Arts Midwest is now accepting applications for Cultural Sustainability: Equity-Based Operating Grants, a pilot program that offers grants of up to $67,000 to small arts and culture organizations that are rooted in communities of color.
Donor Name: Arts Midwest
State: Selected States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/15/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
Cultural Sustainability: Equity-Based Operating Grants is a pilot program offered by the six U.S. Regional Arts Organizations (USRAOs) in partnership with The Wallace Foundation. It will give general operating support grants to arts and cultural organizations rooted in communities of color with annual operating expenses up to $500,000.
In total, Arts Midwest will be awarding 18 general operating grants across nine-state region.
- 9 Organizations (one per state) with operating expenses between $0-$249,999 will receive a $55,000 general operating grant.
- 9 Organizations (one per state) with operating expenses between $250,000-$499,999 will receive a $67,000 general operating grant.
Project Period
March 2025 – June 2026.
Eligibility Requirements
The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- 501c3 nonprofit organizations of color.
- Fiscally sponsored organizations of color.
- Federally recognized tribes or tribal communities.
All eligible arts and cultural organizations of color must have at least two of the following:
- Led by a person(s) of color, artistically and/or administratively
- Predominately in service of Indigenous/Native American, Black, Latine, Asian, Pacific Islander, and/or Caribbean communities, or another community of color.
- Founded by and for a community of color.
All applicants must be located and operate within Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Native Nations that share this geography.
The following are not eligible to apply:
- Individuals
- For-profit entities
- Federal agencies or local departments of federal agencies
- Units of municipal, county, or state government
- Colleges or universities and affiliated centers, institutes, and foundations
- Public, private and charter K-12 schools and pre-schools
- Organizations/entities that have had their IRS status revoked. Tax-exempt status of applicant or fiscal sponsor must be current at the time of application.
For more information, visit Arts Midwest.


