ArtsWA Community Investments

View Creative Start Project Grant FY26 Guidelines.

View Sustaining Project Grant FY26 - FY27 Guidelines.

FY26-FY27 Art Service Organization Support - Strengthening Washington’s Creative Economy Workforce
ArtsWA offers operating support to regional and statewide non-profit Arts Service Organizations that provide programming to support, increase, diversify, and raise the proficiency of arts professionals in Washington State.   
 

What is an ASO?

An Arts Service Organization (ASO) provides training, workshops, convenings, conferences, networking, technical assistance, and other professional development services to established and emerging arts professionals. 

Regional ASOs:

• Provide in-person and online professional development services for arts professionals from a minimum of three counties in one ArtsWA defined region.  
• Are based in the region where services are provided.  
• Commit a minimum of 10% of total public programming budget to professional development services. 

Statewide ASOs:

• Provide professional development opportunities, support, services, and resources to arts professionals.  
• Provide in-person professional development services in ten or more counties and/or an annual convening of arts professionals from across the state. Annual convening should include structured professional development components.  
• Do not perform, produce, preserve, present, or teach art.  

Regions:

• Northwest Region: Island, King, Kitsap, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Whatcom 
• Southwest Region: Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston, Wahkiakum 
• Central Region: Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, Yakima 
• Eastern Region: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman

Purpose of the Grant

This grant supports ASO’s day-to-day business expenses (operating support), allowing them to dedicate more time to professional development programming.  

View a full list of what ArtsWA can and cannot fund as a state agency.

Grant Details

Amount: Applicants can request $12,000 split across two years ($6,000/year for two years). 

Type: This is a reimbursement grant (funds are provided after expenses are submitted and approved). 

Timeline:

• The first half is distributed in Fiscal Year 2026 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026).  
• The second half is distributed in Fiscal Year 2027 (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027).  
• Final Reports due July 31, 2026, and FY27 due July 31, 2027. 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, or be fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3)
• Have at least two years of continuous operation as a non-profit arts organization or fiscally sponsored organization. 
• Have at least two years of ongoing professional development services. 
• Employ at least one paid staff member that works 20+ hours weekly.
• Have a board of directors 
• Have a board-approved annual year-end operating budget that reflects actuals and includes program expenses.

Ineligible to Apply: Individuals, for-profit organizations, religious organizations, government agencies and departments (unless designated as Local Arts Agencies), universities, colleges, academic departments, and K-12 schools. 

How to Apply

Submit your application through Submittable between January 6, 2025 – January 31, 2025 (5 PM).

Required Documents:

• 501(c)(3) applicants and Fiscally Sponsored groups
• IRS Letter of Determination, or Fiscal Sponsor’s IRS Letter of Determination.
• Your organization’s, or Fiscal Sponsor’s board approved operating budget for your last fiscal year, that includes actuals for program expenses. 
• Your organization’s board approved next fiscal year’s anticipated operating budget.   
• List of your organization’s board of directors and active staff. Include position titles and number of hours worked per week per position. 
• Your organization’s most recent board approved strategic plan.
• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Tax ID (EIN), and Statewide Vendor (SWV) number (fiscal sponsors use their own).

Evaluation Criteria

1. Programming & Services (40 Points):

• Clear descriptions of professional development programs and/or services. 
• Clear description of the impact on the capacity of arts professionals.  
• Effort to diversify the field by broadening access for individuals from communities historically excluded* from the Creative Economy. 

2. Management & Impact (20 Points):

• Evidence of sound management of programs and finances; reasonable budget in relation to programming scope; mix of income sources.  
• Evidence of sound program planning and program evaluation method. 

3. Service Distribution (40 Points)

• Regional ASO - Significant impact on, and service to, arts professionals from three or more counties in an ArtsWA designated region. 
• Statewide ASO - Significant impact on, and service to, arts professionals in ten or more counties statewide and/or provides an annual convening. 

*Historically excluded refers to any group of people that have historically been left out, not considered, or actively barred from opportunities and privileges by a society or organization. In the context of arts funding, governmental and private funders have historically designed grant programs for and uplifted European/European-American art for able-bodied, cis/straight groups, often in urban settings, for example. Learn more about the National Endowment for the Arts' Equity Plan here. For a FAQ on Civil Rights for applicants and to ensure your organization complies, click here.

