Community Accelerator Grant Application FAQ 

ArtsFund is pleased to partner with Allen Family Philanthropies on the fourth round of funding for the Community Accelerator Grant, a $10 million investment in Washington State’s arts and culture sector. The program provides unrestricted grants to cultural organizations across Washington, prioritizing communities with less access to mainstream funding, including organizations centering BIPOC, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and rural communities. Awards will be unrestricted, allowing recipient organizations to utilize funding in ways that they determine and prioritize for highest impact. In 2026, the program’s eligibility parameters have shifted to focus on nonprofits, fiscally sponsored organizations, and tribal entities with annual operating budgets of $1 million or less, recognizing that these grants will have an outsized impact on these organizations.

The application link will be posted on the Community Accelerator Grant web page at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, July 15. The deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21. Please review the FAQ below before applying and contact accelerator@artsfund.org if you have any questions. To preview the application, click here. 

What are the eligibility requirements to apply for a Community Accelerator Grant?  

• The Community Accelerator Grant is intended to fund Washington State’s arts and culture sector. 501(c)(3) public charities, organizations fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) public charity, and state or federally recognized tribal entities are eligible to apply. In addition, organizations must: 

o Have a primary mission to produce or support arts and cultural activities.  

o Have been established on or before December 31, 2022. 

o Have an average annual operating budget greater than $25,000 and less than $1,000,000 over FY2023, FY2024, and FY2025 (actuals).  

• Applicants considered ineligible include:  

o Individuals 

o Private foundations 

o For-profit organizations 

o Political advocacy organizations 

o Organizations located outside of Washington State 

o Churches and religious organizations 

o Government entities, except tribal governments 

How has eligibility changed since 2025?  

• In past cycles, the Community Accelerator Grant was open to mission-aligned Washington nonprofits, fiscally sponsored organizations, and tribal applicants with average annual operating budgets of at least $25,000. As of 2026, the eligibility parameters have shifted to organizations with annual operating budgets between $25,000 and $1 million. Additionally, in the past, applicants have been asked to calculate their average operating budgets using actuals for their two most recently completed fiscal years and their budget for their current fiscal year. As of 2026, applicants will be asked to calculate their average operating budgets using actuals for their three most recently completed fiscal years. 

Why is eligibility focused on organizations under $1M this year?  

• The eligibility parameters have shifted in recognition of the outsized impact the Community Accelerator Grant can offer these organizations. 

Is the Community Accelerator Grant limited to arts organizations? 

• This funding opportunity is only available to organizations whose primary missions are to produce or support arts and cultural activities. 

What are the eligibility requirements for tribes and tribal entities?  

• State or federally recognized tribes are eligible to apply, provided they meet budget requirements and are based in Washington. As cultural heritage and artistic practices are embedded in the work and daily life of tribes, tribes will be considered eligible regardless of whether they have a formal mission statement encompassing arts and cultural activities. Tribes without federal or state recognition may apply as 501(c)(3) organizations or fiscally sponsored organizations if applicable. 

• As many tribes exceed the $1,000,000 average operating budget requirement, tribal entities focused on artistic and cultural activities, such as culture departments or tribal museums, are eligible and encouraged to apply for funding if they meet the budget requirements. Multiple entities affiliated with the same tribe may apply if each meets the eligibility criteria. Please do not hesitate to contact the grantmaking team with any questions.  

Can an organization apply to fund a specific program that produces or supports arts and cultural activities, even if the organization’s primary mission does not? 

• No. This funding opportunity is intended for organizations with a primary mission to produce or support arts and cultural activities. Programs that fall under these categories operated by organizations with broader missions are not eligible for this opportunity.  

How do I calculate my organization’s annual average operating budget? 

• Please use your organization’s fiscal year cycle to calculate your annual average operating budget. Add your total revenue for FY23, FY24, and FY25 and divide this number by 3.  If this number is between $25,000 and $1,000,000, your organization meets the budget requirement.  

If my organization is fiscally sponsored, do the budget requirements apply to my organization or my 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor organization? 

• The budget requirements apply to your organization, not your fiscal sponsor. Please calculate the annual average operating budget for your organization.  

My organization is located in Oregon/Idaho, but many of our participants are Washington residents. Can we apply? 

