City of Dallas Cultural Organizations Program (Texas)

The City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture (OAC) is currently accepting applications for the Cultural Organizations Program (COP).

Donor Name: City of Dallas

State: Texas

City: Dallas

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 04/10/2026

Size of the Grant: Not Available

Grant Duration: 1 Year

Details:

The Cultural Organizations Program is the support program through which the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture contracts for cultural services with established Dallas-based non-profit arts and culture organizations for a variety of cultural programs that include concerts, plays, exhibitions, performances, workshops and other cultural programming for the benefit of Dallas residents and visitors.

Funding Level

The limit on support through COP is scaled to be proportional, based on the higher of (1) the unrestricted operating revenue from the previous year’s official audited records, Form 990, or Form 990 EZ or (2) the average unrestricted operating revenue from the previous three (3) years’ official audited records, Forms 990, or Forms 990 EZ, and in no case shall the amount of funding for an organization through COP be greater than:
- 30% of the applicant organization’s revenues up to $250,000.00;
- 25% of the applicant organization’s revenues between $250,000.00 to $1 million;
- 15% of the applicant organization’s revenues between $1 million to $5 million;
- 10% of the applicant organization’s revenues greater than $5 million.
Total support by the City in a fiscal year, whether cash or in-kind, regardless of the department from which the funds and support originate, shall not exceed:
- 50% of an organization’s most recent year’s audited revenue for organizations with revenue less than $1 million.
- 40% of an organization’s most recent year’s audited revenue for organizations with revenue of $1 million or more.
In-kind support includes, but is not limited to, utility payments made directly by the City, payments made to a third party, including other City departments, in support of the organization, and facility use fee discounts at Cultural Centers.

Project Period

The 2026-27 City of Dallas fiscal year begins October 1, 2026, and ends September 30, 2027.

Eligibility Criteria

Organizations must meet the following criteria to qualify for COP funding:

Must be a 501(c)(3) Public Charity as provided by the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, as amended, in good standing for at least three years.
Must be an established City of Dallas arts or cultural organization with an operation history of at least three years.
- Must produce an annual season of programs, exhibitions, and/or performances for the public in the City of Dallas. Main annual programming must be open to the public and listed publicly on an OAC approved event calendar-based website.
The primary focus of the organization’s operation must be to provide cultural and artistic services to residents and visitors within the city limits of Dallas, and at least 50% of activities must take place within the city limits of Dallas.
- COP funding is intended as unrestricted operational funds for the recipient organization’s use to execute their scope of cultural and artistic services within the City of Dallas, as described in their annual contract. (Please see distinct exceptions in the list below.)
Must have an annual operating budget of at least $100,000.00, based on the organization’s prior year’s unrestricted operating revenue, excluding in-kind revenues. An applying organization must be able to verify the most recently completed fiscal year’s unrestricted revenue through a Form 990, Form 990-EZ, or third-party financial audit.
Organizations must have administrative offices permanently located in the City of Dallas.
Must have at least one paid full- or part-time employee of a Director/Manager level hired upon award of City contract and employed throughout the 12-month contract period.
Must be authorized to transact business in the State of Texas.
Must obtain and maintain during the contract term all necessary licenses, permits, insurance and other approvals required by law for the provision of services.
Must comply with local, state, and federal laws prohibiting discrimination.
Must have board-approved safe workplace policies (including, but not limited to, anti-discrimination and antiharassment policies).