Key Dates:

• Application window: January 6-31, 2025 
• Scoring and ArtsWA Board Approval: May 6-7, 2025
• Applications are scored by staff who make recommendations for funding to ArtsWA’s Board of Commissioners at our board meeting
• Notification of application status: Last week of May 2025.
• If awarded a grant, you will receive a contract and further instructions in a few weeks after notification. Learn more about managing a grant here. 

Contact Us

Miguel Guillén, Grants to Organizations, Program Manager at 360-252-9970 or miguel.guillen@arts.wa.gov

Ashley Marshall, Grants to Organizations, Program Assistant, at 360-485-1524 or ashley.marshall@arts.wa.gov 

Additional Information

Accessibility

Federally funded projects must be accessible to people with disabilities. You can use this accessibility checklist when planning your programs. You do not need to check all boxes to be eligible for funding; this is simply a worksheet and resource for your organization.

Civil Rights

All applicants for funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) are required to certify that they are following the civil rights statutes that govern nondiscrimination in Federally assisted programs. For a FAQ on Civil Rights for applicants and to ensure your organization complies, click here.

Appeals

Unsuccessful applicants can appeal in accordance with Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 30.12.036, found here: http://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=30-12-036.

About ArtsWA 

ArtsWA is the Washington State Arts Commission. The Washington State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts fund our programs. Grants are contingent on available state and federal funding. ArtsWA complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil and human rights. For more information regarding Washington State Arts Commission’s policies on Accessibility, Diversity, and Nondiscrimination, click here.

FY26-27 General Operating Support – Emerging and Small Organizations

Deadline: February 28, 2025 at 5:00 pm

General Operating Support for Emerging and Small Organizations offers small grants to support young arts organizations. Groups that do not have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and do not have Fiscal Sponsorship can apply for fiscal sponsorship when completing this grant application through our partnership with Shunpike.

Partnership with Shunpike:

ArtsWA is pleased to partner with Shunpike to offer fiscal sponsorship to new groups wishing to apply to the General Operating Support Emerging and Small Organizations grant program.

• Groups can apply for fiscal sponsorship within the grant application.
• Groups that apply for fiscal sponsorship within the Emerging grant application must attend a fiscal sponsorship info session with Shunpike on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. online.
• Groups that are awarded a grant and gain fiscal sponsorship under Shunpike must attend a 90-minute on-boarding session. Check our website for dates/times. 

Please read Shunpike’s Applying for Fiscal Sponsorship document if you are seeking fiscal sponsorship. It includes important information about fiscal sponsorship, including how you will get paid  
 

Definitions for this grant:
 

• Emerging Organizations have at least one year of experience managing their organization and providing at least one public program. 
• Small Organizations have at least three years of experience managing their organization and providing regular public programming. 

Purpose of Funding

 Small and Emerging Organization grants help cover day-to-day business expenses (operating support) so that young organizations can focus on building capacity and providing cultural experiences for their communities.  
 

Funding Amount and Payment Process

 
 ArtsWA’s Grants to Organizations program has experienced exponential growth since the pandemic. Our funds have not kept pace with this growth. Beginning this funding cycle our grants will be smaller than previous years.  
 

• Applicants can request $6,000 for general operating expenses. Funds are distributed in equal portions over two years ($3,000 x 2). Grant amounts may vary depending on available funds and number of applications received. 
• ArtsWA grants are reimbursement grants. Payments are made after expenses are incurred, normally at the end of your operating year.  
• Full list of what ArtsWA can and cannot fund as a state agency. 

 Requirements to Apply
 

• Organizations must have three members or more with assigned titles, roles, and duties. 
• A mission that centers arts, culture, and/or heritage. 
• Publicly accessible programming.  
• Emerging Organizations have at least one year of experience managing their organization and providing at least one public program. 
• Small Organizations have at least three years of experience managing their organization and providing regular public programming. 
• Be based in Washington State. 
• Organizations operating as affiliates of National Organizations must be part of a group exemption. Read more here. 
• Annual operating budget between $0-$50,000, or  
• Annual operating budget between $50,000 and $100,000.  
• 501(c)(3) nonprofit, or 
• Fiscally sponsored by a 501c3. Click here for ArtsWA’s Fiscal Sponsorship Requirements 
• Unincorporated groups may apply but must gain fiscal sponsorship before July 1, 2025.   

