Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc
Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant, based in Fort Worth, Texas, is a public charity that funds local arts organizations and supports arts activity in the community. Formed in 1963 as the Arts Council of Fort Worth, it now operates as Arts Fort Worth.
Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc at a glance
In short: Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc gave $898K across 39 grants in 2025 (avg $23K), mostly in Texas. 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $898,354
- -0.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 39
- +21.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $23,035
- -18.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $21,125
- Total assets
- $929,231
- -26.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (5 of 39, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 470121, Fort Worth, TX 76147
Phone: (817) 738-1938
Website: https://artsfortworth.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra ($45K). Together the top 10 received $392K.
Grant Size Distribution
150 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 132 grants of 150 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to Texas recipients. The website describes the Community Impact Funds as supporting local arts organizations and programming in Fort Worth.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 39 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 39 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $25K. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $29K repeat.
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−2%). Method
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 $898K (2025) to $964K (2020). In 2025 it made 39 grants totaling $898K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Fort Worth, TX | Operating Support/Outreach | $45,435 |
| Van Cliburn Foundation Fort Worth, TX | Operating Support | $44,430 |
| Texas Ballet Theatre Fort Worth, TX | Operating Support | $41,794 |
| Stage West Theatre Fort Worth, TX | Deia Capacity Building | $40,820 |
| Modern Art Museum of FW Fort Worth, TX | Operating Support | $37,683 |
| Amphibian Stage Productions Fort Worth, TX | Operating Support | $37,614 |
| The Art Station Fort Worth, TX | Operating Support | $36,815 |
| Fort Worth Opera Fort Worth, TX | Operating Support/Outreach | $36,418 |
| Performing Arts Fort Worth Fort Worth, TX | Operating Support | $35,346 |
| Amon Carter Museum Fort Worth, TX | Operating Support | $35,234 |
Ready to take the next step with Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $929,231 | $1,974,889 | $2,251,649 | $898,354 | 39 | $7,104 |
| 2024 | $1,261,721 | $1,917,084 | $2,149,983 | $899,500 | 32 | $6,945 |
| 2023 | $1,428,583 | $1,923,982 | $2,127,212 | $923,830 | 29 | $12,233 |
| 2022 | $1,548,812 | $2,120,732 | $2,307,757 | $919,250 | 26 | $15,923 |
| 2021 | $1,811,616 | $2,299,736 | $2,225,373 | $917,835 | 24 | $31,661 |
| 2020 | $1,731,618 | $2,121,480 | $2,044,567 | $964,344 | 25 | $8,414 |
| 2019 | $1,621,995 | $2,251,841 | $1,952,153 | $902,911 | 31 | $11,221 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states its mission is “to create an environment that promotes, nurtures, and supports the arts in our community.” Its website describes grantmaking goals that include increasing access and participation, celebrating community diversity through inclusive artistic expression, strengthening arts organizations’ capacity, and promoting tourism and economic growth in Fort Worth.
Its listed grantees include organizations with varied arts missions. For example, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra describes its work as performing symphonic music and providing music education; Stage West Theatre says it serves the Greater Fort Worth community with theatre and other live events; and The Art Station describes using art-making to support clients’ personal growth and well-being.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the organization gave 39 grants totaling $898,354. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $45,435, with a median of $21,125. The largest listed awards included $45,435 to Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra for operating support/outreach; $44,430 to Van Cliburn Foundation for operating support; $41,794 to Texas Ballet Theatre for operating support; and $40,820 to Stage West Theatre for DEIA capacity building.
The organization’s Community Impact Funds provide unrestricted support to established nonprofit arts organizations for general operations, administration, and programming. The application combines operating and outreach project support. Applicants may also describe projects offering admission-free arts experiences for underserved participants in accessible venues; organizations that complete this optional portion may be eligible for additional unrestricted funding. The website says the 2026 application is available through its application process and refers applicants to the 2026–2027 guidelines. The guidelines also identify a mandatory applicant orientation.
The Fort Worth Tourism PID Cultural Initiative Grant supports marketing and promotion for arts and cultural initiatives intended to attract overnight visitors to Fort Worth. Its FY26 cycle ran from June 1 to August 1, 2025, and is past. That cycle required applicants to be eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits with an arts or cultural programming mission; funds were restricted to marketing and promotion, with additional visitor-attraction and hotel-night requirements.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Wesley Gentle as Executive Director; Megan Henderson as Chair; Estrus Tucker as Vice Chair; and Katherine Smith as Secretary. Directors listed are Tanisia Castillo-Queppet, Steve Gordon, Dennis Chiessa, Whitney McLean, Steve Montgomery, and Lauren East.
Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc is led by Wesley Gentle, Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 21 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Wesley Gentle
Executive Director
Director of Advancement → Int. President, 2021
Int. President → Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
39 hrs/week
$77K (2020) → $119K (2025)
Megan Henderson
Chair
Director → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dusty Lewis
Director
Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert L. Jameson
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren East
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Powers Miller
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tanisia Castillo-Queppet
Director
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Blake Moorman
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Glenda Thompson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Sangsvang
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Gordon
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Whitney McLean
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dawn Taft
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shanna Saldana
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Montgomery
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dennis Chiessa
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Saba
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wesley Kirk
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Grant Summers
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Smith
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Estrus Tucker
Vice Chair
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (23)
- Former: Carter Shackelford (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Marla Owen (2019–2024) — Center Director
- Former: Martha Peters (2019–2024) — Director Public Art
- Former: Sabrina Romero-Wilson (2024) — Director
- Former: Alysa Dennett (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Dale W. Brock (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Jared Sloan (2019–2023) — Imm Past Chair
- Former: karen wiley (2019–2022) — President · Filing note: Thru 62022
- Former: Maddie Lesnick (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Michelle Sanchez-Soriano (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Nick Nelson (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Ty Stimpson (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Lauren Cross (2022) — Director
- Former: Shirley Pace (2022) — Director
- Former: Donald Perfect (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Lisa Culos (2019–2021) — Vice Chairman
- Former: Sasha Comacho Bass (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Scott Wheatley (2019–2021) — Past Chairman
- Former: Todd Breeding (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Tyler Grant (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Sherri Campbell (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Casler Price (2020) — Ex-Officio
- Former: Robert Lee (2019) — Ex-Officio
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 $119K, to Wesley Gentle (Executive Dir.).
Frequently asked questions about Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc
How much does Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc give each year?
Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc gave $898K across 39 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $900K across 32 grants.
What is Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc's typical grant size?
Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc's median grant in 2025 was $21,125, and its average grant was $23,035, across 39 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc that year got $9K on average.
Where does Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc give grants?
Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Worth, TX (38 grants).
Does Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 97% of Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (38 of 39) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc's largest grantees?
Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra ($45,435), Van Cliburn Foundation ($44,430) and Texas Ballet Theatre ($41,794), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc?
Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc reported $929K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.0M.
What does Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc fund?
The organization states its mission is “to create an environment that promotes, nurtures, and supports the arts in our community.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc?
Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check artsfortworth.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc's EIN?
Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-1158515. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 17, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 14, 2024)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/arts-council-of-fort-worth-and-tarrant-county-inc-morg_3e2dfe5a301b4b4c8549df9909825665
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_751158515_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/arts-council-of-fort-worth-and-tarrant-county-inc-morg_3e2dfe5a301b4b4c8549df9909825665},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Inc'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.
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