Arrowhead Regional Arts Council
Based in Duluth, Minnesota, Arrowhead Regional Arts Council is a Form 990 (a public charity) that supports arts development through grants and arts services. Its service area includes seven northeastern Minnesota counties and five Tribal Nations, and it serves individual artists, arts organizations, informal arts groups, community education organizations, and some non-arts nonprofits.
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council at a glance
In short: Arrowhead Regional Arts Council gave $215K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in Minnesota. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $215,000
- +21.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- -6.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,357
- +29.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $17,500
- Total assets
- $407,157
- -14.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (4 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Arrowhead Regional Arts Council
- How to Apply
-
The council’s 2024 filing says staff screen applications for eligibility and a panel of board and community members reviews and scores them. Applicants funded through that process must follow the grant agreement and submit a final report. The listed programs have different eligibility criteria and application periods.
- Contact
Mailing address: 506 W Michigan St, Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 722-0952
Website: https://aracouncil.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
15 open opportunities from Arrowhead Regional Arts Council
ARAC Art Project Grant for Individuals
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council
Amount
Up to $4K
Deadline
Deadline not published
ARAC Art Project Grant for Organizations
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council
Amount
Up to $5K
Deadline
Deadline not published
ARAC Artist Equity Grant for Individuals
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council
Amount
Up to $4K
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Arrowhead Regional Arts Council funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Third Coast Chamber Collective ($20K). Together the top 10 received $179K.
Grant Size Distribution
87 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 87 grants of 87 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The council’s stated service area comprises Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis counties, as well as Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. The 2025 filing data show that all reported grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Arrowhead Regional Arts Council open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 14 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $12K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $147K (2019) to $313K (2022). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $215K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Third Coast Chamber Collective Grand Rapids, MN | Operating Grant | $20,000 |
| ELY Folk School ELY, MN | Operating Support | $20,000 |
| Itasca Orchestra and String Program Grand Rapids, MN | Operating Support | $20,000 |
| Northern Lakes Arts Association ELY, MN | Operating Support | $20,000 |
| Nordic Center Duluth, MN | Operating Support + | $20,000 |
| Matinee Musicale Duluth, MN | Operating Support + | $20,000 |
| Borealis Chamber Artists Duluth, MN | Operating Support + | $20,000 |
| Armory Arts and Music Center Duluth, MN | Operating Support GR | $15,000 |
| Lake Superior Writers Duluth, MN | Operating Support GR | $13,000 |
| County Seat Theater of Carlton Cloquet, MN | Operating Support | $11,360 |
Ready to take the next step with Arrowhead Regional Arts Council?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The council’s 2024 filing states that it was formed in 1979.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $407,157 | $1,277,486 | $1,352,340 | $215,000 | 14 | $26,716 |
| 2024 | $478,005 | $1,418,797 | $1,204,183 | $177,300 | 15 | $-39,759 |
| 2023 | $303,252 | $1,208,705 | $1,099,420 | $207,528 | 19 | $1,276 |
| 2022 | $356,908 | $1,353,652 | $1,265,113 | $312,940 | 24 | $68 |
| 2021 | $446,160 | $773,386 | $781,309 | $164,593 | 15 | $2 |
| 2020 | $233,644 | $945,840 | $1,017,770 | $230,066 | 22 | $3,893 |
| 2019 | $189,729 | $933,993 | $875,072 | $147,253 | 14 | $2,237 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The council’s website states its mission is to create a healthy art and cultural ecosystem by supporting artistic professional development and equitable access for arts organizations and individuals. Its 2024 filing describes its mission as facilitating and encouraging local arts development, based on the belief that the arts improve quality of life in the region.
Its programs include operating and art-project grants for organizations, project and equity grants for individual artists, and emergency relief for artists. The council also reports providing arts services and development, workshops and training, and arts advocacy and promotion.
The grantees’ own mission statements illustrate the range of organizations supported. Ely Folk School describes its work as building community through learning experiences celebrating northern Minnesota’s wilderness heritage, art, history, culture, and craft. Itasca Orchestra & Strings Program says it provides opportunities to hear, learn, and perform orchestral music for youth and adults in Itasca County. Armory Arts and Music Center describes its mission as preserving the Duluth Armory and its historic value while encouraging its reuse, with an emphasis on arts and education. Other 2025 recipients included Spirit of the Lake Community Arts, which says it serves its community and artists, craftspeople, and educators through arts and culture, and Duluth Children’s Museum, whose mission is to engage children in hands-on learning through creative play and interactive exhibits.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the council reported 14 grants totaling $215,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,640 to $20,000, with a median of $17,500. In its 2024 filing, it reported 123 grants totaling $609,504 to individuals and organizations; the filing says applications are screened for eligibility by staff, then reviewed and scored by a panel of board and community members. Funded applicants must comply with their grant agreements and submit a final report describing how the money was spent. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 14 grants totaling $215,000.
