Community Accelerator Grant

The Community Accelerator Grant grants program is now closed. In March 2023, ArtsFund and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation announced the 671 grantees of the Community Accelerator Grant, a historic investment in Washington’s arts and culture sector.

Administered by Arts Fund and funded by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the program provides just over $10M in $2,500 to $25,000 grants across Washington state. The distribution comes just six months after the partnership was announced, in response to the continued sector need. Funding will provide essential resources to Washington organizations whose primary mission is to produce or support arts and culture activities. The unrestricted funding will boost arts organizations’ ability to invest in their missions and essential roles serving communities across the state.

Fast Facts

● A total of $10M has been awarded to 671 organizations
● 100% of eligible applicants received a grant
● Grants range from $2,500 to $25,000 and are unrestricted (meaning they can be used for anything)
● The average grant size is $14,909
● The program was informed by a Community Advisory Panel who advised ArtsFund on the application design, outreach, evaluation and outcome, and included 12 panelists from across the state.
● Grantees anticipate a 2:1 revenue generation for every $1 of their grant, resulting in a potential program impact of $30 million.

See the press release announcing the grantees here.

View the list of grantees here.

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The Community Accelerator Grant program is now closed. Click here to review the application.

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Funded by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the Community Accelerator Grant program provides unrestricted grants for cultural nonprofit organizations across Washington state in amounts of $2,500 to $25,000.

Funding provides essential capital to Washington’s cultural organizations, including fiscally sponsored and tribal organizations, whose primary mission is to produce or support arts and cultural activities.

Awards are unrestricted, allowing recipient organizations to utilize funding in ways that they determine and prioritize for highest impact.

This program is open to Washington State-based arts and cultural organizations with a 3-year average budget of $25,000 or greater, whose primary mission is to produce or support arts and cultural activities. Eligibility includes organizations with their own 501(c)(3) status, fiscally sponsored organizations, and tribal organizations.

The Community Accelerator Grant application is now closed. Organizations will receive notification of their award status in March, and funds will be disbursed by March 31, 2023.

The program will be informed by a Community Advisory Panel that represents geographic and demographic diversity. The panel will work to ensure decision-making is as close to the impacted communities as possible. Click here to see the list of Community Advisory Panel members and learn more.

The Community Accelerator Grant will invest in a stronger, more inclusive and thriving arts and cultural sector for Washington State by allowing organizations to self-determine how best to utilize their funding. The funds are intended to boost arts organizations’ ability to invest in their missions and essential roles serving communities across the state.

To sign up to learn more about the program as information is released, please continue below: