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 info@asiwny.org 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:

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

Learn more.

Arts Partners for Learning is an initiative managed by Arts for Learning that seeks to expand access to arts education for children in Western New York and improve the capacity of cultural organizations to provide creative learning programs. Schools are eligible for funding if they are a public or charter school, have a student population where at least 30% of students qualify for a free or reduced lunch, or lack regular visual arts, music instruction, or arts enrichment opportunities. Programs must occur during the school day. There must be a dedicated, private work space available for students.

Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but previous applicants and early applicants are given priority.

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Arts & culture funding designed to ensure continued support for our community. The funding for the Creative Impact Fund comes from a New York State Senate initiative designed to provide equitable arts support to all regions across New York State.

For 2024, ASI has developed four (4) grant opportunities that will be available to the WNY community:

  • Arts Programming support (Deadline: May 1, 2024)
  • Creation of a New Work support (Deadline: May 1, 2024)
  • Training Access support (Deadline: May 1, 2024)

Learn more.

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: Continuous aid opportunity

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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 periods are from the 1st to the 15th of every month

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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

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The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation’s Community Impact grants are intended to support programming, capital, and technology needs. Priority will be 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).

Deadline: March 1 and September 1 every year

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The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation annually awards over $1million 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.

Deadline: Last Wednesday of February, April, June, August, October, and December (bi-monthly) by noon

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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).

Deadline: Letter of Intent due June 1 or December 1

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The Josephine Goodyear Foundation traces its roots back to 1912 when Mrs. Frank Goodyear donated funds to build the Josephine Goodyear Convalescent Home on Main Street in Williamsville, New York. The home housed disadvantaged women and children and provided pre-operative services to prepare them for the rigors of early surgery and to provide post-surgery recovery. After World War II, with the development of antibiotics, the need for such services was greatly reduced. The property was then sold, and the foundation was established.

The Josephine Goodyear Foundation Fund now funds approximately 50 annual grants totaling about $300,000. Grant decisions are made at Advisory Council meetings held in May and September of each year by our Contributions Committee.

Grant Details:

Our mission calls for assistance to non-profit agencies which help “indigent women and children, particularly with their physical needs”. In the past, most of our efforts have been focused on medical facilities but we have broadened that scope in more recent years so that we can aid disadvantaged women and children in other ways. Our funding is concentrated on the Greater Buffalo area.

Deadline: April 15, 2024

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The Oliver G. and Sarah Sloan Bauman Fund for the Arts was established in 1996 by Sarah Bauman Baxter as a unique way to memorialize her father by including his name in her own endowment. Mrs. Baxter and her father shared a love of the classics, including classical languages, ballet and opera. At the end of her life, she translated that love into this bequest which Mrs. Baxter said should help “perpetuate the appreciation of such fine arts as an important and integral part of our culture.”

Grant Details: Bauman support shall be in the form of a grant, preferably matching funds.

Tier 1

  • Awards will be prioritized first for performances of “traditional, classical ballet and opera on the living stage, and preferably of the English, European, or Russian schools.” Qualifying performances should “preserve the originality of their composition, so the ballets are presented in their traditional choreography, and operas are sung in the language in which they were composed (except certain operas which may be customarily be rendered in English and are regarded as ‘traditional’ by the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York).”
  • In honor of the donor’s original intent, classical is defined as the period up to the start of World War I (1914).

Tier 2

  • If any funds remain after awards have been made to all ballet and opera nonprofits eligible under Tier 1, awards will be prioritized for qualifying performances presented through the encouragement and support of responsible music or theater nonprofits. Qualifying works shall “preserve the high quality of performance of traditional or classical works” of music, theater, or ballet from the repertories traditionally considered classical for each medium.
  • Total amount available for disbursement in 2024 is approximately $34,000.

Deadline: April 15, 2024

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This grant is specifically for joining the Project Play WNY Summer Free Play Series for 2024. The goal for the series is providing youth in all 8 counties of Western New York opportunities to play, have fun, and enjoy Free Play!

Deadline: April 5, 2024

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Creative Capital welcomes innovative and original new project proposals in visual arts, performing arts, film/moving image, technology, literature, multidisciplinary, and socially engaged forms.

The Creative Capital Award provides unrestricted project grants which can be drawn down over a multi-year period, bespoke professional development services, and community-building opportunities.

Grants are awarded via a democratic, national, open call, external review process. Our goal is to fund individual artists creating conceptually, aesthetically, and formally challenging, risk-taking, and never-before-seen projects.

Deadline: April 4, 2024

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This program is focused specifically on book-length academic publications based on completed dissertations or by first-time authors seeking to publish a scholarly work that increases the awareness and appreciation of important areas of material culture research.

