FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Search here for local, regional, and national funding opportunities. If you notice any funding agencies or opportunities that are missing, please submit your information to [email protected] and we would be glad to add it to our page. Please note that listings without deadlines indicate applications that are accepted on a rolling basis. For more information on any of these opportunities, please contact the foundation or funding agency directly. Additional resources:
Funding Opportunities for Organizations:
Offered since 1954, the James Laughlin Award is given to recognize and support a second book of poetry forthcoming in the next calendar year. The award was endowed in 1995 by a gift to the Academy from the Drue Heinz Trust. It is named for the poet and publisher James Laughlin (1914–1997), who founded New Directions in 1936.
The winning poet receives a prize of $5,000, an all-expenses-paid weeklong residency at The Betsy Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, and distribution of the winning book to approximately one thousand Academy of American Poets members.
Deadline: May 15, 2025
Established in 1975, this $25,000 award recognizes the most outstanding book of poetry published in the United States in the previous calendar year. The prize includes a ten-day residency at Glen Hollow in Naples, New York, and distribution of the winning book to hundreds of Academy of American Poets members.
The Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize honors the memory of Lenore Marshall (1897-1971), a poet, novelist, essayist, and political activist. She was the author of three novels, three books of poetry, a collection of short stories, and selections from her notebooks. Her work appeared in such distinguished literary magazines as The New Yorker, The Saturday Review, and Partisan Review. In 1956 she helped found the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy, the citizens’ organization that lobbied successfully for passage of the 1963 partial nuclear test ban treaty. In 1994, the Academy was selected by the New Hope Foundation to administer the award.
Deadline: May 15, 2025
Open to documentary filmmakers focused on American history, the 2025 Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film is a cash prize of $200,000 awarded to one winner, a secondary prize of $50,000 to one runner-up, and $25,000 to each of four finalists.
Deadline: May 1, 2025
Supports programming and capital improvement projects that seek to address a community need or deliver broad community benefit.
- Range: $4,000- $20,000
- Geographic Focus: Organizations located in or serving Southern Chautauqua County
- Deadlines: March 1 & August 1, annually
The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation annually awards over $1M through its competitive grant processes to charitable organizations working to make a difference across the region. General grants are offered bi-monthly and are intended to assist with emerging needs or one-time costs. Requests can be made up to $4,000. Organizations can only submit two requests per year.
- Range: $1,000- $4,000
- Geographic Focus: Organizations located in or serving Southern Chautauqua County
- Deadlines: Bi-monthly; last Wednesday of even months
The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation hosts two cycles per year, intending to fund larger initiatives with wide-reaching and longer term community impact. The process occurs in two stages for each cycle, beginning with submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) and followed by an invitation to submit a full application. Priority given to requests that indicate support from multiple funding sources, demonstrate plans for sustainability, indicate collaborative partnerships and employ evidence-based approaches with measurable outcomes (where applicable).
- Range: Over $20,000
- Geographic Focus: Organizations located in or serving Southern Chautauqua County
- Annual Deadlines: June 1 or December 1, Annually
The Regional Development Corporation (RDC), is the lending arm of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA). The RDC Loan Program enhances the competitiveness of local businesses, promotes local ownership of firms employing local residents, and assists with the formation of new companies, including the technology sector and businesses in designated economic development zones.
The RDC Business Loan program supports underserved markets, including borrowers with little to no credit history, low income borrowers, and minority and women entrepreneurs in distressed rural and urban areas, who may not qualify for more conventional loans. M/WBE businesses may qualify for special loan terms.
The RDC offers business loans from $50,000 to $2,000,000 to businesses operating in Erie County, NY.
RDC Loans may be used for:
- permanent working capital
- machinery and equipment purchases
- property acquisition
- pollution control improvements
- loans to effect changes is local ownership when the employment base of the company would otherwise be in jeopardy
Deadline: Rolling
Empire State Development announced the launch of the NY Entertainment Workforce Diversity Grant Program, which will provide over $1 million annually in matching funds to support diversity and inclusivity in job creation and training programs in New York’s film and television industries. The grant program is funded through the Empire State Entertainment Diversity Job Training Development Fund which, at the suggestion of industry leaders, is financed by an allocated percentage from New York State’s film tax credit program. Grants from $25,000 to $500,000 will be available for job creation and training programs that support efforts to: recruit, hire, promote, retain, develop, and train a diverse and inclusive workforce for New York’s motion picture and television production and post-production industries.