• No. Even if your organization serves Washington residents, your organization must be located in Washington State in order to be eligible. 

If my organization was eligible (or ineligible) for Community Accelerator Grant funding in the past, will my organization be eligible (or ineligible) again in 2026? 

• All organizations, including new applicants and previous applicants, will be reviewed for eligibility in 2026. Organizations that were not eligible in the past may be eligible in 2026, depending on circumstance. Eligibility in previous cycles does not guarantee eligibility in 2026, especially as the budgetary requirements have shifted. 

Are current or former ArtsFund grantees eligible to apply? Are ArtsFund grantees more likely to be funded by this grant? 

• Current or former ArtsFund grantees are eligible to apply, provided they meet the other eligibility requirements. Status as a current or former ArtsFund grantee will not impact how likely your organization is to receive funding. Current or former ArtsFund grantees are not guaranteed funding through this program.  

Are cultural organizations eligible to apply? 

• Cultural organizations are eligible to apply, provided that their work contains a significant artistic component. In seeking to identify a significant artistic component, the grant review team looks for sustained, meaningful work in at least one of the following disciplines: dance, film and media; literary arts; music; musical theatre; opera; theatre; visual arts; or arts service. This artistic component must be central to an organization’s ongoing programming.  

• If you are unsure whether your organization meets this eligibility requirement, please feel free to reach out to accelerator@artsfund.org and our team will do our best to provide clarity. Applicants will be reviewed for eligibility upon receipt of a complete application, so please note that staff cannot provide advance eligibility determinations. 

What information is requested in the application?

• All applicants must first complete the Simple Profile in the application portal. Application forms will only become available after you complete this form. If you have applied for another ArtsFund grant this year, you will already have a Simple Profile saved in the grant portal, assuming you are using the same email address.

The application has four sections:

• A General Information Form
• A Financial Information Form
• A Programs and Demographics Form
• An Automated Clearing House (ACH) Request Form

Are there any narrative questions in the application?

• There are no required narrative questions in this application. Some forms contain optional comment boxes that allow you to provide context or clarification if needed; comments are not scored.

Financial Information Form

In the organizational information chart, organizations are asked to input FY2023, FY2024, and FY2025 financial data. Are these actuals or budgets? 

• Please use actuals for all fiscal periods. 

What is the distinction between earned revenue and contributed revenue? 

• Earned revenue is defined as funding received in direct exchange for goods, programs, or services; this includes fees paid for programming, contract income, ticket sales, concessions, membership dues, and gift shop items. Contributed income is defined as funding received not in direct exchange for goods, programs, or services; this includes grant funding, individual donations, government funding, foundation support, and sponsorships. 

For the Financial Information Form, what is ArtsFund’s definition of “personnel”? 

• Personnel expenses are only those related to costs associated with payroll; these include salaries, wages, payroll insurance, and employee benefits. Stipends and contracted services do not fall under personnel expenses. If your organization has no staff on payroll, please enter 0. Please note that we are using a more expansive definition of “staff” on the Programs and Demographics Form and encourage applicants to review the relevant section of the FAQ in completing that form. 

Why is “personnel expenses” its own line separate from operating expenses?   

• We ask for this number on its own for research and advocacy purposes. Personnel expenses should be included in your operating expenses line (if applicable).   

Why does the application ask how we intend to use funding? 

• This question is intended to help us better understand the needs of organizations in Washington’s arts and culture sector. We ask for this information for research and advocacy purposes. This response will not be used to calculate your award.  

My organization files a 990-N. Can I upload this document to the financial information form?  

• We cannot accept Form 990-Ns (e-Postcards); we can only accept Form 990s or 990-EZs. If your organization files a Form 990-N, due to gross receipts under $50,000, please instead upload financial documents (including an income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flow) from your most recently completed fiscal year.  

What do you mean by “centering” the voices of people who identify as BIPOC, as LGBTQ+, and as people with disabilities?  

• We use the word “centering” rather than “including” to indicate a deeper level of engagement. “Centering” indicates that the voices of certain populations are not just included or invited to participate in an organization’s programming but are the focus of an organization’s work. People from centered populations are telling their own stories and programming is intended to be culturally relevant to their experiences.  

For the purposes of the Programs and Demographics Form, what is the definition of staff?  