  • We use the terms decorative arts and material culture in relation to three-dimensional objects but will also consider proposals that focus on decorative painting, prints, maps, and wallpaper as well as those that analyze the interiors for which objects were designed or in which they were placed.
  • Proposed topics should focus on objects made or used in an American context, defined as North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean.
  • Proposals from authors located outside of the United States will be accepted.
  • The Trust encourages projects that advance diversity in the study of American decorative arts and material culture.
  • Publications are expected to contain original research which yields information of high scholarly value.
  • We will accept applications from first-time authors seeking to publish a dissertation or other significant scholarly work. We will also accept applications from academic presses on behalf of authors currently under contract.
  • We intend to support in-print as well as digital publications, with an expectation that some portion of the content of in-print books will have some level of digital accessibility.
  • Proposals can request funding up to $5,000. Publication costs tied to the quantity and size of images to be included, the number of color versus black-and-white illustrations, as well as obtaining permission and reproduction rights are permitted. Monies also can be used toward the digitization of an in-print publication.
  • All funding will be directed to the publisher or the author upon receipt of invoices for incurred expenses.
  • Publications do not need to be under contract at the time of application, but preference will be given to authors who have a contract in hand or a manuscript under review.

Deadline: March 31, 2024

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The program awards grants to support book-length publications tied to collections, exhibitions, and conferences that increase the awareness and appreciation of important areas of research in the decorative arts including catalogues, and compilations of conference papers.

  • We use the terms decorative arts and material culture in relation to three-dimensional objects but will also consider proposals that focus on decorative painting, prints, maps, and wallpaper as well as those that analyze the interiors for which objects were designed or in which they were placed.
  • Proposed topics should focus on objects made or used in an American context, defined as North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean.
  • Proposals from authors located outside of the United States will be accepted.
  • Publications are expected to contain original research which yields information of high scholarly value.
  • The Trust encourages projects that advance diversity in the study of American decorative arts and material culture.
  • We support in-print as well as digital publications, with an expectation that in-print books will have some level of digital accessibility.
  • Publication teams that include early career professionals will receive preference.
  • We will provide up to $50,000 per year in funding, and proposals can request funding from $5,000 up to $50,000, depending on the level of need.
  • Independent scholars and nonprofit organizations are welcome to apply.
  • All funding will be directed to the publisher upon receipt of invoices for incurred expenses.
  • Acceptable costs for printed publications are: printing, binding, design, layout, editing, indexing, and production. Funding cannot be used for authors fees, overhead, photography, or licensing, reproduction, copyright, and marketing costs.
  • Publications do not need to be under contract at the time of application.

Deadline: March 31, 2024

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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: Letters of Intent due April 30, 2024

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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: Letters of Intent due April 30, 2024

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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: Ongoing
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Action Grants offer $6,500 to $10,000 to implement humanities projects that encourage public audiences to reflect on their values, explore new ideas, and engage with others in their community. All subjects and themes relevant to the communities served are welcome. These grants aim to:

  • Connect audiences more deeply to the communities where they live and work
  • Solidify community partnerships and diversify audiences
  • Creatively employ the tools of the humanities to respond to issues and ideas capturing the imagination and passion of New Yorkers today

Deadline: April 1, 2024

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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.

See the full Directory

The foundation is organized and shall be operated exclusively for charitable purposes and its principal purpose shall be to make grants to charitable organizations, institutions, or foundations. In carrying out the above purpose, the foundation shall make distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations; some, but not exclusive emphasis shall be given to those organizations benefitting the southwestern New York State area.

Primary Funding Areas:

  • Program Interests – Arts, education, health care, youth, economic development, and the environment
  • Types of Support – Program funding and capital project grants for non-profit organizations in Western New York

Rolling Annual Deadlines: April 15 and July 22

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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

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Iber Exchange is designed to increase availability of international music programming throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and to promote a greater understanding of other cultures through the performing arts.

Iber Exchange provides fee support grants to nonprofit presenters located in the mid-Atlantic region that contract artists as part of the Iber Exchange program in collaboration with the Ibermúsicas organization. All funded engagements are required to include a public performance and a community engagement activity that creates interaction between audiences and visiting artists.

Deadline: April 15, 2024

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USArtists International® supports in-person and virtual performances by U.S. artists at engagements at international festivals and global presenting arts marketplaces outside of the United States. The program funds individuals and ensembles across all performing arts practices and disciplines.

