ARTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
Deadline: December 16, 2024
The Arts Council of Wilmington & New Hanover County is accepting applications for Arts Community Development Grants powered by the New Hanover Community Endowment through December 16, 2024.
The New Hanover Community Endowment was established from the sale of the County-owned New Hanover Regional Medical Center to Novant Health in 2020. From its sale, the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners invested nearly $1.3 billion to form the endowment to benefit the community.
The Arts Council of Wilmington & NHC will administer $170,000 in funds to New Hanover County-based nonprofit arts organizations through two grant pools:
1. Operating expenses are reserved for arts organizations with professional staff, facilities, or budget sizes of $75,000 or greater.
2. Other organizations may apply for ten (10) programming of $2000 to present quality arts experiences with measurable outcomes.
Register for a grant workshop:
Wednesday, November 13, 10:00 a.m.
Zoom Grant Application Workshop #1
Monday, December 2, 2024, 6:00 p.m.
Zoom Grant Application Workshop #2
Endowment Grant Application Template
Arts Community Development Grant Guidelines
*You must make a copy before you can insert figures. Be sure to save your work.
Eligibility Requirements:
- All organizations must reside and carry out projects within New Hanover County.
- Grants will only be awarded to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status. A copy of your organization’s letter of determination from the Internal Revenue Service will be required.
- All organizations must have been in operation for at least one year.
- Individuals are not eligible to apply for funding.
- All funds must be used between January 15, 2025 and June 30, 2025.
- The organization’s mission must describe the arts as the primary purpose of the organization.
- Organizations applying for operating expenses may apply for up to $10,000, with grant size based on the number of eligible organizations who apply. Ten (10) programming grants of $2000 will also be awarded.
- Organizations may not apply for both grants.
What the Arts Community Development Grant Funds
Funds may be used for expenditures to conduct quality arts programs or operate an arts organization. Uses could include:
- Operating expenses for qualified arts organizations. These can include salaries, telephone, office supplies, printing, postage, rent, utilities, insurance, and equipment rental.
- Program expenses such as professional artists’ fees and travel, space rental, advertising, marketing and publicity, website and electronic media, scripts, costumes, sets, props, music, and equipment rental.
Funding Policies
- Colleges, universities, public schools, and libraries may receive grants for arts programs that are community-based or that generate regional arts involvement. Grants may not support their internal programs, or administrative or operating expenses (library books, band boosters, equipment purchases).
- Subgrants may not be awarded to individuals or organizations for prizes, competitions, tuition, or financial rewards.
- ​​Religious organizations or churches may not receive Community Development funds unless the programs are presented outside regular church services, engage the larger community, and do not contain religious content.
- Municipalities (city/county governments) may receive grants for arts programs that use qualified artists to conduct programs that involve the greater community. Grants may not support internal programs, administrative, or operating expenses.
How Subgrant applications Are Evaluated
Subgrant applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Community impact of project or programs
- Artistic quality of proposed project or programs
- Ability to plan and implement project
- Stability and fiscal responsibility of the organization
Decisions will be announced by January 15, 2025.
Please email questions to grants@artswilmington.org or call 910-343-0998.
OTHER GRANT RESOURCES
Hello Arts! Applications Available Year-Round
The Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College and The Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County are pleased to announce that applications for Hello Arts! (formerly Broadway for a Better World) will be accepted throughout the year. The awards will be granted twice a year, once in January and again in July. Previous applicants are welcome to apply again.
Hello Arts! is funded through the tremendous generosity of private donors, with the mission of making the theater experience and all of its associated benefits available to underserved populations, particularly young people under the age of eighteen. The grant program is administered by the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County, and grant recipients are selected by an independent committee.
Nonprofit organizations in New Hanover and Pender counties may apply to receive tickets to Wilson Center performances.