• For organizations with two or more paid staff: include only staff on payroll (those who are paid by wages or salaries, not by stipends or contract income). 

• For organizations with 0-1 staff members on payroll:  

• If your organization is primarily run by contractors or staff paid via a stipend, please fill this form out on behalf of your core group of contract staff.  

• If your organization is primarily volunteer-run, please fill this form out on behalf of your core group of volunteers. Please include only volunteers who have leadership, administrative, or program coordination roles and hold a meaningful level of responsibility to manage the organization or group. Some examples of meaningful volunteer positions might include a director or program coordinator. 

Do we need to complete the Programs and Demographics Form? If I don’t want to provide information for my board or staff, can I just use “do not know/prefer not to answer/not applicable” for all board/staff members? 

• We ask for demographic data in part to help us identify organizations whose staff and board contain significant representation from one or more of the following centered populations: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; people with disabilities; and LGBTQ+ people. 

• Applicants are encouraged to answer as completely as they can for their organization’s staff or core group of volunteers (if applicable). If desired, you may choose not to include any demographic information by selecting “do not know/prefer not to answer” for staff or core volunteers (if applicable). 

• Even if you do not have complete data, we encourage you to fill out these forms with as much information as you have and use the “do not know/prefer not to answer” option as needed.  

What if my organization does not have a board or governing body? 

• In the application, select “No” to the question “Does your organization have a board or governing body?” Applicants who select “No” to this question will not be prompted to provide board demographic information. 

What if I feel the racial identities included on the demographics form do not reflect that of my organization’s staff and/or board?  

• We understand that racial identities are complex, deeply personal, and intersecting. If more than one identity applies, we encourage you to select “two or more races.” If an identity is not represented, we suggest you select “some other race alone.” We encourage you to share further clarification in the comment box provided, if desired.  

How will the demographic data I share in this form be used and stored?  

• ArtsFund understands that collecting demographic data from your staff and board can present both logistical and personal challenges, especially if your organization is composed of and/or centers members of marginalized communities. To that end, we are sharing more information about why we ask for this data, how it’s used, and how it’s stored. Please click here to view our Demographic Data Use Statement.

What information and documentation do I need from my fiscal sponsor to complete my application? 

• A signed letter of agreement between you and your fiscal sponsor. Please note that all fiscal sponsorship agreements must be signed by both parties (sponsor and sponsee), must be current, and must include the assurance that the fiscal sponsor will provide oversight of funds.   

• Fiscal Sponsor EIN 

• Fiscal Sponsor Mailing Address 

• A contact at your fiscal sponsor organization  

• Fiscal Sponsor’s banking information to complete ACH Payment Form. Please reference the application preview for more information.   

Does my fiscal sponsor organization have to be based in Washington? 

• No, your organization may be fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization that is based in another part of the US.  

Does my fiscal sponsor organization have to meet other eligibility requirements?  

• Fiscal sponsor organizations must be 501(c)(3) public charities. All additional eligibility requirements are applicable to your organization, not your fiscal sponsor.  

What is fiscal sponsorship?  

• Fiscal sponsorship is an arrangement between a 501(c)(3) public charity and another entity or project in which the charity 501(c)(3) receives and provides funds to advance the entity or project, while retaining discretion and control over the funds.  

Can ArtsFund help me secure a fiscal sponsor? 

• No, ArtsFund staff cannot assist individual applicants in securing fiscal sponsorship.  

Can my 501c3 organization act as a fiscal sponsor for another organization and apply for a Community Accelerator Grant as well? 

• Yes, 501(c)(3) organizations can apply for the Community Accelerator Grant for their own organization and can separately act as the fiscal sponsor for one or more organizations without their own 501(c)(3) status who also wish to apply. Applications for fiscal sponsor organizations and their fiscal sponsees will be evaluated separately.

ACH Form

Can my organization wait to submit our banking information (or that of our fiscal sponsor) until we receive confirmation that we have received an award? 

• In the interest of getting this funding out into the community as soon as possible, ArtsFund requires this information as part of the initial application. Applications submitted without banking information or with erroneous banking information will be considered incomplete. Your organization’s financial information will be stored securely and will not be disseminated.  

When will the application be available?

• The application link will be posted on the Community Accelerator Grant web page at 12:00 noon on July 15. The deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m. on August 21.

