Grants - State & Regional Granting Organizations
Triangle ArtWorks provides basic information about grants available in the Triangle Region and the State. Although we will strive to keep this information updated, always check the organization’s website for the most accurate and up to date information.
Please email us any updates or suggestions for addition. Our goal is to keep this list as complete and up-to-date as possible.
Regional Granting Organizations
Town of Cary Lazy Daze Grant Program
The Lazy Daze grant program is directed toward projects that benefit the Cary community and its citizens. Priority is given to grant applications in the following order: 1) Cultural arts organizations or projects with a cultural arts focus; 2) Projects that support overall Town of Cary initiatives; 3) Projects that support downtown Cary initiatives; 4) Other Cary-based, non-profit organization requests. Lazy Daze grantees must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Website
Town of Cary Cultural Arts Non-Profit Grant Program
The Town of Cary Cultural Arts Non-Profit Grant Program provides general Funding assistance through Cary’s Policy for Support and Sponsorship of Cultural Groups and Activities. Deadlines are generally at the end of February each year and the application, when its available, can be found here.
Chatham County Arts Council
With funding from the NC Art Council, Chatham County Arts Council distributes Grassroots Grants to arts agencies in that County for help in their arts programming. More information on Grassroots Grants and the organizations funded in the past, here.
Town of Clayton Cultural Arts Grant Program
Grants to individuals or groups are available through the Town of Clayton’s Cultural Arts Grant Program, which has awarded more than $70,000 to various arts groups since 2008 for creative, innovative projects that serve to enhance and engage new participants in the town’s already blossoming arts community. Website
Durham Arts Council, Inc.
The Durham Arts Council is a private nonprofit dedicated to supporting the arts in Durham and the Triangle Region in North Carolina. DAC is funded by the community, foundations, local municipalities and program revenues. DAC offers three grant programs: Emerging Artists, Season grants and Facility grants. Facility grants : These grants are used to request use of DAC’s facility, which is 52,000 sq. ft of space for dance, theater and music rehearsals, as well as meetings, workshops or performances. Emerging artists grants : “Applicants must be individuals, not ensembles or groups. Artists practicing any art form are eligible to apply for a grant. Applicants must have resided in Chatham, Durham, Granville, Orange, or Person Counties for at least one year immediately prior to the application deadline” Season grants : These grants are provided to “non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status based in Durham County or providing at least 50% of it’s programming in Durham County. You may apply for support for a single project or for general operations. Season Grants may not be used to support fundraising activities.” Consult the DAC website for up-to-date and more specific guidelines: Website
IVY Community Service Foundation, Inc.
The Ivy Community Service Foundation of Cary (ICSF) is the 501(C)3 arm of Sigma Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. ICSF’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for communities through program development and financial support in the areas of arts, education, economics, family and health. ICSF awards mini-grants to non-profit organizations that provide or expand access to the arts for underserved or low-resource communities and families. Eligible projects must serve individual participants or a collective group. These grants are eligible to fund special projects or programs or provide ongoing program support for initiatives that reflect the organization’s commitment to community outreach and access. Funding requests are welcome in fine arts, performing arts, visual arts, digital media and creative writing from organizations serving Wake and Durham Counties. Grant funds may not be used for operational and administrative expenses such as rent, utilities, marketing, staff development, etc. Grants will be awarded in amounts up to $2,000.00. The grant applications are usually available around March/April and are available through ICSF’s Website.
The Jandy Ammons Foundation
Jan and Andy Ammons established The Jandy Ammons Foundation in November 2012. The Foundation’s mission is to improve local communities through innovative, project-driven endeavors that will enhance wildlife habitats, park settings, educational surroundings, artistic installations or Christian church mission projects. We seek to make grants to nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charities where a significant volunteer base can be demonstrated and to encourage specific capital projects for local communities. For more information please visit our website. PO Box 97487, Raleigh, NC. 27624–7487. 919.427.5610. Website. Email.
Orange County Arts Commission
Types of Grants: $1,000-$5,000 OCAC grants are awarded in the Spring and Fall cycles to: 1) Non-profit arts organizations, 2) Non-profit organizations doing art projects, 3) Schools in Orange County, and Individual artists. Grant awards are based on artistic merit (via work samples submitted) and benefits to the citizens of Orange County. Website
Mary Duke Biddle Foundation
The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation focuses its arts grantmaking on efforts that strengthen arts organizations, encourage collaboration, and nurture artistic talent. Specifically, they support organizations in Chatham, Durham, Orange, and Wake Counties that work directly with artists or create new work. These grants focus on nurturing the current and next generations of artists, deepening and expanding talent, developing professional and business skills, and creating new works. The Foundation also make grants to develop and sustain strong Triangle-area organizations directly, both established and emerging organizations. The process begins with the submission of a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) through an online system. Grants do not exceed $10,000. LOIs are generally due between March and April annually and pre-application conversations are encouraged. Learn more about their grant focus, eligibility criteria and guidelines on their website.
Raleigh Arts Commission
Office of Raleigh Arts offers various categories of grants and funding:
Neighborhood Art Funds – Neighborhood Art Funds are for community members and groups that are interested in collaborative art projects for Raleigh’s neighborhoods that support artistic and cultural exploration, connection and understanding. These funds can provide community groups with up to $1000 from the City of Raleigh for art projects that involve the local community. All projects are initiated, planned, and carried out by community members.
Neighborhood Improvement Funds – Your neighborhood group may be eligible for up to $1,000 in Neighborhood Improvement Funds from the City of Raleigh for projects that enhance and strengthen your neighborhood.
Arts Organization Grants – The Arts Grant program provides funding to non-profit arts organizations, known as Raleigh Arts Partners, based on the recommendations of the Raleigh Arts Commission. Subject to eligibility requirements, any nonprofit organization, with 501(c)3 tax-exempt status and whose corporate headquarters is located within the limits of the City of Raleigh, may apply for an Arts Grant.
Triangle Community Foundation
“Triangle Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that manages $135 million in funds established by individuals, businesses and families. From these funds, we give grants to nonprofit organizations and administer a variety of programs for the community’s benefit. The Foundation currently manages over 750 funds, ranging in size from $10,000 to $10 million, primarily for the benefit of Wake, Durham, Orange and Chatham counties.” Areas of Giving: TCF’s funds address a myriad of giving areas, including many in the arts.
Nonprofit funding: TCF administers funds that grant money to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. The best way to pursue grants from TCF, is to contact them and set up a meeting to introduce your nonprofit and discuss your mission. For further information, check here: Website
United Arts Council of Wake County
United Arts is an umbrella fundraising organization for the arts in Wake County. They raise money from businesses, individuals, foundations and government and distribute back to the community through grants to artists and arts organizations, the Artists in the Schools Program, Community Arts Reach and Creative Explorations teacher training. United Arts also partners with arts councils in Franklin, Johnston, Wake, Warren and Vance counties for individual artist grants for artists in the five county region.
Each year, United Arts awards grants to approximately 140 schools, 30 organizations and 20 individual artists. Through these grants, United Arts supports schools, organizations and municipalities whose work builds a better Wake County. For more information about the various grants: Website
STATEWIDE GRANT SOURCES
North Carolina Arts Council
The NCAC is part of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. Their website is the best place to access their grant information: Website.
Organizations: See their various grants for organizations here.
Individual artists:
Artist Fellowships–“Fellowship recipients receive $10,000 to set aside time to work, purchase supplies and equipment, or pursue other artistic goals.”
Folklife Internship-$6,000 stipend for the internship. “This three-month internship provides intensive, directed training and experience with the N.C. Arts Council’s Folklife program and other Arts Council activities.”
Mary B. Regan Community Artist Residency-$12,500 residency award for a one-year project “that engages a North Carolina community in a meaningful way involving targeted groups in extended activities and culminating in public events and/or the creation of artwork(s) sited in public settings.”
Regional Artist Project Grants-“Grant amounts vary from region to region. Statewide, they range from $300 to $5,000, though most grants are between $500 and $2,000.”
NC Humanities
NC Humanities distributes grants to projects across the state that address fundamental humanities questions and create conversations about who we are and how we live together in North Carolina and the world. Through our work we create and support chances for people to learn from experts and each other. Grant categories include Large Grants (Between $3,500 and $20,000), Community Engagement Grants (Up to $3,500), Community Research Grants (Up to $2,000). More information. A review of their past funded grants is helpful in understanding the focus of these grants.
Truliant Federal Credit Union
The Truliant Foundation will consider charitable gifts that support one of our focus areas for 2023:
Community Development - nonprofit organizations that cultivate relationships, social responsibility, civic engagement and collaboration to build community.
Economic Mobility - nonprofit organizations providing personal guidance and activities to build financial stability and social prosperity for individuals and their families.
Financial Wellness - nonprofit organizations that are specifically engaged in activities that promote and improve financial inclusion and financial literacy.
Youth & Education - nonprofit organizations supporting education and programming from middle school grades through college.
Truliant provides organizational grants as well as Community Mini-grants up to $15000 for work in the above categories. Requests are accepted throughout the year.
