General Operating Support (GOS) Grants provide unrestricted general operating support to arts organizations with a year-round program of arts and cultural activities and services.
Donor Name: LexArts
State: Kentucky
County: Fayette County (KY)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/03/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
GOS Grants are highly competitive and provide unrestricted funds to arts organizations that demonstrate strong arts mission fulfillment, fiscal responsibility, sound management and operate on a year round basis.
- GOS I: Supports Lexington’s largest and most established arts organizations and are $25,000 and above.
- GOSII: Supports Lexington’s growing and mid-sized organizations and are $5,000 to $25,000
Goals
- Through its General Operating Support Program, LexArts seeks to provide funding to, and work in partnership with, organizations that enhance the lives of Central Kentuckians through year round artistic, cultural and educational programs and activities.
- LexArts serves as a resource and supportive agency for organizations that contribute to the educational, artistic, and cultural lives of those living in Central Kentucky through its purpose of promoting, enhancing, and contributing to the cultural climate of the community. LexArts is guided by its organizational values of collaboration, empowerment, innovation, generosity, inclusion, diversity, and equity. Applicants are encouraged to consider the purpose and values when developing their application.
Project Period
July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.
Eligibility Criteria
For GOS I
All GOS I Grant Applicants must meet the criteria listed below to be eligible:
- Nonprofit 501(c)3 organization
- Arts focused mission
- Annual budget must have exceeded
- $250,000 for the last three consecutive years
- Up-to-date profile on Guidestar.org with at least Silver transparency rating.
- Paid professional, full-time management
- At least three consecutive years of prior
- GOS I or II support
- Based in Fayette County
- Majority of work in Fayette and contiguous counties
- Provides year-round programming.
- Demonstrates ongoing fiscal responsibility through an audit conducted externally by an actively practicing certified public accountant (CPA)
- Active participant in the annual Fund for the Arts Campaign
- Received current year Kentucky Arts Council Kentucky Arts Partnership Grant
- Compliance with past grant reporting
For GOS II
All GOS I Grant Applicants must meet the criteria listed below to be eligible:
- Nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization
- Arts focused mission
- Annual budget must have exceeded $50,000 for the last three consecutive years
- Paid professional full- or part-time management
- Three consecutive years of LexArts Community Arts Development (CAD) Program Support or previous GOS support
- Based in Fayette County
- Majority of work in Fayette and contiguous counties
- Demonstrates ongoing fiscal responsibility through an audit, or financial review conducted externally by an actively practicing certified public accountant (CPA) as required by the Kentucky Arts Council to apply for KAP funding
- Active participant in the annual Fund for the Arts Campaign
- Compliance with prior LexArts grants and reporting requirement
For more information, visit LexArts.
