Community Accelerator Grant

ArtsFund is pleased to partner with the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation on the second round of funding for the Community Accelerator Grant, a $10 million investment in Washington State’s arts and culture sector. The program, now in its second year, will provide unrestricted grants for cultural nonprofit organizations across Washington state. The first year of the program awarded 671 grants, reaching 35 out of Washington’s 39 counties. Funding will provide 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. The funds are intended to boost arts organizations’ ability to invest in their missions and essential roles serving communities across the state.

Read the press release.

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Funded by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the Year 2 of the Community Accelerator Grant program will provide 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. 

Eligibility parameters for the 2024 program are not yet final. Eligibility will be determined by the program’s Community Advisory Panel and announced in mid-January 2024.  

In Year 1, the program was open to Washington State-based arts and cultural organizations with a 3-year average budget of $25,000 or greater, whose primary mission was to produce or support arts and cultural activities. Eligibility included organizations with their own 501(c)(3) status, fiscally sponsored organizations, and tribal organizations. 

All organizations, including new applicants and 2023 applicants, will be reviewed for eligibility in 2024. Organizations that were not eligible in 2023 may be eligible in 2024, depending on circumstance. Eligibility for the 2023 grant does not guarantee eligibility in 2024.

The Community Accelerator Grant application will be open from February 5, 2024 to March 5, 2024.  

An informational webinar on the eligibility parameters and application process will be held in January; the exact date and time to come. 

Grants will be issued by June 30, 2024.

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. The Community Advisory Panel will be announced in December.

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. 

You can reach ArtsFund’s grantmaking team via email at accelerator@artsfund.org. Please allow up to 5 business days for a response.

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

See the press release announcing the 2023 grantees here.

View the list of 2023 grantees here.