Deadline: Rolling
Foundation 214 is engaged in funding great ideas. If you believe we can be helpful to your needs, we would like to hear from you. The following describes how we view funding projects. Please read this primer carefully prior to applying for a grant.
Foundation 214 serves children, veterans of the various branches of the US military, and the elderly. Funding is used to aid programs involved with the healthcare or education of the aforementioned beneficiaries.
CAPITAL GRANTS
Capital Grants are for projects which involve raising money to pay for the purchase and proper installation and training of physical assets to assist your organization’s ability to service its clients and constituents.
Multi-Year Capital Grant –Multi-year capital projects are considered for funding at Foundation 214. These types of projects typically require a multi-year disbursement program while the project unfolds in its construction and/or implementation. Further, given the inherent nature of large projects, longer timelines may be required to determine levels of success. When considering your LOI submission, please make careful indication of the issue needing solution and how the goal will be accomplished. Special consideration will be given to projects where other foundations have already committed to partnering with you to partially meet your goal.
Deadline: April 30, 2025
Foundation 214 is engaged in funding great ideas. If you believe we can be helpful to your needs, we would like to hear from you. The following describes how we view funding projects. Please read this primer carefully prior to applying for a grant.
Foundation 214 serves children, veterans of the various branches of the US military, and the elderly. Funding is used to aid programs involved with the healthcare or education of the aforementioned beneficiaries.
INNOVATIVE PROGRAM GRANTS
Innovative Program Grants are made to assist a charitable organization in its delivery of its mission on a day-to-day basis. Typically, these are multi-year commitments whereby the committed dollars help to offset the associated expenses and costs in delivering your institution’s programs. Organizations may include reasonable administrative or overhead expenses as a percentage of the overall budget (generally up to 10-12% based on actual costs)
Deadline: April 30, 2025
The Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) offers awards of up to $1,000 to support projects and activities that improve public understanding of conservation and support under resourced institutions in meeting their collection care needs.
This could include collaborating with an institution on rehousing of collections or giving a public lecture to help advance awareness of the conservation field. Priority will be given to projects and programming that develop community awareness of conservation, engage media coverage of conservation activities, and create connections between conservation practitioners and allied practitioners and/or the public. This funding opportunity is open to creative and innovative projects, but is not intended to support focused conservation treatment, large scale initiatives such as a collections assessment or ongoing programming, or activities at the AIC Annual Meeting.
Deadline: February 15th & September 15th, annually
Good Neighbor Fund is dedicated to leveling the playing field for entrepreneurship by providing $1,000 micro-grants to under-resourced and underrepresented founders, primarily at the ideation stage. Inspired by Buffalo’s nickname “The City of Good Neighbors,” we offer not just financial support, but belief capital and mentorship to empower new and diverse founders.
Deadline: Rolling
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Lenna Foundation is a private foundation that makes grants to charitable organizations, educational institutions, and foundations benefiting Southwestern New York.
- Grant Range: $500 to $100,000
- Funding Focus: Program funding and capital projects
- Areas of interest: The arts, education, healthcare, youth, economic development, and the environment
- Geographic Focus: Primarily the greater Jamestown, NY area
- Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations, religious organizations
Deadline: April 15th and July 22nd, annually
Literary arts organizations currently funded by the New York State Council on the Arts are invited to apply for capacity building Advancement Regrants of up to $7,500. By demonstrating thoughtful development, Regrants will be awarded to organizations that produce excellent work thereby increasing and sustaining their capacity as institutions.
Eligible organizations will be given the opportunity to improve their managerial and financial stability; enhance diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility efforts; build solid foundations upon which to pursue their artistic visions; improve or institute development and planning initiatives that contribute to their sustainability; and/or extend program impact and reach by developing new audiences and readers.
