Arts Council of Fairfax County Inc
The Arts Council of Fairfax County, operating as ArtsFairfax, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering dynamic and diverse local arts in Fairfax County, Virginia. Founded in 1964 and granted tax-exempt status in February 1966, the organization serves as the voice of the arts in the region. ArtsFairfax employs 13 staff members and operates from its headquarters at 2667 Prosperity Ave, Suite A, Fairfax, VA 22031.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.4M
+178.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$718K
-6.6% YoY
Grant Count
33
+3.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$22K
-9.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
ArtsFairfax is dedicated to expanding support for and access to arts and culture opportunities for all of Fairfax County. The organization provides vision, leadership, capacity building services, advocacy, funding, education, and information to the arts community.
The organization operates across three primary program areas:
Grants Program — ArtsFairfax awards grants in various categories, including general operating support, project grants, artist grants, and awards and scholarships to arts organizations and artists located in Fairfax County.
Service Programs — The organization provides capacity building programs to the arts community through educational workshops and offers arts services such as staffing and coordination of county-wide master arts planning for arts facility infrastructure and public art. ArtsFairfax also administers an artist residency program in Fairfax County public schools.
Communication & Information Services — ArtsFairfax provides informational services to the arts community through its website, newsletters, resource information, and events listings, while promoting all arts activities in Fairfax to the general public. The organization also conducts surveys to support arts planning and advocacy.
Grantmaking
ArtsFairfax awarded 56 grants to arts organizations and artists located in Fairfax County in its most recent reporting period. The organization distributed $845,500 in total giving according to its most recent Form 990 filing.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ArtsFairfax focuses exclusively on Fairfax County, Virginia, providing grants, services, and support to arts organizations and individual artists located within the county.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024 (ending June 30):
- Total Revenue: $1,828,423
- Total Expenses: $1,822,701
- Total Assets: $869,537
- Total Liabilities: $398,000
- Total Giving: $845,500
The organization is funded in part by Fairfax County, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as by corporations, foundations, and individual donors.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,422,438 | $869,537 | $800,308 |
| Revenue | $1,834,754 | $1,828,423 | $1,634,007 |
| Expenses | $1,782,056 | $1,822,701 | $1,669,073 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $27,231 | $30,481 | $7,352 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
148 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Arts Council of Fairfax County Inc
Operating Support Grants
ARTS COUNCIL OF FAIRFAX COUNTY INC
Amount
$591,900 total awarded (FY25)
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Project Support Grants
ARTS COUNCIL OF FAIRFAX COUNTY INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ticket & Participation Subsidy Grant
ARTS COUNCIL OF FAIRFAX COUNTY INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Nextstop Theatre Company ($66,080), Mclean Project for the Arts (mpa) ($61,212), 1st Stage ($55,539).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1ST STAGE TYSONS, VA | OPERATING SUPPORT,PROJECT SUPPORT,TICKET SUBSIDY AND PARTICIPATION GRANT | $55,539 |
| AMERICAN YOUTH PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRAS ANNANDALE, VA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $36,046 |
| ARTISTS IN MOTION HERNDON, VA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $13,549 |
| BALLETNOVA CENTER FOR DANCE FALLS CHURCH, VA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $37,198 |
| CAPPIES OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL AREA FAIRFAX, VA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $6,835 |
| CITY OF FAIRFAX BAND ASSOCIATION INC FAIRFAX, VA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $18,743 |
| CITY OF FAIRFAX THEATRE COMPANY FAIRFAX, VA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $6,277 |
| COMMUNITY ART FOR EVERYONE FAIRFAX, VA | PROJECT SUPPORT | $5,050 |
| CREATIVE CAULDRON FALLS CHURCH, VA | OPERATING SUPPORT,TICKET SUBSIDY AND PARTICIPATION GRANT | $46,056 |
| FAIRFAX SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MERRIFIELD, VA | OPERATING SUPPORT,TICKET SUBSIDY AND PARTICIPATION GRANT | $26,974 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Stuart Holt — President & CEO
Debbie Mueller — Director of Development (contact: 571-395-4619)
Julie Carter — Vice Chairman
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTT CRYER | CHAIR | 0.5 | — |
| MICHAEL LIBERMAN | VICE-CHAIR | 0.5 | — |
| JULIE D CARTER | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
| AMY GINN | TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| BARRY BIGGAR | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CATHERINE SMITTY SMITH | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| DR MAURICE MO B SPRINGER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| EILEEN FILLER-CORN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| ELIZABETH MURPHY | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| GREG RIEGLE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JOESPH FUNDERBURKE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| LEILA GORDON | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| LORI BROWN-SIMMONS | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| LYNN TADLOCK | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| MATTHEW MATT POTEETE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| PAT MACINTYRE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| PEGGY FOX | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| PHILLIP NIEDZIELSKI-EICHNER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| RAEA JEAN LEINSTER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| RICK DAVIS | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| SEAN SHARIFI | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| MICHELE SHELLY HAZEL | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| SKIP CHAPLES | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| TIM SARGEANT | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| STUART HOLT | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $120,255 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In November 2024, ArtsFairfax announced Angelique Palmer as the 2024-2027 Fairfax County Poet Laureate. Palmer is a performance poet, kindergarten teacher, and spoken word instructor who was ranked fifth among women poets in the world in 2015 and currently ranks 19th among the top 96 performing poets globally.
ArtsFairfax Funds 13 Local Organizations Through Project Support Grants -In March 2026, Poet Laureate Palmer launched "Poetry &," a series of interactive public programs designed to fuse poetry with other art forms. The initiative partnered with Fava Pot in Tysons, Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen in McLean, and Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton throughout April for National Poetry Month.
ArtsFairfax's 2025 awards reached record high funds and attendance levels, reflecting growing community engagement with the organization's grantmaking and programming initiatives.
2025 ArtsFairfax Awards Reach Record High Funds & Attendance - ArtsFairfaxFrequently Asked Questions
What does Arts Council of Fairfax County Inc fund?
ArtsFairfax is dedicated to expanding support for and access to arts and culture opportunities for all of Fairfax County. The organization provides vision, leadership, capacity building services, advocacy, funding, education, and information to the arts community. The organization operates across three primary program areas: **Grants Program** — ArtsFairfax awards grants in various categories, including general operating support, project grants, artist grants, and awards and scholarships to art…
How do I apply for a grant from Arts Council of Fairfax County Inc?
ArtsFairfax awarded 56 grants to arts organizations and artists located in Fairfax County in its most recent reporting period. The organization distributed $845,500 in total giving according to its most recent Form 990 filing. Recent grant announcements indicate the organization awarded $160,000 in project support grants to 13 local arts organizations. The organization also administers the Fairfax County Poet Laureate program, which provides a distinguished appointment to support a local writer…
Where does Arts Council of Fairfax County Inc make grants?
ArtsFairfax focuses exclusively on Fairfax County, Virginia, providing grants, services, and support to arts organizations and individual artists located within the county.
What size grants does Arts Council of Fairfax County Inc award?
In 2025, Arts Council of Fairfax County Inc awarded 33 grants totaling $718K — an average of about $22K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Arts Council of Fairfax County Inc's EIN?
Arts Council of Fairfax County Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-0784570. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Arts Council of Fairfax County Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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