The Grassroots Arts Grant Program is made possible by individual contributions to the Chatham Arts Council’s general operating fund—and by the Grassroots Arts Program of the N.C.
Donor Name: Chatham Arts Council
State: North Carolina
County: Chatham County (NC)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/26/2025
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Funding Priorities
- The first priority of the Grassroots Arts subgrant program is to provide operating or program support to qualified arts organizations including theaters, symphonies, galleries, art guilds, choral societies, dance companies, folk arts societies, writers groups and arts festivals. They’re talking about groups whose mission is all about making and sharing art. Grassroots funds are not generally awarded to arts organizations that receive funding through the N.C. Arts Council’s General Support Program.
- The second priority of the Grassroots Arts subgrant program is to support arts learning and arts-in-education programs conducted by qualified artists. These can be artist residencies in schools, after school summer camps, or adult arts learning classes.
- The third priority of Grassroots Arts subgrants is to support community organizations that provide quality art experiences for the greater community. These programs must be conducted by qualified artists—and if they’re local artists, that’s even better. But these local artists can’t already be on your organization’s staff! They can’t support your non-arts org’s payroll with these grants.
Funding Information
Cash grants range from $1,000 to $5,000.
Eligible Activities
Grassroots Arts Program funds may be used for expenditures to conduct quality arts programs or to operate an arts organization.
Typical uses of Grassroots money include:
- Program expenses such as artists’ fees and travel, space rental, advertising, marketing and publicity, website and electronic media, scripts, costumes, sets, props, music and equipment rental.
- Operating expenses for arts organizations, including salaries, telephone, office supplies, printing, postage, rent, utilities, insurance and equipment rental or purchase.
- Two particular areas of interest for the Chatham Arts Council are (1) local artist fees/fair payment of artists and (2) outreach to diverse and/or underserved communities.
Who may apply?
To be eligible, your organization must be able to answer Yes to all of the following questions:
- Are you an organization?
- Have you been in operation for at least one year? 501(c)(3) status or fiscal agency is required.
- Do you have an arts mission—or do you have a program that uses the arts to help accomplish your mission?
- Are you based in Chatham County?
- What are the policies for specific types of organizations?
- Tribal organizations that receive grassroots funds must represent state or federally recognized tribes.
- Colleges, universities, civic organizations, municipalities, and libraries may receive grants for arts programs that are community-based or generate regional arts involvement. Grants may not support their internal programs, administration, or operation expenses (library books, band boosters, equipment purchases).
- Religious organizations or churches may not receive grassroots funds unless the programs are presented outside regular church services, engage the larger community, and do not contain religious content.
- Grassroots funds may not be used for activities associated with a school’s internal arts programs such as in-school student performances, the purchase of art supplies, or student arts competitions and publications.
For more information, visit CAC.