Advancement Regrants allow organizations to self-assess and define their needs. They are not intended for ongoing expenses such as salaries and overhead or projects currently supported by NYSCA. Created by the field for the field, applications are evaluated by a panel of three literary peers. Projects must begin no earlier than August 2025 and be completed within 12 months.
What began as two Regrants totaling $15,000 in 2013 has grown with $95,000 to be awarded this year. Over half-a-million dollars has been awarded in Regrants since the program’s inception, helping to increase funding equity for literary organizations throughout New York State.
Deadline: May 13, 2025
Microsoft Tech for Social Impact is dedicated to providing affordable and accessible technology and tools to help nonprofits of all sizes achieve their missions. That’s why we offer grants and discounts of our products and services to eligible nonprofits around the world, including cloud solutions like Azure, Dynamics 365, and Microsoft 365, as well as solutions custom-built for nonprofits like Fundraising and Engagement for Dynamics 365 Sales.
Microsoft 365 with Microsoft Teams can help your nonprofit improve cybersecurity, reduce costs and empower staff and volunteers to work from anywhere.
Deadline: Rolling
SHIFT supports initiatives that address critical societal issues, inspire systemic change, and amplify Indigenous voices. The program fosters collaborative partnerships and provides tools for awardees to sustain their impact.
The SHIFT program provides Native artists and curators $100,000 over two years to pursue transformative projects in partnership with an organization. The grant provides $50,000 for the lead artist or curator and an additional $50,000 for project expenses. As an awardee, you’ll also have access to professional development in community organizing, legacy-building, and sustainability, as well as support for community-driven engagement and public presentations.
Deadline: May 15, 2025
The NEA is committed to supporting excellent arts projects for the benefit of all Americans. Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) provides funding for public engagement with the arts and arts education, for the integration of the arts with strategies promoting the health and well-being of people and communities, and for the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the arts sector. We welcome applications from first-time and returning applicants; from organizations serving rural, urban, suburban, and tribal communities of all sizes; and from organizations with small, medium, or large operating budgets.
We fund arts projects in the following disciplines: Artist Communities, Arts Education, Dance, Design, Film & Media Arts, Folk & Traditional Arts, Literary Arts, Local Arts Agencies, Museums, Music, Musical Theater, Opera, Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works, Theater, and Visual Arts.
Deadlines: July 10, 2025
The NYSCA Reserve Fund Grants (RFG) will provide grants to NYSCA-funded organizations to establish a reserve fund or build on an existing reserve fund.
Given the volatility of the industry, including increased costs, decreased philanthropy, and unpredictable income, we recognize that each organization has varying needs for annual stabilization support. The benefits of establishing or adding to a reserve fund include, but are not limited to: the ability to weather new challenges, cover unexpected expenses, strengthen balance sheets to leverage new funders, and can be a key factor in strategic planning and capacity building.
This program is open to nonprofit arts organizations based in New York State who have received funding from NYSCA in the last three years, and have an operating budget of less than $3 million. Individual grant amounts will range from $10,000 to $75,000 in accordance with the applying organization’s operating budget. Organizations that choose to use grant funds to start a reserve fund and do not already have one at the time of applying are prioritized. Rural, BIPOC-led, and community-based organizations are strongly encouraged to apply.
The RFG will award $1,760,000 total in grants. In addition to providing support through direct funds, the RFG will offer one year of supplementary services focused on organizational sustainability and financial prudence. Each recipient will receive:
- One virtual workshop dedicated to organizational reserve funding and strategies to support long-term sustainability
- One hour long one-on-one consulting session
- Monthly office hours to field pressing questions in a communal setting
APPLICATION OPENS APRIL 22, 2025!
Deadlines: June 17, 2025
The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation was established in 1986 for the betterment of all community residents. To us, northern Chautauqua is more than a geographic region – it’s the place we call home. Because of that, we have worked hard to build a strong understanding of how it can be improved. Over the years, the NCCF has helped to create and fund many projects that enhance the lives of those who live here. Our interest areas span from arts and culture to the environment, to health and human services, to neighborhood revitalization, and beyond.
We seek to make strategic investments in the community and look to partner with nonprofit organizations to help create enduring solutions to often complex problems and to capitalize on promising opportunities. Effecting change requires both passion and measured thought, and we work hard to find proposals that encompass both.
