California Arts Grants

The City of West Hollywood is pleased to offer the WeHo Community Arts Grant intended to support nonprofit arts organizations, individual artists, or artist collectives, with a history of supporting LGBQ, BIPOC and/or female artists and audiences. Donor Name: City of West Hollywood State: California County: Los Angeles County (CA) City: West Hollywood Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Proposed programs can include art centered presentations or participatory programs (workshops) which enhance the community. The purpose for the grant is to fund art presentations that support community goals through cultural equity. This category supports art centered presentations and/or workshops that provide access and education to specific communities. The City of West Hollywood and Grantees in the Community Arts Grant category can expect to: Engage residents and visitors with the arts; expand arts audiences. Recognize and champion local cultural resources; discover and explore new places for artmaking. Provide a variety of quality arts programming that is financially and geographically accessible for the residents of West Hollywood; increase access to arts experiences. Increase revenues for local businesses, and support arts-business partnerships. Increase access to and/or participation in the arts through education. Amplify, express, explore, address, and celebrate identity, experience, and culture. Funding Information $30,000: Total amount of available funding in this category. $6,000: Maximum award per organization. Eligibility Requirements  To be eligible for consideration, organizations must satisfy the following requirements: Eligible organizations are LA County-based artists, collectives, or non-profit arts organizations with a history of supporting LGBQ, BIPOC and/or female artists and audiences. Applicants must have at least 1 year of art presentation history and be able to provide 2 work samples. Proposed projects must take place in West Hollywood or the immediate West Hollywood immediately adjacent (within 5 blocks of the border of West Hollywood). Applicants must demonstrate a marketing and outreach strategy targeting West Hollywood residents and constituents. Applicants may only receive funding from one grant category each calendar year. If the applicant is already receiving funding from another City Division or Department, or is cosponsored by a City Council office, they are not eligible for an Arts Grant for that same project or program. City of West Hollywood elected and appointed officials, its employees and their immediate family members are not eligible to apply. Proposed projects may not include fundraisers, capital campaigns, murals, or religious-based programs/events. Applicants must submit an application online by the deadline. For more information, visit City of West Hollywood.

The Arts & Cultural Organizations General Operating Support grant program provides direct funding to arts and cultural organizations in support of ongoing operations. Donor Name: California Arts Council State: California County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline:  06/06/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: This grant supports the well-being of California’s cultural vitality by helping sustain a robust and diverse arts workforce and infrastructure. Funds may be used to support any eligible expenses associated with the general operations of an arts or cultural organization, including but not limited to rent, utilities, and staff salaries. Applying for this grant does not restrict an organization from applying for other CAC project-based grants. General Operating grants are intended to support the applicant organization in carrying out its mission. Funding is not intended to support a specific project. Funding Information Organizations with total revenue below $250,000 or over $1.5 million are not eligible for this funding cycle. Applicant organizations can request up to $30,000 for this one-year funding cycle. Grant Activity Period: October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025. Eligibility Criteria  501(c)(3) organization- Organizations must demonstrate proof of nonprofit status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or section 23701d of the California Revenue and Taxation Code. Applying with a 501(c)(3) Fiscal sponsor- An applicant organization without nonprofit status must use a California-based fiscal sponsor with a federal 501(c)(3) designation to apply for funding. OR Municipal, County or Tribal Governmental Entity- Units of municipal, county, or tribal governments are eligible to apply. Certificate of good standing – Nonprofit organizations and fiscal sponsors (if applicable) must have “active status” with the California Secretary of State (SOS) showing evidence of “good standing” at the time of application. You can verify your organization’s status by conducting a search using the SOS online Business Search tool. An indication of “active” (versus “suspended,” “dissolved,” “cancelled,” etc.) confirms that your nonprofit corporation exists, is authorized to conduct business in the State of California, has met all licensing and corporation requirements, and has not received a suspension from the Franchise Tax Board. For more information, visit California Arts Council.