 Ineligible to Apply
 

• Individuals  
• For-profit organizations 
• Religious organizations (eligible for Project Support grants only) 
• Government agencies and departments (unless designated as Local Arts Agencies) 
• Universities, colleges, academic departments, and K-12 schools 
• Nonprofits explicitly established to administer and develop a Creative District are ineligible for operating support but may apply for project support grants through our Project Support grant program. Organizations applying for operating support grants, because they produce an annual event as their primary purpose and mission and are also administrators of a Creative District, may not use Grants to Organizations funds for the administration of the Creative District.

 Required Documentation  
 

• IRS Letter of Determination. More information on Letter of Determination here. 
• Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s IRS Letter of Determination. 
• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).  
• Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s UEI. 
• Federal Tax ID (EIN).  
• Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s EIN. 
• Statewide Vendor (SWV) number. * 
• Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s SWV.  
• Washington State Unified Business Identifier (UBI) (all organizations must be registered as a WA Nonprofit/Charity with the Secretary of State).

*If you have previously received payment from Washington State, check on the status of your SWV number here: vendor number lookup or by contacting: PayeeRegistration@ofm.wa.gov. They are good for two years.
 

Evaluation, Scoring, and Notification
 

Our grant programs support organizations of all sizes, ensuring the arts remain accessible to all Washingtonians. However, the demand for funding has surged, with some programs seeing a staggering 385% increase in applications. Our available funds, however, have remained stagnant. Starting with the FY26 funding cycle, we will implement priorities-based criteria to ensure our limited funds are distributed equitably. This funding structure and process is strategically designed to maximize support for our growing community while aligning with the objectives in our strategic plan. We seek to keep diverse communities engaged in the creative economy, support the creative sector statewide, and emphasize cultural equity, community diversity, and sector growth.

  Priorities for Operating Support Grants
 

• Annual operating budgets of $0 to $50,000 (first consideration). 
• Annual operating budgets of $50,000 to $100,000 (second consideration). 
• Organizations outside of King County, the City of Tacoma, and the City of Olympia.  
• Businesses located in counties identified by the state as a distressed area: Clallam, Cowlitz, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Skamania, Stevens, Wahkiakum, Yakima.  
• Organizations serving constituencies consisting of 25% or more of an underserved group. 

"Underserved" means populations whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, historical exclusion and marginalization due to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, economics, disability, or other social or institutionally imposed barriers.

Priority Scoring

 Applications are reviewed and scored by staff who make recommendations for funding to ArtsWA’s Board of Commissioners.  
Executive Director Approval  
 Staff make recommendations for funding to ArtsWA’s Executive Director for Approval.   

Board of Directors Ratification
 Executive Director’s Approval of funding is presented to ArtsWA’s Board of Directors for oversight and Ratification.

Notification
Notifications of application status will be sent April 2025. Grant recipients will receive a contract and instructions a few weeks after notification. Read about managing a grant here.  
 

Important Dates
 

• Application open period is January 21, 2025 – February 28, 2025, 5pm 
• Notification of application results: April 2025 
• Funds can cover expenses for the period between July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 
• Final report due July 31, 2026 

  To Apply
 

• If you need assistance with Submittable, take a look at our Submittable FAQs. 

  Additional Information
 

Accessibility
Federally funded projects must be accessible to people with disabilities. You can use this accessibility checklist when planning your programs. You do not need to check all boxes to be eligible for funding; this is simply a worksheet and resource for your organization.  
 

Civil Rights
 All applicants for funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) are required to certify that they are following the civil rights statutes that govern nondiscrimination in Federally assisted programs. For a FAQ on Civil Rights for applicants and to ensure your organization complies, click here. 

Appeals
Unsuccessful applicants can appeal in accordance with Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 30.12.036, found here: http://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=30-12-036.
 

About ArtsWA  

ArtsWA is the Washington State Arts Commission. The Washington State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts fund our programs. Grants are contingent on available state and federal funding. ArtsWA complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil and human rights. For more information regarding Washington State Arts Commission’s policies on Accessibility, Diversity, and Nondiscrimination, click here. 

Contact Us 

Miguel Guillén, Grants to Organizations, Program Manager, at 360-252-9970 or miguel.guillen@arts.wa.gov 

Ashley Marshall, Grants to Organizations, Program Assistant, at 360-485-1524 or ashley.marshall@arts.wa.gov