We are keenly interested in what inspires you and look forward to hearing your ideas for transforming our vision of a healthy and prosperous community into reality.
Deadline: September 1, 2025 (Fall Session)
The Oishei Foundation provides support to nonprofits that align with their five focus areas: Strengthen the P-20 education continuum, Enhance options for self-sufficiency, Build livable, stable neighborhoods; Promote health and improve systems of care; and Expand the role of arts, culture and heritage in regional development. They encourage all applicants to discuss applications with their program officers before submitting a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) and throughout the application process.
Support is primarily focused on activities in Erie and Niagara counties (NY), however, we will consider requests from other WNY counties including Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming.
Deadline: Rolling
The Emerging Writer’s Contest is open to writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry who have yet to publish or self-publish a book. One winner in each of the three genres is awarded publication, $2,000, review from Aevitas Creative Management, and a 1-year subscription.
Deadline: May 15, 2025
TPP support early stage grassroots volunteers, many of whom may have just a glimmer of an idea. Often, these ideas are seen as too small or too risky to attract other support.
The Daily Grant program makes $1000 micro grants 365 days a year. These grants are designed to kick start an organization or individual’s work and give them the lift they need to thrive and grow. accept applications from individuals, groups and startup not-for-profit organizations based anywhere in the world. To be considered, all applications must meet the following criteria:
- Your group/organization’s annual budget must be $50,000 or less.
- The total budget for your project must be less than $10,000. You can request up to $1,000 in seed funding from TPP.
- Individual, group and/or organization (including co-leaders and project team members) must not have received previous funding from TPP.
- Your group/organization must not have paid staff.
The Resilience & Recovery Fund (RRF) Grant exists to support projects designed by volunteers in the immediate aftermath of emergencies such as natural disaster, civil unrest, pandemic, or other unforeseen events. The RRF Grant provides expeditious, one-time funding of up to $1,000 to projects responding to an emergency.
Deadline: Rolling
The Sheldon Foundation devotes financial assistance to advance the physical, educational and cultural well-being of the people of the southerly portion of Chautauqua County, New York; and honors the memory of its founder, Isabella M. Sheldon and her husband, Ralph C. Sheldon.
- Program interests include: Charitable, Health Care, Education, Youth, Arts and Humanities, and Environment
- Types of Support: general/operating, capital campaigns, building/renovation, equipment, matching/challenge support
- Range of Grant Award: $100 – $2,000,000
Deadline: March 1, August 1, and November 1, annually
Have an idea for a project? Thinking about that video you’ve been meaning to shoot? Considering a new perspective on a familiar idea? Squeaky Wheel is offering Equipment Access Grants to those looking to create specific projects that require the tools and time sometimes difficult or unavailable in daily life. Recipients will receive up to $1,000 worth of equipment usage and facilities time. Amount: $1,000 in-kind equipment rentals.
Deadline: Rolling
Founded in 2020, the Stenclik Family Charitable Fund promotes the advancement of Buffalo Niagara through philanthropic commitments to the area’s most promising educational, cultural, scientific, and community initiatives. The Fund seeks to strengthen the region’s existing assets while clearing new paths for innovation that promote prosperity and vitality in our neighborhoods. They want to support projects that improve the lives of people now and make a lasting difference.
The Stenclik Family Charitable Fund supports the following three priority areas:
- Culture & Science
- Educational Opportunities
- Thriving Communities
Deadline: Rolling
This challenge is a hallmark event of PowerUpTech, our summer internship program focused on college tech talent retention in WNY. During this intensive two-day competition, teams of interns collaborate to create tech-based solutions addressing real-world challenges submitted by local non-profits like yours.
Here’s how your organization can benefit:
- Receive tech consulting and multiple creative solutions/ideas from talented students at no cost.
- Tackle an operational challenge, explore a new tech idea (like data visualization, a simple app, or process automation), or gain fresh perspectives on leveraging technology for your mission – focused on AI and Microsoft technologies.