The Creative Youth Development program is rooted in the CAC’s belief that arts learning is an essential tool for healthy human development and that it should be available to all young people throughout California, including but not limited to those whose lives have been impacted or interrupted by the justice system. Donor Name: California Arts Council State: California County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/06/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: The CAC envisions that all of California’s young people are provided with meaningful, culturally responsive arts-learning experiences so that they can reach their full potential. All projects may occur during or outside of traditional school hours and should take place at arts and culture venues, community centers, court/school sites, juvenile halls and camps, county operated correctional facilities, social services agencies, and other youth-oriented settings. Creative Youth Development is a commitment to supporting young people’s stories, ideas, and dreams through creative expression and honoring their lived experience. In order to create environments that promote Creative Youth Development, these three concepts must be present: Racial Equity and Social Justice Youth Voices Collective Action Goals Projects should address one or more of the following Creative Youth Development program goals: Provide social-emotional creative experiences in safe, healthy, and appropriate learning environments. Foster creative abilities of youth through culturally and linguistically responsive arts learning. Support arts programs that seek to activate youth voices, narratives, and perspectives. Utilize cultural assets of the local community to support positive self-identification and respect for diverse cultures. Empower youth through the preservation, revitalization, and/or reclamation of cultural practices. Cultivate the development of transferable life skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, and collaboration. Funding Information Grant Request Amount: Up to $25,000. Grant Activity Period: January 1, 2025 – September 30, 2025. Project Requirements  The applicant must develop and complete a project addressing the program’s purpose. All activities to be funded by the CAC must occur within the Grant Activity Period. The project design must provide for safe, healthy, and appropriate learning environments for youth. The project design must include hands-on learning in specific art forms to develop creativity, skills, and knowledge in at least one artistic and/or cultural discipline, including but not limited to: Dance – contemporary, hip-hop, ballet, jazz, tap, house, movement traditions and forms of all cultures Literary Arts – poetry, zine-making, spoken word Media Arts – animation, video, digital photography, film, podcasts, other forms of new media Music – traditional/culturally specific, folk, jazz, hip-hop, punk, classical Theater – devised pieces, original works, playwriting, interdisciplinary productions Traditional and Folk Arts – basketry, embroidery, weaving, woodcarving Visual Arts – murals, exhibitions, 3D, photography, sculpture, clay works, curatorial training If projects are tuition-based, the applicant must include a robust equity and accessibility plan that includes full scholarships and reduced fees. The project must include sustained activities over a period determined by the needs of the artists, youth, and the parameters of the project. This could mean intensive daily interaction over the course of one to two weeks or weekly interaction over a number of months. Artists(s) to be compensated and supported by this grant must show relevant experience of at least two years, be based in California, and may not be engaged in the project as full-time students in a degree program. If proposing therapeutic outcomes, applicants must establish the qualifications of service providers, how strategies are appropriate to the clinical and/or community arts setting, and how support is culturally responsive to participants. Project design and implementation must reflect a commitment to include and represent the communities to be served. Eligibility Criteria Organization must have a principal place of business in CA and a CA address. Organizations must demonstrate proof of nonprofit status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or section 23701d of the California Revenue and Taxation Code. An applicant organization without nonprofit status must use a California-based fiscal sponsor with a federal 501(c)(3) designation to apply for funding. Units of municipal, county, or tribal governments are eligible to apply. Organizations and fiscal sponsors must have “active status” with the California Secretary of State (SOS) showing evidence of “good standing” at the time of application. You can verify your organization’s status by conducting a search using the SOS online Business Search tool. For more information, visit CAC.

The James C. Stewart Charitable Foundation supports a variety of charitable causes to organizations primarily located in Tucson, Arizona and Southern California. Donor Name: James C. Stewart Charitable Foundation State: California County: Imperial County (CA), Kern County (CA), Los Angeles County (CA), Orange County (CA), Riverside County (CA), San Bernardino County (CA), San Luis Obispo County (CA), Santa Barbara County (CA), Ventura County (CA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Program Areas Arts, culture, and humanities Education Environment, animals Health Human services Public/society benefit Religion Funding Information Average grant size: $10,000 Average total giving per year: $50,000 Geographic Limitations There are no geographic limitations; however, the foundation has a practice of primarily supporting organizations located in Tucson, Arizona and Southern California. Requirements To be eligible, organizations must qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applications must be submitted through the online grant application form or alternative accessible application designed for assistive technology users. For more information, visit Wells Fargo.

