Performing Arts Grants for Nonprofits

GrantStation’s exclusive database features 559 active funding opportunities giving towards this area of interest, all accepting requests from new grantseekers!

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Howard Gilman Foundation

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Application Deadline:

Interest forms: May 20, 2026
Invited applications: July 29, 2026
 

Grant Range:
$250 - $750000
Average Grant:
$70901

The mission of the Howard Gilman Foundation is to support the most robust, innovative, and promising performing arts organizations in New York City.

The Foundation supports three…

Seawell Elam Foundation

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Application Deadline:
  • Proposal letters: May 22, 2026
  • Grant applications: September 25, 2026
Grant Range:
$10000 - $15000
Average Grant:
$11833

The mission of the Seawell Elam Foundation is to improve the quality of life for those living in Austin, TX, and the surrounding communities by funding nonprofit organizations that …

Art and Culture Collective of Northern Sonoma County

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Application Deadline:

May 24, 2026

The Art and Culture Collective of Northern Sonoma County, with funding from the William and Flora Hewlett…

Collective Futures Fund

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Application Deadline:

May 27, 2026

The Collective Futures Fund, administered by Tufts University Art Galleries as part of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts’ Regional Regranting Program, supports collaborative, public-…

Spirit Mountain Community Fund

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Application Deadline:

Small Grants
Letters of inquiry: September 3 and December 5, 2025, and March 6, 2026
Applications: August 12 and November 3, 2025, and January 30 and May 1, 2026

Large Grants
Letters of inquiry: October 1, 2025, and January 5 and April 3, 2026
Applications: August 27 and December 1, 2025, and February 27 and May 29, 2026

Tribal Grants
Letters of inquiry: June 2, 2025
Applications: August 18, 2025

Deadlines will be added when a new funding opportunity is announced.

Grant Range:
$2500 - $100000

The Spirit Mountain Community Fund, funded by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, provides support for the health, education, and social needs of Oregonians, primarily those in underserved…

BC Live Performance Network

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Application Deadline:

May 29, 2026

BC Live Performance Network, formerly the BC Touring Council (BCTC), seeks to provide an inclusive environment for performing arts organizations and individuals to support the growth of…

Conseil Culturel Fransaskois (Fransaskois Cultural Council)

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Application Deadline:

May 30 and November 30, annually

The Conseil Culturel Fransaskois (Fransaskois Cultural Council) aims to develop programs, policies, and activities that allow the Fransaskois community in Saskatchewan to achieve its cultural and…

SüdKulturFonds

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Application Deadline:
  • Applications for under CHF 3,000: none
  • Applications of CHF 3,000 to 30,000: February 1, annually
  • Applications for film-related projects: February 1, May 31, and  November 15, annually

SüdKulturFonds, financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and administrated by artlink, supports productions and events in Switzerland featuring artists from…

The performing arts have a uniquely important role within our communities. Not only do they expose us to an essential human heritage, but they bring us together at the same time, in a unique space. Theatre, music and dance programs can help provide education and engagement for youth, and entertainment for their communities. However, these kinds of arts initiatives often require a significant amount of support from nonprofits to operate.

These nonprofits, in turn, can only do their work through the generous funding provided by performing arts grants. These grants provide the necessary money to allow for payment of artists, renting of spaces and covering the costs of productions, set, costumes, marketing and outreach. The grants can also be used for educational purposes, bringing knowledge about the performing arts into schools and youth centers.

These grants can come from a wide variety of sources. Sometimes they will be from federal agencies, such as the National Endowment for the Arts. There are also many private foundations that specialist in performing arts grants, such as the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. It’s not uncommon to find corporate sponsorship programs and community culture organizations also providing performing arts grants.

When preparing a proposal for a performing arts grant, it's important to balance the pragmatic, with the idealistic. On one hand, you want to talk about the important cultural and community benefits from a well-supported performing acts scene. But you also want to demonstrate the data that shows that you can expect the audience engagement and ticket  sales to maintain that arts scene into the future. If you can show examples of the work your nonprofit has done before, that’s even better.

If you need more pointers on how to write award winning grants, make sure to check out our excellent overview on the topic. You can also start browsing a wide selection of performing arts grants above, all open for applications.