Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County is seeking applications for its General Operating Support II Grants.
Donor Name: Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County
State: Maryland
County: Montgomery County (MD)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/06/2026
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
General Operating Support II Grants (GOS II) are available to non-profit arts and/or humanities organizations located in Montgomery County, MD that have had both allowable annual cash operating revenue and expenses of at least $150,000 for the last three completed consecutive fiscal years. Grants are also available to an arts and/or humanities division within an umbrella non-profit organization, provided that the division’s allowable annual cash operating revenue and expenses were at least $150,000 for the last three completed consecutive fiscal years. Grant awards support organizations that work in a wide array of arts and humanities disciplines including performing arts, media arts, visual arts, literary arts, folk and traditional arts, history, and philosophy.
By awarding General Operating Support II Grants, the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) seeks to:
- Encourage organizations to maintain an active, two-way, ongoing relationship with the community in the planning, participation, and evaluation of public activities, which include intentional strategies for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA);
- Promote stability in arts and humanities organizations by providing a base of funding to support operating budgets;
- Help ensure diverse arts and humanities experiences for constituents of Montgomery County, MD;
- Stimulate local support and involvement in the arts and humanities, including volunteer participation, audience development, and financial contributions;
- Strengthen the scholarly and artistic capabilities of arts and humanities organizations; and
- Improve and/or stabilize the management infrastructure and effectiveness of arts and humanities organizations.
Funding Information
Grant awards cannot exceed $600,000.
Funding Information
July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.
Eligibility Criteria
- Core Organizations
- Are a 501(c)(3) in good standing with the State of Maryland.
- Has its primary mission as the exhibition, presentation, production and/or performance of, and/or education in, an arts and/or humanities discipline, and/or provides support services to artists and/or scholars and/or arts and/or humanities organizations;
- Has its primary office in Montgomery County, MD, as demonstrated by the address included in the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Letter of Determination;
- Has a balanced budget and documented allowable annual cash operating revenue and expenses of no less than $150,000 (see the definition of allowable operating expenses within the Budget
- Demonstrates 501(c)(3) status as described below:
- Has 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS; or
- Operates as a specific arts and/or humanities entity or division within a larger 501(c)(3) organization whose primary mission is not arts and/or humanities-based;
- Is governed by an independent, legally liable Board of Directors operating under a mission statement for the organization and an operating budget specific to the organization;
- At least 40% of its Board members reside and/or work in Montgomery County, MD;
- Has as a full-time (35 hours or more) paid executive director, CEO, managing director, or comparable position who reports directly to the organization’s Board of Directors and has had that position filled for no fewer than six months prior to submitting the application;
- Offers at least 51% of its programs and services in Montgomery County, MD, as demonstrated by previous, current, and projected activities and programming. Activities may be open to the public, with or without an admission fee, in person or virtually; and
- Has met all outstanding requirements for any grant(s) received from the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County in prior years.
- Affiliate Organizations
- Are a 501(c)(3) in good standing with the State of Maryland.
- Has its primary mission as the exhibition, presentation, production and/or performance of, and/or education in, an arts and/or humanities discipline, and/or provides support services to artists and/or scholars and/or arts and/or humanities organizations;
- Has its primary office outside of Montgomery County, MD, however:
- Has a local Montgomery County, MD telephone number (such as 301 or 240 exchange); and
- Has staff present on the premises of a Core Organization at least 1,000 hours a year distributed over no fewer than 40 weeks during the year;
- Has a balanced budget and documented allowable annual cash operating revenue and expenses of no less than $150,000 for its Montgomery County, MD programming
- Demonstrates 501(c)(3) status as described below:
- Has 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS; or
- Operates as a specific arts and/or humanities entity or division within a larger 501(c)(3) organization whose primary mission is not arts and/or humanities-based;
- Is governed by an independent, legally liable Board of Directors operating under a mission statement for the organization and an operating budget specific to the organization;
- At least 15% of its Board members reside and/or work in Montgomery County, MD;
- Has as a full-time (35 hours or more) paid executive director, CEO, managing director, or comparable position who reports directly to the organization’s Board of Directors and has had that position filled for no fewer than six months prior to submitting the application;
- Has an agreement with a Core Organization to provide a regular season of programming and/or educational services at the facility of the Core Organization. Activities may be open to the public, with or without an admission fee, in person or virtually. Virtual programs must target and demonstrate benefit for residents of Montgomery County;
- Grant funds must be used for Montgomery County Programs and Montgomery Countyrelated expenses; and
- The applicant has met all outstanding requirements for any grant(s) received from the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County in prior years.
For more information, visit AHCMC.