The C. J. Stafford and Dot Stafford Memorial Trust is seeking applications to support a variety of charitable causes through grants to charitable organizations located in and serving the residents of San Diego County, California. Donor Name: C. J. Stafford and Dot Stafford Memorial Trust State: California County: San Diego County (CA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Program Areas Arts, culture and humanities Education Health Human services Funding Information Average grant size: $5,000 to $7,500 Average total giving per year: $50,000 Geographic Limitations San Diego County, California Requirements Grantees must be qualified as public charities under IRC section 501(c)(3). Applications must be submitted through the online grant application form or alternative accessible application designed for assistive technology users. No other application formats will be accepted. For more information, visit Wells Fargo.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for community-focused projects, such as centers for social services, libraries, and cultural institutions, requiring significant community backing and a portion of the budget to be secured before applying.

The Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts, administered by the Santa Barbara Foundation, aims to support qualifying performing arts nonprofit organizations in furthering their missions by providing quality performing arts opportunities. Grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded to organizations that seek to produce, present, and preserve exceptional works from various artistic traditions, ensuring participation reflects the demographic diversity of Santa Barbara County. Priority is given to organizations that demonstrate a sustained or increased demand for the performing arts, are working to expand organizational capacity, show cultural competence, and work to dismantle barriers preventing access to arts for low-income and marginalized populations. Funding can be used for general operating, program-specific support, expansion of existing programs, pilot programs, and collaborative efforts.

The City of Pasadena is accepting applications for its 2024-2025 Festival and Parade Grant Program. Donor Name: City of Pasadena State: California City: Pasadena Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/06/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: For the purpose of this grant program, a “festival” or “parade” is a publicly oriented thematic event with a defined cultural or artistic focus, comprised of multiple arts genres/cultural activities – or – multiple offerings focusing on one artistic genre or cultural activity, that include elements of community involvement. For example, music festivals, dance festivals, fairs, parades and cultural celebrations would all be eligible. It is produced by a non-profit or consortium of non-profit organizations. It takes place within the boundaries of Pasadena at one site or in one geographic area for one or more consecutive days, and features but is not limited to music, theatre, visual art, dance or film. Specific art /cultural “elements” of a larger event are also eligible. Simple outdoor or housed “exhibitions” without community involvement would not qualify. A non-profit arts and culture organization or non-profit social service organization (including but not limited to a chamber of commerce, social service agency, homeowners association or business district) in partnership with an arts and culture organization is eligible to apply for the production of an arts/cultural festival, fair or parade. Festival and Parade Program grants will generally support marketing costs and artists fees in order to foster accessibility, cultural diversity, and geographic equity. This grant is available only to events which take place within the Pasadena city limits. Funding Information Maximum grant request is $10,000. Project Period Project or program must take place between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. Eligible Projects  The Annual Grants Program provides support for the following types of Festivals and Parades: A public event or element of an event with a defined cultural or artistic purpose An arts/culture festival or parade held in publicly accessible space and free, or of reasonable cost. A collaboration between one or more Pasadena non-profit art/culture organizations and any other non-profit organization (including, but not limited to, a chamber of commerce, social service agency, homeowners association or business district). In this case either partner may take the lead on the application as long as a nonprofit partnership exists. A Pasadena social service organization may apply but only in partnership with a Pasadena arts/culture organization. An arts/culture event as stated above produced in Pasadena by a non-profit arts/culture organization not based in Pasadena but providing an event otherwise not produced by a local producer. For more information, visit City of Pasadena.

This program invites artists to create temporary public art installations in vacant storefronts throughout Glendale, enhancing the city's cultural landscape and community engagement.

This program provides up to $5,000 to small, independently owned businesses in Arcadia, California, to help cover costs associated with permits for opening, expanding, or improving their commercial spaces.

This opportunity invites local and regional artists, art organizations, and schools to showcase their artwork in a unique public space in Glendale, enhancing community access to public art.

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 grant provides funding for individual artists, arts organizations, and small businesses in Chula Vista to create free cultural events and projects that promote community engagement and inclusivity in various artistic disciplines.

