Grassroots Arts Grants

Cash! Cash grants range from $1,000 to $5,000. We prefer to award gifts of $1,000 or greater for two reasons: (1) We want our grants to have strong impact, and (2) There is fairly significant required state reporting for the subgrantee.

Yes. All subgrantees are required to match their grant amounts dollar for dollar. The funds must come from other public or private sources. Other N.C. Arts Council funds cannot be used as a match.

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? Can you submit your application and support materials by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, 15 June, 2026?

The activity must be complete by May 31, 2027, and all grant funds and matching funds must be spent by that time. Retroactive grant applications (for activities that occurred between July 1, 2026 and the grantee awards) are allowable, but they do not tend to score as well with grant panels. If you'd like to apply for support of a multi-year project, you can apply for the phase of the project that will happen in the current application year.

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.