Is the application deadline flexible?

• No. We are unable to accept late applications.

Do I have to complete my application in one sitting? Can someone else from my organization help me fill it out? 

• You can make changes to your application anytime during the application window (12:00 p.m. on July 15 to 5:00 p.m. on August 21).  Only one person from each organization can create login credentials, which can be shared. 

How will I be able to tell if my application has been successfully submitted? 

• If you have submitted your application, you will see a confirmation screen with the word “Submitted” in the upper right-hand corner. You will also receive an automatic confirmation email from noreply@artsfund.org. If you are unsure whether or not your application was submitted, please email accelerator@artsfund.org for confirmation.  

What if I realize I made an error on my application after I submit it? Will I be able to correct it?   

• After the application is submitted, it is no longer editable. If you need to make corrections before the application deadline, please reach out to accelerator@artsfund.org or call (206) 788-3051. 

If I need additional technical assistance with my application, who do I contact?   

• You can contact staff at ArtsFund: email accelerator@artsfund.org or call 
(206) 788-3051 for additional assistance.  

• A public information webinar will be hosted on July 8th at 12:00 p.m. ASL interpretation, ASR captions in 30 languages, and visual descriptions will be provided. A recording will be available after the session. 

How long will the application take to complete?  

• We estimate that it will take first-time applicants between 3 and 10 hours to complete this grant application: 2-7 hours to gather application materials and 1-3 hours to complete the application itself.  

How do I view a copy of my organization’s previous Community Accelerator Grant application(s)?  

• You can view past Community Accelerator Grant applications by visiting the relevant grant portal and logging into the account used to submit your organization’s application. Please note that these portals are available only for reference; you will need to submit all information separately for your 2026 application via the 2026 grant portal. If you do not have access to the account used in prior years, you can email accelerator@artsfund.org to request PDF copies of your prior application(s).   

• The 2023 Community Accelerator Grant portal is available here.
• The 2024 Community Accelerator Grant portal is available here.
• The 2025 Community Accelerator Grant portal is available here. 

How can I save a copy of my organization’s 2026 Community Accelerator Grant application? 

• You can either copy your work into an external document before you submit your application or reach out to accelerator@artsfund.org to request a PDF copy of your application once it has been submitted.  

What happens after I submit my application?  

• ArtsFund’s Grantmaking Team will review all applications for eligibility. If necessary, ArtsFund staff may reach out to request clarification to better determine your organization’s eligibility for funding.  

When will funding decisions be made?  

• Organizations will be notified of their award status by December 1, 2026. Funds will be disbursed via ACH payment by December 31, 2026. 

Evaluation Criteria 

Who determines grant awards? 

• Grant award determinations are informed by a Community Advisory Panel that represents the geographic and demographic diversity of Washington State. The panel will work to ensure decision-making is as close to impacted communities as possible. You can learn more about members of the 2026 Community Advisory Panel on our website. 

There is a wide range between $2,500 and $25,000 for the award. How will you determine who gets how much? 

• Applications will be scored based on a set of criteria determined by the Community Advisory Panel. Evaluation criteria are designed to prioritize funding for organizations that center BIPOC, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and rural populations. 

If Awarded 

Will I have to report that the funding was used in the way reported in the application? Will my organization be penalized if we use the funding for a different area?  

• No reporting will be required for this grant. Grants are unrestricted, and recipient organizations may use the grant dollars as they see fit.  

Are there any restrictions on how funds can be spent? 

• Yes. While funds are granted as unrestricted general operating support, and organizations should feel empowered to direct grant dollars as they see fit, the following expenses are not permitted:  

• Services and/or assistance that require participation in any religious workshop, exercise, or instruction as a condition of receiving assistance, religious workshops, exercise, or instruction.  

• Personal non-business expenses (i.e., home mortgage, personal utilities, and expenses).  

• Any illegal activities. 

• In addition to the above, any activities that are prohibited under IRS code 501(c)(3) are not permissible. 

If my organization receives an award, can we “regrant” funds to another organization or organizations?  

• Because these funds are unrestricted, ArtsFund does not retain control of funds once they are released. Your organization may grant funds to another beneficiary if desired; however, please note that it is your organization’s responsibility to ensure that funds are used for charitable purposes in alignment with this grant’s intent.