in areas with greater need and vulnerability, aligning with a theory of change that targeted investment can produce more equitable and impactful recovery outcomes. Expected outcomes include the sustained operation of Legacy Businesses, job retention, and economic stabilization within affected communities. Measurable results will be tied to how grant funds are utilized, with eligible uses encompassing employee payroll, rent, utilities, insurance, working capital for reopening or continued operations, adapting to new technologies, payment of outstanding business expenses incurred after March 3, 2021, adaptive business practices, and legal fees for lease negotiations. Grant amounts are tiered based on employee count: $10,000 for businesses with one to five employees and $20,000 for those with six or more. This structure ensures that assistance is tailored to the operational scale of the businesses, contributing to their effective recovery and resilience.

This grant provides funding to community groups in San José for projects that enhance neighborhood beauty, improve quality of life, and foster community engagement.

The WeHo Artist Grant, offered by the City of West Hollywood, is designed to foster and support the long-term creative development of artists. Its mission aligns with the city's goal to retain existing artists, attract new talent, and enhance the economic and social well-being of the community. By directly funding individual artists, the program aims to provide them with the resources needed to realize their work, improve their creative environment, and manage the dual challenges of art creation and career advancement. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are individual artists residing in the City of West Hollywood. The program specifically targets those who are not currently enrolled as students in the discipline for which they are applying, are registered on the West Hollywood Artists Registry, and have not received the WeHo Artist Grant previously. The impact goals are to increase artists' capacity for creation, improve the conditions under which they create, and help them navigate the professional aspects of an artistic career, ultimately enriching the cultural landscape of West Hollywood. The grant prioritizes projects that take place within West Hollywood or its immediate vicinity (within 5 blocks of the border) and demonstrate clear marketing and outreach strategies targeting West Hollywood residents and constituents. Proposed projects must be cohesive, include a timeline and budget, and may not involve fundraisers, capital campaigns, murals, or religious-based programs/events. This focus ensures that the funded projects directly benefit the local community and align with the city's secular and community-oriented development goals. Expected outcomes include a strengthened local arts community, increased artistic output within the city, and enhanced economic and social vitality through the presence of a thriving artist population. Measurable results could include the number of artists retained or attracted to West Hollywood, the successful completion of funded projects within the calendar year, and the reported impact of these projects on the community. The total available funding for this category is $30,000, with a total award of $6,000 per artist, indicating a strategic allocation of resources to support multiple individual artists and their diverse projects.

Arts Integration Training projects should be designed to pave a pathway for increased equitable student learning in, through, and about the arts. This may be realized in a specific classroom, in all classrooms across a school site, or as a central strategy for a district or countywide arts plan. The project must be planned and implemented with collaboration between a nonprofit arts organization, teaching artists, and the educational entity, with fullcommitment from all participants.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that deliver essential services and programs benefiting the residents and businesses of Arroyo Grande in areas such as social services, education, culture, beautification, and recreation.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Santa Barbara for social services, infrastructure improvements, and economic development projects that assist low- and moderate-income residents.

City of Long Beach Activatelb Cultural Special Events Grants, funded by the Long Beach Recovery Act, seeks to support large citywide cultural special events that have not been previously funded by the City. The goal is to celebrate the diverse communities of Long Beach and promote community healing through cultural practices. Eligible events must be free and open to the public, and grant funding will cover the costs of City special event permits and fees.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofits and government agencies for projects that help prevent homelessness and ensure housing stability for seniors in North County San Diego.

The C. J. Stafford and Dot Stafford Memorial Trust supports charitable organizations that serve residents of San Diego County, California. The trust invests in local initiatives that strengthen community well being and address needs across several fields of interest. Priority program areas include arts and culture, education, health, and human services. Average grants range from 5,000 to 7,500 dollars, with total annual giving of about 50,000 dollars. Funds may be used for projects or programs that benefit San Diego County residents and are consistent with the trust mission. Eligible applicants must be public charities qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applications are accepted only through the online grant application form or accessible alternative; no other formats are accepted. Grants are geographically limited to San Diego County, California. Applications are due May 1, 2024. Grant duration is not specified. Additional information is available through the trustee portal referenced by Wells Fargo.

This fund provides financial assistance to artists and arts workers in Los Angeles County who have been impacted by recent wildfires, prioritizing those with significant economic hardship and losses not covered by insurance.

The City of San Carlos is offering a Childcare Grant Program, providing funding between $10,000 to $100,000 for local childcare centers, family childcare homes, and non-profit centers to fund capital improvement projects aimed at increasing childcare spaces, particularly for infants and children with special needs, with applications due by October 18, 2024.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit and government organizations that serve low-income residents in Hayward through various community improvement projects and services.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit theater organizations in select Western U.S. states for professional productions that address contemporary social issues and engage diverse audiences.

The Ohio Animal Foundation is currently accepting applications for its grant program, which aims to support animal welfare initiatives across the state. While the foundation's overarching mission isn't explicitly detailed, the focus of this grant program on rescue and shelter services, as well as wildlife protection, education, and rehabilitation, strongly indicates an alignment with improving the lives of animals and protecting wildlife within Ohio. The target beneficiaries for this grant program are Ohio-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that are in good standing, specifically those involved in animal rescue, shelter services, or wildlife programs. The program intends to support services for domestic, companion, and farm animals, as well as feral and community cats. It also extends its reach to wildlife protection, education, and rehabilitation efforts. The impact goals are to provide essential funding to these organizations, enabling them to continue their vital work in animal care and protection. The priorities and focuses of the grant program are clearly defined. A significant emphasis is placed on "Rescue and Shelter Services," which includes a broad spectrum of animal care, from domestic animals to feral cat programs. Additionally, "Wildlife Protection, Education and Rehabilitation Programs" are a key area of interest, highlighting the foundation's commitment to both domesticated and wild animal populations. The typical grant range of $250-$500 suggests a strategy of providing smaller, impactful grants to a wider array of organizations. While specific expected outcomes and measurable results are not explicitly stated, it can be inferred that the foundation aims to see improvements in animal welfare metrics such as increased adoptions, successful rescue operations, effective rehabilitation of injured wildlife, and enhanced public education on animal care and protection. The modest grant size suggests a focus on supporting operational costs or specific, smaller-scale projects that can demonstrate tangible benefits within these fields. The foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change appear to center on empowering local Ohio-based nonprofits to directly address animal welfare needs. By providing financial assistance to established 501(c)3 organizations, the Ohio Animal Foundation likely believes that it can most effectively leverage existing infrastructure and expertise to achieve its goals. The exclusion of funding for individuals further supports this approach, focusing resources on organizations with a proven capacity for impact.

This grant provides financial support to San José-based nonprofit arts and cultural organizations that promote community engagement and contribute to the city's cultural vitality through diverse artistic programming.

This program provides funding to established arts organizations in California to mentor and develop new local arts agencies in four underserved counties, enhancing community access to arts and cultural activities.

This grant provides funding to nonprofits serving San Mateo and Santa Clara counties to promote equity and community engagement across various focus areas, including arts, health, and environmental initiatives.

This funding opportunity is designed for California-based archives to preserve and make accessible collections that highlight the history and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community in the state.

This grant provides funding to individual artists and nonprofit arts organizations in Eastern Los Angeles County to support innovative arts projects that meet community cultural needs.