Deadline: May 15, 2025
Through the Travel, Tourism & Outdoor Recreation program, EDA is focused on accelerating the recovery of communities that rely on the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors. $750 million of EDA’s American Rescue Plan funds are allocated to support the following efforts:
- State Tourism Grants: $510 million in non-competitive awards to help states quickly invest in marketing, infrastructure, workforce and other projects to rejuvenate safe leisure, business and international travel.
- Competitive Grants: $240 million to help communities that have been hardest hit by challenges facing the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors to invest in infrastructure, workforce or other projects to support the recovery of the industry and economic resilience of the community in the future.
Deadline: Rolling
These awards support programs and initiatives that improve health and health outcomes associated with Social Determinants of Health. Proposals focusing on improving health conditions and factors linked to adverse health outcomes will be given preference.
Deadline: Application submissions available March – June
Walmart believes that strengthening local communities creates value for business as well as society. Each year, Walmart U.S. stores, Sam’s Clubs and Distribution Centers award local cash grants ranging from $250 to $5000. These local grants are designed to address the unique needs of the communities where we operate.
Deadline: Rolling
For Organizations, MAAF provides funds to support technical strategies for online development, as well as to hire outside consultants to support organizational and professional development.
Deadline: May 1, 2025
Last updated: April 24, 2025
Funding Opportunities for Individuals:
Established in 1975, this $25,000 award recognizes the most outstanding book of poetry published in the United States in the previous calendar year. The prize includes a ten-day residency at Glen Hollow in Naples, New York, and distribution of the winning book to hundreds of Academy of American Poets members.
The Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize honors the memory of Lenore Marshall (1897-1971), a poet, novelist, essayist, and political activist. She was the author of three novels, three books of poetry, a collection of short stories, and selections from her notebooks. Her work appeared in such distinguished literary magazines as The New Yorker, The Saturday Review, and Partisan Review. In 1956 she helped found the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy, the citizens’ organization that lobbied successfully for passage of the 1963 partial nuclear test ban treaty. In 1994, the Academy was selected by the New Hope Foundation to administer the award.
Deadline: May 15, 2025
A $35,000 unrestricted grant can cover more than six months of living expenses so Fellows can focus full-time on their careers.
Fellowship Benefits;
- Weekly conversations with leading showrunners, writers, producers and creative executives help Fellows get bespoke advice and build new connections.
- Ongoing writing workshops and check-ins with the Inevitable team allow Fellows to sharpen their writing and pitching skills.
- Our personalized Concierge service links Fellows with Showrunners and Creative Executives for development and staffing opportunities.
- Connecting with other disabled screenwriters both inside and outside of the Fellowship program will build a supportive community that will stay with Fellows as they grow.
Deadline: Rolling
The Adobe Creative Residency Community Fund provides support to creators during times of extraordinary hardship. Current Fund efforts are focused on supporting creators who have been directly impacted by the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. If selected, you will receive $10,000 from the Adobe Creative Residency Community Fund.
Deadline: Rolling
The Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant supports emerging and established writers who write about contemporary visual art. Ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 in three categories—articles, books, and short-form writing—the grants support projects addressing both general and specialized art audiences, from short reviews for magazines and newspapers to in-depth scholarly studies. The program also supports art writing that engages criticism through interdisciplinary methods and experiments with literary styles. As long as a writer meets the eligibility and publishing requirements, they can apply.
Writers are invited to apply in one of the following categories:
- Article
- Book
- Short-Form Writing
Deadline: May 7, 2025
The Arts Writers Translation Grant supports individuals who want to translate texts about contemporary visual art from any language into English. $30,000 grants are available for book translations. The grant supports projects addressing both general and specialized art audiences. The grant encourages translators to propose book projects that: (a) meaningfully expand the writing about contemporary visual art available in the English language; (b) contribute to discussions about contemporary visual art. As long as an individual meets the eligibility requirements, they can apply.
The grant supports translations of book projects, including monographs, scholarly works, biographies, essay collections, interviews, journals or correspondence by artists or critics, and artist writings
By “contemporary visual art,” we mean visual art made since World War II. Projects on post-WWII work in adjacent fields—architecture, dance, film, media, music, performance, sound, etc.—will only be considered if they directly and significantly engage the discourses and concerns of contemporary visual art.