Mid Atlantic Arts is committed to the development and expansion of both the careers and artistic goals of U.S. performers by providing connections to audiences, presenters, curators, and their peers through the USAI program. By elevating the voices that reflect a vibrant array of creative expression, we are able to celebrate and share the diversity and imagination of the United States.

The rise of technology has revolutionized the way we consume and interact with various industries, including the arts marketplaces and online casinos. With the advent of e-commerce platforms, buying and selling art pieces have become more accessible to a wider audience than ever before. Online art marketplaces offer artists a global platform to showcase their talents and reach potential buyers from around the world.

Similarly, according to online gambling guide MoviGame.jp, online casinos have also seen a massive growth in popularity due to the convenience of being able to access them from anywhere with an internet connection. This has greatly expanded the reach and audience for these virtual gambling platforms.

Both industries have also been able to utilize social media and digital marketing strategies to further promote their offerings and engage with customers. This trend is expected to continue as advancements in technology continue to shape and enhance the arts marketplaces and online casino experience. So, it is safe to say that these industries are here to stay in our increasingly digitalized world. So, whether you’re an art enthusiast or a gambling aficionado, embracing technology has made it easier than ever before to explore and appreciate these industries.

Grant support range: Grants of up to $15,000 toward eligible travel expenses.

Deadline: March 27, 2024

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Challenge America grants offers support primarily to small organizations for projects to reach historically underserved communities with rich and dynamic cultural identities. This program may be a good entry point for organizations that are new to applying for federal funding. Grants are awarded in all artistic disciplines for a wide variety of arts projects.

Challenge America features an abbreviated application, a robust structure of technical assistance, and grants for a set amount of $10,000. Grants require a cost share/match of $10,000 consisting of cash and/or in-kind contributions. Total project costs must be at least $20,000 or greater.

Deadline: April 25, 2024, for projects taking place beginning in 2025.

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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 Annually, rotating poetry vs. prose focus

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Grants for Arts Projects provides expansive funding opportunities to strengthen the nation’s arts and culture ecosystem. Grants are available for arts projects in a wide variety of artistic disciplines.

We encourage projects that seek to accomplish any of the following:

  • Contribute to a healthy and thriving local, regional, state-wide, and national arts and culture ecosystem.
  • Elevate artists as integral and essential to a healthy and vibrant society.
  • Celebrate the nation’s creativity and/or cultural heritage.
  • Facilitate cross-sector collaborations that center the arts at the intersection of other disciplines, sectors, and industries.
  • Support arts projects with a focus on advancing the health and well-being of individuals and communities.
  • Invest in organizational capacity-building and leadership development for arts organizations, arts workers, and artists.
  • Support existing and new technology-centered creative practices across all artistic disciplines and forms, as well as build arts organizations’ capacity to serve a broad public by providing access, training, and other resources to engage with digital technologies.
  • Address, develop creative work exploring, or reflect on the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), in a way that is consistent with valuing human artistry. Projects may include artistic work, from across all artistic disciplines, that improves the public’s awareness or understanding of the responsible use of AI in the field of arts.
  • Originate from or are in collaboration with the following constituencies encouraged by White House Executive Orders: Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, American Indian and Alaska Native tribes, Predominantly Black Institutions, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Asian American and Pacific Islander communities
  • Organizations that support the independence and lifelong inclusion of people with disabilities.
  • To mark the semiquincentennial of the United States of America, the NEA also seeks arts projects furthering its mission of fostering and sustaining an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States. The NEA is partnering with America250 to encourage arts projects that educate and engage communities in dialogue about the past, present, and future of our nation. Project examples may include public art recognizing the milestone, collaborative community arts projects exploring the nation’s identity, or retrospectives of celebrated or overlooked American artists. Projects are welcome in all artistic disciplines.

Deadlines: July 11, 2024 (for projects taking place beginning in 2025)

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Research Grants in the Arts funds research studies that investigate the value and/or impact of the arts, either as individual components of the U.S. arts ecosystem or as they interact with each other and/or with other domains of American life. The NEA welcomes research proposals that align with at least one of the priority topics and possible questions within the agency’s FY 2022-2026 research agenda. Matching/cost share grants of $20,000 to $100,000 will be awarded.

Deadline: March 25, 2024

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The Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants (AWAW EAG) will distribute a total of $300,000 in funding—up to $20,000 per project—to support environmental art projects led by women-identifying artists in the United States and U.S. Territories.

The AWAW EAG will support environmental art projects that inspire thought, action, and ethical engagement. Projects should not only point at problems, but aim to engage an environmental issue at some scale. Proposals should illustrate thorough consideration of a project’s ecological and social ethics. Projects that explore interdependence, relationships, and systems through Indigenous and ancestral practices are encouraged to apply.

