Resource Library

Cultural Sustainability, a new grant program offered by the six U.S. Regional Arts Organizations (USRAOs) in partnership with The Wallace Foundation, provides general operating support to arts organizations rooted in communities of color with annual operating expenses under $500,000. Mid Atlantic Arts’ Cultural Sustainability: Community Roots program provides unrestricted operational funding to arts organizations founded by, with, and for communities of color, allowing them to sustain and expand their practices, benefiting the communities they serve. It also supports cross-cultural arts experiences and fosters stronger collaboration between artists, communities, and the RAO’s. The program provides general operating support to arts and culture organizations serving BIPOC communities with budgets under $500,000 and at least three years of programming. Mid Atlantic Arts will select up to 20 grantees from the ten states and territories we serve (DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, PR, USVI, VA, and WV). | Application opens: November 12th, 2024 | More information.

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts will award up to ten New Jersey Heritage Fellowships to exemplary folk and traditional artists. These Fellowships, which come with an award of $20,000 each, recognize lifetime achievement, artistic excellence, and contributions to our state's living traditional arts heritage. Online and In-Person Information Sessions Available November 2024 - January 2025 | Early Nomination Deadline: January 9, 2025 | Nomination Deadline: February 6, 2025 | More information and nomination form.

The Save America’s Treasures program from the Historic Preservation Fund provides grants for preservation or conservation work on nationally significant properties and collections through two types of grants: preservation and collection grants. Work to historic districts, buildings, sites, structures, and objects will be funded through preservation grants, and collection grants support conservation work on nationally significant collections, including artifacts, museum collections, documents, sculptures, and other works of art. | Deadline: December 12, 2024 | More information.

The Smart Family Fund’s mission is to discover, support, and mentor emerging U.S. nonprofit organizations and their leaders, providing the necessary backing to help them succeed. The Fund focuses on early-stage nonprofit ventures that have the potential to make a significant impact on the world, but that have yet to demonstrate the efficacy needed to acquire large-scale funding. Early-stage, U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply. Applicants must be able to clearly articulate how they will demonstrate the efficacy of the intervention, quantify the potential positive impact in the world, and communicate how the organization is differentiated and better than other ecosystem players. | Deadline: None | More information.

NEA Big Read, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, is a national program that offers matching grants of up to $20,000 to support community-wide reading programs in the United States. The grant helps bring communities together around the shared activity of reading and discussing the same book. Each applicant organization selects one of 22 available books from the NEA Big Read library; engages with community partners to develop, conduct, and promote engaging literary and artistic programs that illuminate the book and theme; and offers events and activities related to the theme and chosen book. The theme for the 2025-26 cycle is “Our Nature: How Our Physical Environment Can Lead Us to Seek Hope, Courage, and Connection.” Nonprofit arts organizations, universities, libraries, service organizations, museums, school districts, and tribal governments are eligible to apply. | Deadline: January 23, 2025, for intents to apply, and January 30, 2025, for applications | More information and application.

Community History participants collaborate with their communities to learn about and share their untold stories. Participants receive instruction on public history practices, develop projects in a collaborative environment, and are eligible to receive funding from NJCH to launch projects in their communities. NJCH will provide $1,000 funding up front to support participation in the program. Participating organizations are eligible to apply for additional funding up to $5,000 to support the project they develop over the course of the program. | Deadline: December 12th, 2024. | Application and information.

Many of these grant application deadlines fall on November 15th, 2025. | More information and applications.

The Building Upgrades Inspiring Local Transformation (BUILT Nonprofits) funding opportunity will support nonprofit building improvement projects that reduce energy use, lower carbon emissions, and generate short and long-term energy cost saving so that operational dollars can be redirected toward mission-critical work. Eligible nonprofit participants are 501(c)(3) organizations who own and operate their own buildings. BUILT Nonprofits will provide awards of up to $100k each. The program requires a 20% cost-share. | Deadline: November 12th by 11:59pm ET | Application and information.

The County History Partnership Program (CHPP) was created in 2015 to extend local regranting programs to all of the state’s twenty-one counties. The program enables the NJHC to support both existing and emerging local history organizations and practitioners serving diverse audiences. Through the partnership with county re-granting agencies, NJHC support can more effectively reach history organizations, and projects in communities throughout the state. In addition to re-grant funding, counties may apply for their operational costs and programming related to New Jersey history. | Guidelines available here.

USArtists International® supports in-person performances by artists from any state or territory in the U.S. at engagements at international festivals, global presenting arts markets, and other eligible engagements outside of the United States. The program funds individuals and ensembles across all performing arts practices and disciplines. Mid Atlantic Arts is committed to the development and expansion of both the careers and artistic goals of U.S. performers by providing connections to audiences, presenters, curators, and their peers through the USAI program. By elevating the voices that reflect a vibrant array of creative expression, we are able to celebrate and share the diversity and imagination of the United States. | Deadline: February 26th, 2025. | Application and information.