SF Shines Design Services Grant Program, offered by the Invest In Neighborhoods division of the Office of Economic and Workforce Department in California, provides grants, design services, and project management for property improvements to help small businesses thrive and create vibrant and safe neighborhood commercial corridors. The program aims to assist businesses in obtaining permit drawings for storefront improvements to ensure compliance, safety, and efficient business operations. Grantees will have access to a licensed architect to ensure that their projects comply with local, state, and federal laws and codes.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area that focus on improving education, welfare, and community enrichment for children and their families.

The Public-Space Activation Fund (PAF) is a grant opportunity offered by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. The grant program aims to fund temporary, creative projects in public spaces within LA City neighborhoods where arts and culture are absent or scarce. The funding levels range from $600 to $45,000, depending on the category and complexity of the proposed projects. The grant is open for monthly submissions from October 2023 to July 2024. Eligible applicants include Los Angeles-based community entrepreneurs, independent artists, cultural activists, nonprofit organizations, and collaborative partnerships under the stewardship of one lead-agent. There are four categories under PAF: Neighborhood Expressions (NE), Arts and Social Wellness (ASW), International Festivals & Intercultural Foods (IFIF), and International Participation And Promotion Projects (IPAPP). Each category has specific requirements and funding ranges. The primary aim of PAF is to activate designated public spaces through creative-connectivity for well-defined audiences. The deadline for applications is July 31, 2024, at 12:00 am. For more information on eligibility requirements and application instructions, prospective applicants are encouraged to refer to the PAF program guidelines available at dcaredesign.org/artsactivate or contact Armando Smith at [email protected] or Ben Espinosa at [email protected].

Program: Community Grant Program (CGP) Funder: City of Encinitas Award Details: The CGP provides funding in two categories - Civic (social, recreation, education, health, and environment) and Arts (visual art, performing arts, arts education, literary arts, etc.). The program is funded through an annual General Fund allocation from the City of Encinitas and outside donations. The CGP operates on a reimbursement basis, where funds are reimbursed upon submission of paid invoices, receipts, and other supporting documentation. Reimbursement requests for awarded grants must be submitted by 4:30 pm on Friday, June 14, 2024. Eligibility: To be eligible for funding through the CGP, organizations must have nonprofit or tax-exempt status and be legally based in Encinitas. Projects must take place between July 1, 2023, and June 14, 2024. Other Information: The City of Encinitas expresses gratitude to the Ecke Family for their generous financial support of the CGP. For more information about the program and application process, applicants are encouraged to review all information provided on the official website as well as the FY23/24 CGP Recipient Workshop Presentation. Questions can be directed to City staff via email at [email protected] or by phone at (760) 633-2740.

This grant provides funding to community organizations in California that work to improve health and wellness by addressing systemic barriers faced by low-income individuals, people of color, youth, immigrants, and rural residents.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles County for projects in the arts, education, health, and human services, with a preference for one-time or short-term requests.

The Veterans grant program is funded by El Dorado County to support operations, programs, or property improvements/repairs that support the veteran community at large. Donor Name: El Dorado Community Foundation State: California County: El Dorado County (CA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/16/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Funding Information Grants are available in amounts up to $10,000. Requirements In order to receive a grant an organization or group needs to submit an application plan that meets the following requirements Grant funds must go to nonprofits. Individuals are not eligible to receive a grant. For those programs helping individual veterans, funds may be contingent on the veteran providing proof of service via a DD214, El Dorado County Veteran identification card, or a Department of Defense identification card. Organizations must sit out a 1.5 years between requests from Veterans TOT.  Thus, if an organization receives funds in April/May of one year, they must wait til the following September/October of the next year to apply.  Final impact reports on initial grants must be submitted and approved prior to new funding being released. The application requires the requesting organization information and, if different, distributing organization information. An estimated time frame of fund usage. All the grant money does not need to be used in the year requested. It is permissible for the requesting organization to use only a portion of the funds during the award year but the application must specify the long term use. If the group fails to use all grant money in the proposed time frame the commission may request the unspent funds be returned. Preference will be given to organizations that have established programs and that consistently apply for other grant funds and/or fund-raise separately. Organization must be a recognized charitable concern as defined by the Internal Revenue Service. This includes 501(c) corporations, churches, government agenices, and schools. Organizations must be in compliance with the IRS, CA SOS, FTB, and CA DOJ. For more information, visit El Dorado Community Foundation.