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.
- Applicants for whom ANY of these apply can only apply for a One-Year Operating Grant. You are an organization:
- 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
- Debt or loan repayment
- Donations and regranting
- Equipment purchases over $5,000
- Construction costs
- Fundraising events.
For more information, visit Vermont Arts Council.
