Arts Operating Grant Program 2027 (Vermont)

Arts Operating Grants provide funds to arts organizations that offer high-quality arts programs and services that support the Council’s mission to “cultivate and advance the arts and creativity throughout Vermont.

Donor Name: Vermont Arts Council

State: Vermont

County: All Counties

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 05/12/2026

Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000

Grant Duration: 1 Year

Details:

These grants directly advance the third goal of the Arts Council’s Strategic Plan (“Strengthening the Creative Economy”), which asserts that arts organizations are anchors of communities statewide, and supporting their operations is vital to the success of the creative economy. Grantees must demonstrate a strong and consistent presence in their community providing high quality arts programming, furthering the Council’s vision to make Vermont a place where artists thrive, where creativity is at the heart of the communities, and where everyone has access to the arts in their lives and education.

Funding Level

One (1) Year Operating Grant
- Applicants for whom ANY of these apply can only apply for a One-Year Operating Grant. You are an organization:
  - With an annual operating revenue of less than $25,000
  - Without tax-exempt status applying through a fiscal agent
  - That has operated for fewer than five (5) years and has at least one (1) year of financial data as of December 31, 2025
  - That has no paid staff
  - Funding will be between $3,000 and $5,000. Grants will not exceed 30% of your operating revenue. Partial awards may be granted.
Three (3) Year Operating Grant
- Applicants for whom ALL of these apply can apply for a Three-Year Operating Grant.
- You are an arts-based organization:
  - With an annual operating revenue of $25,000 or greater
  - Organizations with a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service legally established in the state of Vermont
  - Has operated continually for a minimum of five (5) years as of August 31, 2023
  - With at least one half-time (or half-time equivalent) paid staff member and will retain at least one half-time (or half-time equivalent) paid staff member over the course of the grant.
  - Funding is expected to be between $7,000 and $11,000 each year for three years. Grants will not exceed 30% of your operating revenue.

Grant Period

This program operates on a one-year.

Uses of Funds

This grant can be used to support the operations of arts organizations such as:

Facilities costs, such as utilities
Salaries, wages, and fringe benefits for personnel
Fees for artists and contractual personnel
Supply costs, such as personal protective equipment, cleaning and janitorial supplies, office supplies, art supplies, computer software/hardware, etc.
Marketing and promotion costs
General overhead/administrative costs.

Eligibility Criteria

Arts-based nonprofit organizations with a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service legally established in the state of Vermont
One-Year grantees can be arts-based groups without tax-exempt status applying through a fiscal agent. The fiscal agent must be a charitable nonprofit organization incorporated in Vermont as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
Municipal arts agencies with a primary stated mission to serve the arts.

Ineligibility