The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is pleased to launch the 2026 Cultural Development Fund (CDF) application for New York City not-for-profit arts and cultural organizations.
Donor Name: Department of Cultural Affairs
State: New York
City: New York City
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/08/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
Funding Information
Applicants that have not received a CDF baseline award in at least one of the last six fiscal years are only eligible for a one-year $10,000 baseline award.
- FY23 Operating Income: Less than $25,000
- FY26 Baseline Award: $10,000 only
- FY23 Operating Income: $25,000 – $99,999
- FY26 Baseline Award: $10,000 – $20,000
- FY23 Operating Income: $100,000 – $249,999
- FY26 Baseline Award: $15,000 – $30,00
- FY23 Operating Income: $250,000 – $499,999
- FY26 Baseline Award: $20,000 – $40,000
- FY23 Operating Income: $500,000 – $1,499,999
- FY26 Baseline Award: $30,000 – $60,000
- FY23 Operating Income: $1,500,000 – $2,999,999
- FY26 Baseline Award: $40,000 – $80,00
- FY23 Operating Income: $3,000,000 or more
- FY26 Baseline Award: $50,000 – $100,000.
Grant Period
The FY26 application will cover activities taking place between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants must:
- Be either (a) a nonprofit arts or cultural organization or (b) a nonprofit organization that has an arts or culture component in its broader mission
- Demonstrate successful delivery of arts and cultural services in New York City for the last two consecutive years
- Be based in New York City and able to demonstrate both administrative and programmatic operations within any of the five boroughs of New York City. Your administrative address is primarily determined by the address listed on your IRS 990 for the fiscal year ending in 2023, with the organization’s 501(c)(3) letter and other publicly available information also taken into consideration
- Possess a unique Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Be certified as tax exempt under IRS Code § 501(c)(3); or be an incorporated nonprofit that uses a DCLA-approved, New York State incorporated tax-exempt fiscal sponsor
- Only nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply, regardless of whether they use a fiscal sponsor. Limited Liability Companies, Benefit Corporations, Limited Partnerships, Unincorporated Organizations, S corporations, individual artists, and unincorporated artist collectives are not eligible to apply
- Be incorporated in New York State as a nonprofit organization no later than the organization’s fiscal year 2023
- Be in compliance with annual State and Federal filing requirements for nonprofit organizations, including New York State Charities Bureau filings.
For more information, visit DCLA.
