The Organizational Grant Program (OGP) provides Los Angeles County nonprofit arts organizations funding to address priority needs and ensures cultural services for the diverse communities that comprise LA County.
Donor Name: LA County Department of Arts and Culture
State: California
County: Los Angeles County (CA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/30/2025
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
These two-year grants support arts organizations whose services positively impact residents, neighborhoods and communities by providing direct access and increased opportunities for quality arts activities and programming that is often free or low cost.
Project Categories
- Sustainability: Provides support for existing artistic and/or administrative projects that help to sustain the mission and goals of arts organizations.
- Organizational Capacity: Provides support for new projects that increase the organizational capacity and infrastructure of arts organizations.
- Artistic Capacity: Provides support for new projects that increase the artistic capacity of arts organizations.
- Accessibility: Provides support for new or existing projects that provide public access to arts activities and programs.
Funding Information
The OGP allocation this year is anticipated to be $5,059,000.
Grant Period
July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2028.
Eligibility Criteria
Organizations may apply if they meet all of the following eligibility requirements at the time of application:
- Tax exempt status, as defined by the IRS.
- Principal offices in Los Angeles County as demonstrated by the address listed on 990, with an exception for arts service organizations with offices in Los Angeles County and primary headquarters in California.
- A primary mission to provide arts programming, as demonstrated by more than 50% of the applicant organization’s budget devoted to arts programming.
- A functioning board of directors that meets regularly at minimum once per year, with at least 51% of members residing in California.
- At least two full and consecutive years of producing and programming history in Los Angeles County either in-person or online. For two most recently completed years (2023-2025), organization is required to have produced at least four live or virtual public programs, performances, exhibitions, or other activities such as arts education or literary arts each fiscal year. Fundraising events and programs do not qualify. Exceptions are made for organizations established for the sole purpose of mounting biennial or triennial festivals though these types of organizations are required to have mounted two or more festivals prior to application.
- A submitted Federal Form 990 for a tax year ending on or after December 31, 2023. A submitted Federal Form 990, 990-EZ or 990-N is required of all applicants. Applicants with budgets under $50,000 should submit a copy of their most recently submitted 990-N.
- For organizations with operating budgets of $2,000,000 and above, a financial audit for the applicant organization’s most recently completed fiscal year for a tax year ending on or after June 30, 2023.
- A complete OGP Funder Report downloaded from the SMU DataArts website, showing at least three consecutive recently completed fiscal years. The most recently completed year of the OGP Funder Report must match the end-year of the applicant’s most recently submitted Federal Form 990. For applicants with budgets of $2,000,000 and greater, the most recent year of the OGP Funder Report must also match the applicant’s most recent financial audit. NOTE: For organizations with only two full and consecutive years of producing and programming history, submitting an OGP Funder Report for two recently completed fiscal years is acceptable. The budget listed on the OGP Funder Report must be within 10% of total revenue line on the most recent 990.
- If applicant previously received a OGP grant within the previous three (3) years, applicant must have met all Arts and Culture grant conditions during the most recent grant period. Any organization that has not met previous OGP grant agreement conditions are disqualified from reapplying for three (3) years.
- No previous commitment to receive OGP funds during FY2025-2027. Any organization that executed a two-year OGP grant agreement in FY2025-26 cannot reapply for the FY2026-27 program for the purpose of obtaining a higher score or award. An organization may apply to participate in other Department of Arts and Culture initiatives and programs such as the Arts Internship Program.
- New applicants and applicants that did not receive funding the last time they applied to the Organizational Grant Program are required to attend an OGP workshop by participating in or reviewing a webinar online. No exceptions will be made.
- Fiscally sponsored organizations with a verified State of California-based fiscal sponsor who possess Model A comprehensive sponsorship agreement with the Fiscal Sponsor are eligible to apply (a copy of the agreement or verification letter from the sponsor will be required with the application, along with a copy of the sponsor’s 990 tax form listing a State of California address).
For more information, visit LA County Department of Arts and Culture.