Notable 2025 awards included $20,000 each to Ely Folk School, Itasca Orchestra and Strings Program, Third Coast Chamber Collective, Northern Lakes Arts Association, Nordic Center, Matinee Musicale, and Borealis Chamber Artists. Other reported awards included $15,000 to Armory Arts and Music Center, $13,000 to Lake Superior Writers, $11,360 to County Seat Theater of Carlton, $10,000 to Mesabi Symphony Orchestra, and $10,000 to Duluth Children’s Museum.
The website lists an Operating Support Grant of up to $15,000 for organizations, with an optional accessibility opportunity of up to $2,000, and an organization Art Project Grant of up to $5,000. For individual artists, it lists Artist Equity Grants of up to $4,000 and Art Project Grants of up to $4,000. The listed 2026 organization and individual grant deadlines of March 15 and September 13 are past or upcoming as of October 2, 2026, respectively. The website lists the Artist Emergency Relief Fund as open, with applications due November 1, 2026; it offers $500 or $1,000 to artists facing specified critical needs related to healthcare, housing, equipment, or legal emergencies since July 1, 2025. A separate small-grant program for individuals was under review as of April 2026, with its second round cancelled due to budgetary constraints.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Sam Zimmerman as chair, Liz Engelman as vice chair, Veronica Veaux as secretary, and Janie Heitz as treasurer. Other listed board members are Nik Allen, Khayman Goodsky, Peggy Kelly, Adam Swanson, Jayne Richards, and Jennifer Martineau. The council’s website identifies Rebecca Graves as executive director, Toni St Godard as grants and operations coordinator, Cheyenne DeMenge as outreach and accessibility coordinator, Erin Turner as director of operations, and Moira (Miri) Villiard as grant program associate.
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council is led by Sam Zimmerman, Chair since 2025 (on filings since 2022); 1 of 14 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sam Zimmerman
Chair
Board Secretary → Board Vice C, 2024
Board Vice C → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Graves
Executive Di
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$94K (2024) → $110K (2025)
Liz Engelman
Vice Chair
Board Member → Board Secretary, 2024
Board Secretary → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janie Heitz
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Khayman Goodsky
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nik Allen
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peggy Kelly
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Veronica Veaux
Secertary
Board Member → Secertary, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adam Swanson
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jayne Richards
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Martineau
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Schamberger
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mataya Larson
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rita Fortunato-Sterling
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (21)
- Former: Emily Swanson (2019–2024) — Board Treasurer
- Former: Kathy Neff (2019–2024) — Board Chair
- Former: Kris Nelson (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Roxann Berglund (2021–2023) — Board Vice C
- Former: Erin Cain (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Jessica Peterson (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: William Bill Payne (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Becca Graves (2023) — Executive Di
- Former: Drew Digby (2019–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Erik Takeshita (2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Ron Piercy (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Tammy Mattonen (2019–2021) — Board Treasurer
- Former: Tara Makinen (2019–2021) — Board Chair
- Former: Bill Payne (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Daniel Oyinloye (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Amber Burns (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Ariana Daniel (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Christina Nohre (2019–2020) — Board Vice Chair
- Former: Kayla Aubid (2019–2020) — Board Chair
- Former: Margaret Holmes (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Moira Villiard (2019) — Board Vice Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $110K, to Rebecca Graves (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about Arrowhead Regional Arts Council
How much does Arrowhead Regional Arts Council give each year?
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council gave $215K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $177K across 15 grants.
What is Arrowhead Regional Arts Council's typical grant size?
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council's median grant in 2025 was $17,500, and its average grant was $15,357, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Arrowhead Regional Arts Council that year got $13K on average.
Where does Arrowhead Regional Arts Council give grants?
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Duluth, MN (8 grants), Grand Rapids, MN (2 grants) and ELY, MN (2 grants).
Does Arrowhead Regional Arts Council give general operating support?
Yes: 86% of Arrowhead Regional Arts Council's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Arrowhead Regional Arts Council's largest grantees?
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council's largest 2025 grantees include Third Coast Chamber Collective ($20,000), ELY Folk School ($20,000) and Itasca Orchestra and String Program ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Arrowhead Regional Arts Council?
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council reported $407K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.3M.
What does Arrowhead Regional Arts Council fund?
The council’s website states its mission is to create a healthy art and cultural ecosystem by supporting artistic professional development and equitable access for arts organizations and individuals. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Arrowhead Regional Arts Council?
The council’s 2024 filing says staff screen applications for eligibility and a panel of board and community members reviews and scores them. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Arrowhead Regional Arts Council's EIN?
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1358639. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Arrowhead Regional Arts Council funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Arrowhead Regional Arts Council's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Arrowhead Regional Arts Council funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/arrowhead-regional-arts-council-morg_82ceee785434441ab9fdeaff0ff09ebf
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411358639_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Arrowhead Regional Arts Council funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/arrowhead-regional-arts-council-morg_82ceee785434441ab9fdeaff0ff09ebf},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Arrowhead Regional Arts Council's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council down — hundreds of funders to go?