The intended impact of the project is an important factor in the selection process. Environmental art projects that qualify for this program may focus on the following themes, but are not limited to:

  • Regeneration
  • Eco-social engagement
  • Decarbonization as decolonization
  • Ecofeminism
  • Climate change/climate collapse
  • Systems-restoration
  • Interspecies relationships
  • Natural or built systems
  • Recycling and repurposing
  • Clean energy production
  • Bioplastics

Selected projects must benefit the public in some way, and are required to have a public engagement component by August 31, 2025. The public engagement component must be free to attend, open to the general public, and must add value to the public sphere rather than solely benefiting the artist’s private gain. Online events are acceptable as long as they are attended by a live audience.

NYFA is committed to supporting artists from every background, and at all stages in their creative careers. Artists of color, artists with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ artists are strongly encouraged to apply.

Deadline: April 16, 2024

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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)

The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation’s Community Grant proposals must efficiently and effectively address identified community needs or encourage new opportunities. Grant proposals must benefit the northern Chautauqua community. NCCF competitive grants range from $500 to $15,000. On a limited basis, we will consider grant support for two (2) years. In such instances, second-year funding will be contingent upon successful program outcomes from the previous year.

Deadline: Letters of Interest are due March 1 and September 1 by 4:00 pm, annually

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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: Letters of Interest are accepted on a rolling basis

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Each year Persea Books commemorates poet-activist Lexi Rudnitsky by holding two book contests sponsored by the Lexi Rudnitsky Poetry Project, an organization founded to memorialize Lexi and to promote the type of meaningful poetry in which she so spiritedly believed.

The Lexi Rudnitsky Editor’s Choice Award competition is open to any poet who has previously published at least one full-length book of poems. The winner receives an advance of $2,000.00 and publication of their collection by Persea.

Deadline: March 15, 2024

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Podfund provides startup and growth capital, resources, and expertise to help podcast businesses and audio ventures accelerate success.

Podfund typically provides funding between $25,000–$150,000 to podcast studios and high-potential creators based on stage, track record, evidence of traction, revenue, and intended use of the funds. In some cases, we may provide a larger initial check and/or follow-on funding. We review applications on a continuous basis and are actively seeking new investment opportunities in audio-driven companies.

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Launched in 1993, Preserve New York makes grants for historic structure reports, building condition reports, cultural landscape reports, and cultural resource surveys.

Preserve New York Grants are open to 501c3 arts/cultural organizations located in New York State. Municipalities (units of local government) are welcome to submit applications to support Cultural Resource Surveys only. State agencies and religious institutions are not eligible to apply. The program provides support up to 80% of the project cost. Applicants must provide 20% of the total project cost as a cash match. Grants are likely to range between $5,000 and $14,000, although we have awarded Preserve New York grants as low as $2,000 and as high as $20,000.

Deadline: March 22, 2024 (pre-application)

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Race Forward and Americans for the Arts are seeking proposals from local organizations (i.e. local government, local arts agencies, community-based arts organizations, and/or racial justice non-profits) for funding to participate in the first annual Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy (CWA) this September 27 to October 5, 2024. We anticipate funding 12 to 15 sites; participation in the CWA will also be encouraged and open to organizations not requesting funding. This is an opportunity to deepen commitments to racial justice and inclusive democracy through cultural activities.

We are excited to sponsor select projects to encourage deep, bold, and long-term change. Through a competitive process, 12-15 local communities that represent the diversity of our country will receive $25,000-$40,000 for cultural organizers and community partners to design and implement projects that align with the theme of Building the Bigger We.

Deadline: March 29, 2024.

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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: Rolling; March 1, August 1, and December 1

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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 $1000 worth of equipment usage and facilities time. Amount: $1000 in-kind equipment rentals

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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.

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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:

  1. Your group/organization’s annual budget must be $50,000 or less.
  2. The total budget for your project must be less than $10,000. You can request up to $1,000 in seed funding from TPP.
  3. Individual, group and/or organization (including co-leaders and project team members) must not have received previous funding from TPP.
  4. 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.

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The UB Communities of Care project seeks to commission new and original artwork from local artists. We are looking for work based on the theme “Communities of Care”: What meanings and implications does it have for you? How does it relate to social justice? What voices are left out of public conversations about communities of care? These and other questions and concerns may be addressed through the proposed work. We are especially interested in creative work that explores the intersections of care, community, race, disability, gender, and sexuality. Artists may work in any medium. “Care” and “community” can be defined in expansive and innovative ways in proposed projects. Individual Artist Grant offers up to $50,000.

Deadline: May 31, 2024

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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

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Last updated: March 17, 2024


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