Kentucky Arts Grants

This grant provides funding for Kentucky teachers and schools to cover transportation costs for students traveling to high-quality arts programs.

This program provides funding to community groups and nonprofits in Lexington to support projects that expand and maintain the city's urban tree canopy while promoting education about the importance of trees in urban environments.

This grant provides funding for Kentucky schools and nonprofit organizations to bring professional teaching artists into classrooms, enhancing student engagement and teacher development through immersive arts residencies.

United Way of Greater Cincinnati announces the launch of the Future of Manufacturing Program, funded by the GE Aerospace Foundation, to address critical gaps in the advanced manufacturing workforce. Donor Name: United Way of Greater Cincinnati State: Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio County: Boone County (KY), Brown County (OH), Campbell County (KY), Clermont County (OH), Dearborn County (IN), Grant County (KY), Hamilton County (OH), Kenton County (KY), Ohio County (IN) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/14/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: Through this three-year initiative, United Way seeks to increase the pipeline of skilled workforce by providing grants to a cohort of partners for projects to increase enrollment in, completion of, or job obtainment in the advanced manufacturing sector in Greater Cincinnati. This request for proposals seeks programs that address the current constraints in meeting the workforce needs in the advanced manufacturing sector. Informed by a range of community stakeholders, these constraints include: Limited capacity of technical training programs, often driven by limited access to trained instructors. Fragmentation across critical stakeholders and partners, such as public funders, educational and technical training providers, workforce development, and employers. Insufficient, flexible funding to test new ideas. Solving local challenges at scale requires coordination and rigor. This opportunity will bring together advanced manufacturing stakeholders, financial resources and technical assistance to replicate and/or scale best-practices to grow the advanced manufacturing workforce pipeline. Flexible funding structure that drives coordination and collaboration between educational, workforce and support systems. Cohort learning environment for rigor and sharing of learning. Centralized coordination and technical assistance to identify best practices, infuse quality improvement, document and track. Funding Information Organizations may only submit one application and grants will likely range from $25,000 – $50,000. Organizations funded in year 1 may be eligible for continued or new funding in year 2 or 3. Eligibility Criteria  Organizations must meet the following criteria to be eligible for funding through this process: Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or other tax-exempt educational provider, communitybased group, entity or collaboration/coalition that operate like a nonprofit organization. Operate services or programming to community members to support advanced manufacturing workforce development. Operate programs or services that serve a majority of people living within United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s footprint including: Hamilton, Clermont, Brown counties in Ohio Dearborn and Ohio counties in Indiana Boone, Campbell, Kenton, Grant counties in Kentucky. For more information, visit United Way of Greater Cincinnati.

This program provides funding to small businesses and commercial property owners in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, for improving their storefronts and interiors to boost economic growth and community revitalization.

This grant provides funding to support a collaborative workforce development program aimed at equipping middle and high school students, particularly young men of color in Fayette County, Kentucky, with essential skills and experiences for high-wage career opportunities.

Main Street Ventures is accepting applications for its Launch Funding that provides emerging, pre-revenue businesses that have a Prototype or Product. Donor Name: Main Street Ventures State: Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio County: Boone County (KY), Butler County (OH), Campbell County (KY), Clermont County (OH), Dearborn County (IN), Hamilton County (OH), Kenton County (KY), Warren County (OH) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: Funding Information  Grant Request between $5,000 – $10,000. Eligibility Criteria  Business Type Applicant MUST be a business entity (C-Corp, S-Corp, or LLC) with a Federal Tax ID (EIN).​ Industry Focus Areas: Retail Storefronts – Ex. Restaurants, Coffee Shops, Retail Shops, etc. Manufactured Goods – Ex. Consumer Packaged Goods (Food / Beverage), Clothing, Sporting Goods, etc. Technology Companies – Ex. Hardware, Software. Business Location Business Entity MUST be located in the Greater Cincinnati region (Hamilton, Butler, Clermont and Warren counties in Ohio; Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn County in Indiana). Grant requests from other regions will NOT be considered. Application Responses Businesses MUST show customer demand and strong progression since the founding. Funding requests MUST focus on specific growth projects. MSV defines a growth project as a step that will help accelerate your business growth. MSV Grant Funding is designed to help businesses scale by covering key Direct Costs, not General Operating Expenses. Examples of Direct Expenses that ARE suitable for Grant Funds: Key pieces of equipment, Packaging Support, Technology Product Development, etc. Examples of General Operating Expenses that are NOT suitable for Grant Funds: Existing Payroll, Rent, Insurance, Marketing, Legal Fees, etc. Businesses MUST explain the impact of Grant Funds on the business OR the Cincinnati Region. Special Consideration will be granted to Women and Minority-Owned businesses Businesses that can show matching funds from other sources. For more information, visit Main Street Ventures.

This grant provides a $6,000 honorarium to a Kentucky writer selected as poet laureate, supporting their efforts to promote the literary arts in the state over a two-year term.

This grant provides financial support ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to small businesses owned by minorities, women, and veterans in Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Northern Kentucky, helping them with various business improvement expenses.

The Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) is currently applications for the 2024 Infrastructure Grant Program. Donor Name: Rural Advancement Foundation International State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/09/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: RAFI provides support to Historically Underserved farmers and ranchers  for projects that demonstrate an ability to increase farm viability; establish new markets for local products and services; develop new uses for existing structures and equipment; add value to existing farm products through processing, packaging or marketing; make optimal use of on-farm and natural resources; and Cultural/Heritage projects which are focused on preserving and continuing a specific agrarian tradition.  Funding priority will be given to proposals with: High expected impact on farm viability and sustainability Strong project feasibility and planning: a clear plan, detailed budget and timeline, and all supporting documentation included.  Farmers who earn a significant amount of their household income from the farm operation.  Individual financial need, or location in an economically disadvantaged area Project tangibly benefits the surrounding community Farm uses agroecological and/or or ancestral farming practices  Funding Information Applicants may request up to $10,000 in funding.  Eligibility Criteria You are a historically underserved farmer or rancher, as defined by NRCS.  You are applying as either an individual farmer owner/co-owner or as a farm cooperative If applying as a cooperative or collaborative, at least 50% of the cooperative or collaborative must meet eligibility criteria.  You are in at least your fourth full growing season of farming and have worked at least two years in your current farming operation and location.  You are a “livelihood” farmer/rancher or are seeking a long term career that financially supports you through agriculture  You complete and submit an application by the deadline. You submit only one application (as an individual or a collective). If you submit more than one application, neither will be considered. You have NOT received a RAFI infrastructure grant before (2020-2023).  Your farm is located in one of the following states AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, or VA. For more information, visit RAFI.

The South Arts is accepting applications for its In These Mountains (ITM) initiative to support the projects that promote sharing, teaching, learning, preserving, documenting, and supporting the continuity of the folk arts and traditional culture of Central Appalachia. Donor Name: South Arts State: Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee County: Selected Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: South Arts has prioritise the following: South Arts is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. They strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-led and LGBTQIA+-led organizations, and organizations led by people with disabilities. They will prioritize applications that feature BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ traditional artists and traditional artists with disabilities. South Arts is committed to funding traditional arts projects in rural communities (with populations under 50,000). This funding program is open to a wide variety of organizations, including community cultural organizations, schools/colleges/universities, libraries, museums, performing arts presenters, community festival organizations, faith-based organizations, etc. Organizations must be located within and serve at least one Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) county in Kentucky, North Carolina, or Tennessee. Funding Information Grants are awarded in the amount of $10,000. Project Period October 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025. Eligiblity Criteria Nonprofit organizations and educational organizations located in Appalachian Regional Commission counties in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee are eligible. Organizations must have not-for-profit, tax-exempt status, or be an official unit of local, county, or state government. Educational institutions (schools, school systems, colleges, and universities) are eligible. South Arts does not accept applications from fiscal agents for this grant program. All applicants must have a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). Organizations that have failed to submit final reports for any previous South Arts grants by the time of this application will not be considered for funding in this grant cycle. Organizations that fail to properly acknowledge South Arts’ support in programs and press materials will not be considered for additional funding. Eligible organizations must be located within and serve at least one of the following Appalachian Regional Commission counties: Kentucky: Adair, Bath, Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Edmonson, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Garrard, Green, Greenup, Harlan, Hart, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, McCreary, Madison, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Wayne, Whitley, and Wolfe. North Carolina: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Davie, Forsyth, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, McDowell, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey. Tennessee: Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Cannon, Carter, Claiborne, Clay, Cocke, Coffee, Cumberland, De Kalb, Fentress, Franklin, Grainger, Greene, Grundy, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hawkins, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Lewis, Loudon, McMinn, Macon, Marion, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Overton, Pickett, Polk, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sequatchie, Sevier, Smith, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union, Van Buren, Warren, Washington, and White. For more information, visit South Arts.

This program provides financial support to rural nonprofit and governmental organizations in select Southern states for presenting touring artists across various disciplines, including film, performing arts, and visual arts.

The Blue Grass Community Foundation is accepting applications for its 2024 Early Childhood Education Literacy Grant. Donor Name: Blue Grass Community Foundation State: Kentucky County: Selected Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/21/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: With funding from the MacAdam Early Childhood and Literacy Fund, Blue Grass Community Foundation seeks to increase equitable access to quality pre-K education, early childhood care programs, and/or literacy programs for students in Central Kentucky. BGCF has the goal of narrowing the achievement gap by supporting those organizations/programs specifically serving low-income students, students of color, English Language Learners (ELL), and students with special needs. Qualified charitable organizations serving Central Kentucky are eligible to submit grant proposals that focus on early childhood teaching and learning; professional development for early childhood educators; parent engagement; and literacy-specific programs for learners of all ages, including adults. Proposals for project support and general operating support will be considered. Funding Information Grant awards will range from $2,500 to $10,000, with the option of renewal for one additional year. Grant Period August 2024 – July 31, 2025. Eligibility Criteria  Applicant organization is located in or providing services to residents of Central Kentucky (counties limited to Anderson, Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Harrison, Jessamine, Madison, Montgomery, Scott and/or Woodford Counties). Applicant organization is classified as a nonprofit charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code; has a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) designation; or is a publicly supported organization such as a school district, municipality, or government agency. Applicant organization does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, citizenship status, creed, religion, religious affiliation, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status or any other protected status under applicable law. An organization with religious affiliation will be considered for funding only if the project for which it seeks support attempts to address the needs of the wider community without regard to religious beliefs. Applicant organization does not have any overdue final reports for any previous grants funded by the Community Foundation. For more information, visit BGCF.

This program provides financial support to individual craft, folk, and traditional artists across the U.S. to purchase essential tools and equipment that enhance their artistic practices.

This funding opportunity supports innovative projects that improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities in states with historically low participation rates, encouraging collaboration and sustainable solutions.

This program provides funding to K-12 teachers and administrators in specific Kentucky and Indiana counties to enhance classroom instruction through arts-integrated programming.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Paducah to implement projects that improve the quality of life for local residents.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit arts organizations in the Cincinnati-Middletown area to create or enhance programs that engage young professionals and foster community involvement through the arts.

This program honors individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the arts in Kentucky, recognizing their impact on artistic communities and arts education.

This program supports individual visual and craft artists in Kentucky by providing professional development, marketing assistance, and promotional opportunities to help them reach broader markets and enhance the state's cultural landscape.