Deadline: May 7, 2025
The Early Career Visual Arts award offers $1,000 towards the completion of a specific project in painting, drawing, sculpture, or mixed-media. Active early career Jewish visual artists between the ages of 25 and 35 may apply.
Deadline: June 1, 2025
The sum of $1,500 will be awarded towards the creation of a unique or limited-edition work in the field of Jewish book arts. All active, professional artists, working in the field of book arts, who have exhibited within the last five years are eligible to apply.
Deadline: June 1, 2025
The Authors League Fund is an emergency fund providing non-taxable charitable support in times of urgent need, when a writer cannot afford to pay for necessities. Common circumstances include:
- Illness, or supporting a dependent family member in ill health.
- Overwhelming medical or dental bills.
- Imminent eviction and other forms of housing insecurity.
- Struggling after a natural disaster.
- Major income loss, including due to COVID-19.
They help writers at all stage of life, though priority is given to sick and/or older writers, and to mid- and late-career writers. There are limited funds for younger and/or emerging writers whose emergency is solely related to insufficient income.
The Authors League Fund helps authors, dramatists, journalists, critics, short story writers, and poets. They do accept applications from indie authors with a record of financial or critical success.
The Fund cannot assist writers whose sole credits are self-published or released by a press that charges for publication. The Fund does not help TV/film writers or lyricists and cannot help writers whose sole credits are from copywriting, blogging, public relations, technical writing, and writing for corporate clients.
Support cannot be used for professional expenses, e.g., time to write, computer purchase, book publicity, hiring an editor, airline tickets to a residency, book tour costs, theater production costs, starting a business.
Deadline: Rolling
Launched in April 2017, Awesome Disability is an independent chapter of the Awesome Foundation, a global community that provides micro-grants with no strings attached. The trustees of Awesome Disability are people with disabilities that want to support ideas and projects in our community. Awards are based on need – valuing up to $1,000 per month. There’s no limit to the number of grants and other sources you can apply to. Amount $1,000.
Deadline: Application open 1st to the 15th of every month
SMALL THINGS ARE IN. Microbrewing, microdosing, microcomputing — so we’re giving out microgrants. Artists and curators are frequently asked to donate their time, labor, and money to make exhibitions or performances happen. We hope this grant will help offset some of that.
What it is:
- A $300 good-faith grant for artists and curators who are realizing a project in the greater Buffalo area. This is no-strings-attached money that an artist or curator can use in whatever way they feel it’s needed.
What we fund:
- Exhibitions, performances, or other projects that contribute to the visual arts in Buffalo.
Your project must:
- Include at least one public event (an opening, a performance, etc)
- Take place within three months (in the past or forthcoming) from the application date. IE: You could apply with a project that took place up to three months ago or a project that will take place in up to three months.
Rolling Deadline: January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1, annually
Founded in 1985, Career Transition For Dancers enables dancers to define their career possibilities and develop the skills necessary to excel in a variety of disciplines outside of dance.
Professional Development Scholarship: The Professional Development Scholarship provides a one-time award of up to $1,000 for occupational skills training in a certification or licensure program in a field outside of dance, to initiate a post-dance career.
Deadline: The 12th of every month
Undergraduate Studies Scholarship: The Undergraduate Studies Scholarship assists current and former dancers in meeting the substantial financial commitments that come with the pursuit of a college-level degree. A limited number of scholarships in amounts up to $2,000 will be awarded to eligible applicants towards their tuition.
Deadline: October 15 and June 15, annually
Learn more.
Created in 1993 to further FCA’s mission to encourage, sponsor, and promote work of a contemporary, experimental nature, Emergency Grants provide urgent funding for visual and performing artists who:
- Have sudden, unanticipated opportunities to present their work to the public when there is insufficient time to seek other sources of funding
- Incur unexpected or unbudgeted expenses for projects close to completion with committed exhibition or performance dates
Emergency Grants is the only active, multi-disciplinary program that offers immediate, project-based assistance of this kind to artists living and working anywhere in the United States, for projects occurring in the U.S. and abroad.
Each month FCA receives an average of 100 Emergency Grant applications and makes approximately 12-21 grants. Grants range in amount from $500 to $3,000, and the average grant is now $1,900.
