GTO - America 250 - Support for Free Outdoor Musical Performances | FY26
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FY26 - America 250 – Support for Free Outdoor Music Performances
Deadline to Apply: November 17, 2025
As part of the national observance of America's 250th anniversary, ArtsWA is launching a Project Support grant program, "America 250 - Free Outdoor Music Performances Support." This initiative will support:
· A planned project – support for an outdoor music performance already planned
· Addition to a planned project – support to add an outdoor music performance
· A new project – support a new project to include a free outdoor music performance
Recognizing the power of music to build community and foster engagement, ArtsWA is offering grants to support the hiring of local musicians or the engagement of Washington-based music groups or individual musicians in community celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. Priority is given to projects in rural communities outside of King and Pierce counties.
Purpose of Funding
Washington State has adopted three themes to commemorate America's 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States: "We the People," "Power of Place," and "Sharing History." For this grant program, we have chosen "Power of Place". Grants will provide communities with small grants to assist in planning and delivering local observations of America’s 250th anniversary.
Projects must be fully accessible by the public.
View a full list of what ArtsWA can and cannot fund as a state agency.
Funding Amounts and Payment Process Funds are extremely limited. We estimate support for approximately six to eight projects in total. Grant amounts may vary depending on the available funds and number of eligible projects and applications received. Grant amounts will not fall below $1,000.
Grants: $1,000 - $2,000
This is a reimbursement grant. Payments are made after funds are spent, and after expense documentation and invoice forms have been submitted to and approved by ArtsWA. This can be anytime within the funding period of July 1, 2025, and August 30, 2026. *
*Because funding is being made available late in the year, projects that are eligible and already in progress but not completed may receive reimbursement for expenses already incurred starting July 1, 2025.
Project Requirements
• Project must be open to the public.
• Project must happen between July 1, 2025 – August 30, 2026.
• Project must have arts, heritage, and/or culture as a primary component.
• Project must take place in Washington State.
Important Dates
· Application Open: October 3, 2025
· Application Deadline: November 17, 2025, 5pm
· Notification of Grant Award: Early December 2025
· Final Report due September 30, 2026
Eligibility
· 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with a mission focused on arts, heritage, or culture
o 501(c)(3)s’ must have current state corporate nonprofit status and current federal tax-exempt determination under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
· 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with a social impact mission – funding must go to distinct projects as opposed to regular programming
o Example: a social impact nonprofit may have a music program. This funding would not support the music program but can support a project produced by the music program.
· Groups fiscally sponsored by an arts, heritage, or culture or a social impact 501(c)(3) nonprofit – Click here for more about fiscal sponsorship
· Faith-based organizations may apply
o Please note that projects not commonly recognized as open to the public, are an integral part of a specific religion, promote religious observance, worship, instruction, or proselytization are not eligible for this project support program.
· Local Arts Agencies with official designation
o Local Arts Agencies are officially designated by a local government to provide art services to the public on behalf of the local government
· Tribal Governments
Ineligible to Apply
· Individuals
· For-profit organizations
· Government agencies and departments (unless designated as Local Arts Agencies)
· Universities, colleges, academic departments, and K-12 schools
Eligibility questions? Contact Miguel Guillén, miguel.guillen@arts.wa.gov, 360-252-9970
Required Documentation and Identifying Numbers
• IRS Letter of Determination. More information on Letter of Determination here.
o Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s IRS Letter of Determination.
• Organization’s Operating Budget
o Fiscally sponsored: Operating budgets for fiscal sponsor and sponsored group
• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
o Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s UEI.
• Federal Tax ID (EIN).
o Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s EIN.
• Statewide Vendor (SWV) number. *
o Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s SWV.
o *If you have previously received payment from Washington State, check on the status of your SWV number here or by contacting: PayeeRegistration@ofm.wa.gov.
• Washington State Unified Business Identifier (UBI)
o All organizations must be registered as a Washington State Nonprofit/Charity with the Secretary of State including Fiscally Sponsored groups.