Deadline: Rolling
Good Neighbor Fund is dedicated to leveling the playing field for entrepreneurship by providing $1,000 micro-grants to under-resourced and underrepresented founders, primarily at the ideation stage. Inspired by Buffalo’s nickname “The City of Good Neighbors,” we offer not just financial support, but belief capital and mentorship to empower new and diverse founders.
Deadline: Rolling
The Homiens Art Prize is an international, non-acquisitive art prize open to all artists and art forms. We celebrate our chosen artists across our media, exhibiting their art online where it is viewed by artists and collectors in the United States and throughout the world. Homiens sponsors a platform for artists to network and collaborate, reach a global audience of buyers and collectors, gain institutional validation, and locate international professional opportunities.
Each round 6 Winning artists are exhibited by Homiens, receive an unrestricted cash award of $500, participate in an optional interview, and may request a letter of recommendation from our Jurors. 12 additional Finalists per round also exhibit with Homiens. Up to 200 artists are Highly Commended and celebrated across our media. All entrants are considered for exhibition.
Deadline: April 30, 2025
The Hopper Prize was established to provide grants, visibility, and career enhancing validation to artists who demonstrate a serious commitment to their work.
We accept submissions for grants through a bi-annual open call. For each grant cycle, a new cohort of artists is selected to receive financial support and widespread exposure. Grant winners and finalists are chosen solely on the basis of artistic excellence and the promise of future potential.
We view the field of visual art in its broadest and most inclusive sense and therefore make our awards available to artists working in any media.
We provide unrestricted cash grants in the amount of $3,500 and $1,000 to artists around the globe.
Deadline: May 13, 2025
The International Documentary Association (IDA) supports the vital work of documentary storytellers and champions a thriving and inclusive documentary culture. They have compiled a directory of all grants supporting documentary efforts at the link below.
The grant program of the Jonathan and Barbara Silver Foundation encourages and supports sculptors, whether emerging or established, and writers about sculpture. In 2025 the Foundation will award a $20,000 grant to a sculptor who demonstrates an exceptional commitment to sculpture and an imaginative engagement with its materials, histories and situation.
Deadline: May 31, 2025
The Musicians Foundation offers one-time financial assistance grants to professional musicians across all genres. You must be a professional music performer, composer/arranger, or educator in a specific time of need caused by an unexpected hardship (e.g. medical or dental situation, natural disaster, or certain housing crisis). You must have worked and filed taxes as a professional musician in the United States for five or more years and currently reside in the U.S.
Deadline: Rolling
The National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowships program offers $25,000 grants in prose (fiction and creative nonfiction) and poetry to published creative writers that enable the recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement.
This program operates on a two-year cycle with fellowships in prose and poetry available in alternating years. In 2024, we will be accepting applications in poetry.
Deadline: Rolling (Poetry vs. prose focus rotates annually)
SHIFT supports initiatives that address critical societal issues, inspire systemic change, and amplify Indigenous voices. The program fosters collaborative partnerships and provides tools for awardees to sustain their impact.
The SHIFT program provides Native artists and curators $100,000 over two years to pursue transformative projects in partnership with an organization. The grant provides $50,000 for the lead artist or curator and an additional $50,000 for project expenses. As an awardee, you’ll also have access to professional development in community organizing, legacy-building, and sustainability, as well as support for community-driven engagement and public presentations.
Deadline: May 15, 2025
New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), in partnership with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, offer two grant programs for artists in emergency situations: the Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants and Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants program.
Grant cycles for July 2023-June 2024 are listed on each program’s page. These national emergency grant programs reflect Robert Rauschenberg’s concern for the well-being of fellow creative practitioners and were created in the tradition of Change, Inc., a non-profit foundation established in 1970 by Robert Rauschenberg to assist professional artists of all disciplines in need.
Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants
- Provides one-time grants of up to $3,000 to professional dancers in need who have a dire financial emergency as a result of a loss or lack of current live performance work, because of circumstances beyond your control.
- Provides up to three months of essential expenses.
- You must demonstrate an urgent and critical need for emergency support in order to apply.
- Click here to learn more.
Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants
- Provides one-time grants of up to $5,000 for recent unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies.
- Open to artists in financial need who are practicing in the visual arts, film/video/electronic/digital arts, and choreography.
- Period covered: Related, eligible expenses incurred for up to 12 months from the date of the emergency.
- Click here to learn more.
Deadline: Rolling, quarterly application cycle (check unique grant links)
General information available here.
The 2025 Emerging Writer’s Contest is open.
Since 1971, Ploughshares has been committed to promoting the work of up-and-coming writers. Over the years, Ploughshares has helped launch the careers of great writers like Edward P. Jones, Sue Miller, Mona Simpson, Tim O’Brien, and many more.
In the spirit of the journal’s founding mission, the Ploughshares Emerging Writer’s Contest recognizes work by an emerging writer in each of three genres: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. We consider authors “emerging” if they haven’t published or self-published a book in any genre.
One winner in each genre per year will receive $2,000 and publication in the literary journal. The winners will also receive a conversation with our partnering literary agency, Aevitas Creative Management, regarding their work and writing careers.
The 2025 contest judges are R . O. Kwon in fiction, Joshua Bennett in poetry, and Elisa Gabbert in nonfiction.
Deadline: May 15, 2025
The Foundation welcomes applications from visual artists who are painters, sculptors and artists who work on paper, including printmakers. The Foundation provides financial resources up to $50,000 to create new work, acquire supplies, rent studio space, prepare for exhibitions, attend a residency and offset living expenses. Grants are intended for a one-year period of time. Artists must be actively exhibiting their current work in professional artistic venues, such as gallery and museum spaces.
Deadline: Rolling
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
Jazz Road Tours supports three- to six-site tours at an array of venue types, often in rural communities and other areas traditionally underserved by the genre.
This artist-centric grant program—designed to support approximately 50 tours each year—is made possible with funds from the Doris Duke Foundation with additional support from the Mellon Foundation.
AWARD AMOUNT:
Artists may apply for grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 to cover eligible expenses. This may include $2,500 for various non-musician personnel as outlined in the eligibility section below.
Note: Grant funds are taxable. Grantees must comply with all applicable city, state, and federal laws when reporting grant income.
Deadline: Rolling throughout 2025
Have an idea for a project? Thinking about that video you’ve been meaning to shoot? Considering a new perspective on a familiar idea? Squeaky Wheel is offering Equipment Access Grants to those looking to create specific projects that require the tools and time sometimes difficult or unavailable in daily life. Recipients will receive up to $1,000 worth of equipment usage and facilities time. Amount: $1,000 in-kind equipment rentals.
Deadline: Rolling
The Vilcek Foundation will award six Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in the amount of $50,000 in two categories: Fashion & Design and Fashion & Culture. In each category, three young immigrant fashion professionals who demonstrate outstanding early achievement in their field will individually receive an unrestricted cash prize of $50,000.
Deadline: June 9, 2025
The Artist’s Book Grant is a six- to eight-week residency for artists to produce a limited edition book work. Working intensively in our studios, artists print and bind their own books, and are encouraged to create an edition size no larger than 100 and no smaller than 50.
The grant includes a stipend of $350/week, up to $1000 for materials, up to $250 for travel within the Continental US, free onsite housing, and 24/7 studio access. WSW can provide technical advice; training on new equipment, techniques, and materials; and production assistance.
Specifics of the sales contract will be finalized between the artist and Executive Director upon receipt of the award. The current standard contract stipulates that 20% of the edition goes to the artist, 20% of the edition (at least nine copies) stays with WSW for archival and sales to standing order and repository institutions, and 60% of the edition goes to general distribution and sale. The artist may ask WSW to sell any number of this 60% or the artist’s own 20%. If the artist chooses to sell books through WSW, then WSW will receive a 30% commission from the sale of each book, plus an additional 20% per sale for marketing costs. WSW holds the right to sell from the distribution copies at a 20% discount to standing order and repository institutions. The artist will receive a 50% commission from the sale of each book, which will be paid out once a year around June 30.
Deadline: July 15, 2025
Last updated: April 24, 2025
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