Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County
The Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County is a public charity based in Wilmington, North Carolina. It supports artists and arts organizations through grant programs and partnerships, including programs serving local arts organizations and artists in a five-county region.
Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County at a glance
In short: Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County gave $142K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in North Carolina. 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $142,000
- +11.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- -5.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,875
- +18.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $224,730
- -34.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (2 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (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 Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County
- How to Apply
-
The Arts Council’s website describes program-specific applications and eligibility requirements. For the 2026 Artist Support Grants cycle, applications were submitted online or by mail and had to include materials addressing artistic excellence, project feasibility, and the project’s contribution to the artist’s development. The application window has closed.
- Review Cycle
- The listed 2026 Artist Support Grants deadline was September 15, 2026; the 2026 Arts & Culture Grants cycle ran February 1–28, 2026; and the FY2026–2027 Grassroots Arts Program deadline was June 30, 2026. All have passed.
- Deadline
- The listed 2026 Artist Support Grants deadline was September 15, 2026; the 2026 Arts & Culture Grants cycle ran…
- Contact
Mailing address: 221 N Front Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: (910) 343-0998
Website: https://artswilmington.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County
Arts Community Development Grants (The Endowment)
Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County
Amount
$2,000 - $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Hello Arts!
Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County
Amount
Theater tickets (award amount not specified)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cucalorus Film Festival ($10K). Together the top 10 received $100K.
Grant Size Distribution
69 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 69 grants of 69 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Arts Council is based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Its Artist Support Grants have served artists in New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, Columbus, and Bladen counties. The 2026 Arts & Culture Grants and the listed Grassroots Arts Program grants were for eligible arts organizations in New Hanover County. The 2025 filing reports that all grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 16 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $10K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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 $50K (2020) to $185K (2021). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $142K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cucalorus Film Festival Wilmington, NC | Arts Support | $10,000 |
| Brooklyn Arts Academy Wilmington, NC | Arts Support | $10,000 |
| Dreams Center for Arts Education Wilmington, NC | Arts Support | $10,000 |
| Mouth of Babes Wilmington, NC | Arts Support | $10,000 |
| Cameron Art Museum Wilmington, NC | Arts Support | $10,000 |
| Opera House Theatre Company Wilmington, NC | Arts Support | $10,000 |
| Narrative Arts Wilmington, NC | Arts Support | $10,000 |
| Thalian Association Wilmington, NC | Arts Support | $10,000 |
| Thalian Hall Wilmington, NC | Arts Support | $10,000 |
| Wilmington Symphony Orchestra Wilmington, NC | Arts Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing narrative says the FY2025 net loss reflects grant funds received and recorded as revenue in FY2024 but distributed to grant recipients during FY2025.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $224,730 | $481,644 | $576,850 | $142,000 | 16 | — |
| 2024 | $344,646 | $684,517 | $543,235 | $127,150 | 17 | $1,532 |
| 2023 | — | $623,286 | $523,389 | $107,300 | 11 | — |
| 2022 | $94,530 | $489,048 | $485,209 | $182,450 | 11 | — |
| 2021 | $95,176 | $516,953 | $448,405 | $184,500 | 14 | — |
| 2020 | $29,304 | $202,983 | $205,430 | $50,000 | Total only | — |
| 2019 | $17,487 | $206,983 | $182,746 | $50,061 | Total only | — |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Arts Council’s website states its mission is to support artists and arts organizations through innovative public/private partnerships that support jobs, stimulate commerce, and showcase the region as an arts destination. Its stated core functions include promoting arts-driven economic development, contributing to quality of life, providing funding for the sustainability of artists and arts organizations, facilitating collaboration in the arts community, and advocating for the arts.
Its programs have included project grants for professional artists, grants to New Hanover County arts organizations, and Arts & Culture grants administered in partnership with The Endowment. The supported organizations’ missions illustrate the range of arts work represented: Narrative Arts says it builds community power through storytelling, journalism, dialogue, and cultural organizing; DREAMS of Wilmington says it provides equitable access to arts education for youth and teens; and Brooklyn Arts Music Academy says it provides accessible music education. The Cameron Art Museum describes its work as exhibitions, arts learning, public programs, and collection stewardship, while the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra describes its work as symphonic performances, musician opportunities, and youth education and outreach.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Arts Council reported 16 grants totaling $142,000. Awards ranged from $6,000 to $10,000, with a median of $10,000. The listed largest awards included $10,000 each to Cucalorus Film Festival, Brooklyn Arts Academy, Dreams Center for Arts Education, Mouth of Babes, Cameron Art Museum, Opera House Theatre Company, Narrative Arts, Thalian Association, Thalian Hall, and Wilmington Symphony Orchestra. Opera Wilmington and Panache Theatrical Productions each received $8,000.
The Arts Council’s website reported that it awarded more than $500,000 to local artists and arts organizations during fiscal year 2025–2026. This included $25,000 in Artist Support Grants, Grassroots Arts Program grants to New Hanover County arts organizations, and $430,000 in Arts & Culture grants to 43 organizations through its partnership with The Endowment.
The website’s 2026 Artist Support Grants cycle offered up to $1,000 for projects by eligible adult artists and small, unincorporated artist collectives in New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, Columbus, and Bladen counties. Eligible project types included creating new work, buying equipment or materials, professional development, qualifying travel, and promotional materials; up to 50% of expenses could be artist fees. Applicants had to meet the stated residency and citizenship or permanent-resident requirements, and full-time undergraduate and associate-degree students were ineligible. Artists who had received funding in or since FY2023–2024 were also ineligible for that cycle. The application deadline was September 15, 2026, which has passed.
For the 2026 Arts & Culture Grants administered with The Endowment, the website described awards of $5,000 to $15,000 for eligible nonprofit arts and culture organizations based in and primarily serving New Hanover County. Eligible uses included arts programming, artist fees, production costs, community cultural projects, capacity-building, and marketing. The application cycle ran February 1–28, 2026, and has passed. The website also listed a Grassroots Arts Program cycle for FY2026–2027, with awards generally ranging from $500 to $5,000 and a dollar-for-dollar match required; its May 10–June 30, 2026 application window has passed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Rhonda Bellamy as President & CEO; Joey Toler as Chair; Cornelia Rogan as Vice Chair; Phil Sindel as Treasurer; and Liz Carbone as Secretary. Directors listed are Tufanna Bradley, Shane Fernando, Jennifer Pate, Dr Sejal Patel, and Alisa Harris. The website identifies Rhonda Bellamy as the organization’s founder as well as President & CEO.
Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County is led by Rhonda Bellamy, President & CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 12 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Rhonda Bellamy
President & CEO
Executive Director → President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$62K (2019) → $109K (2025)
Joey Toler
Chair
Director → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Pate
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sejal Patel
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tufanna Bradley
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alisa Harris
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ashley Kosikowski
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ken Mauryama
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shane Fernando
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Liz Carbone
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cornelia Rogan
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phil Sindel
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Todd Atwood (2019–2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: Chad Cramer (2024) — Director
- Former: Jill Webb (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Jim Desmond (2019–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Kim Adams (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Lou Anne Liverman (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Loulie Scharf (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Tom Priestley (2019–2023) — 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 $109K, to Rhonda Bellamy (President & CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County
How much does Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County give each year?
Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County gave $142K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $127K across 17 grants.
What is Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County's typical grant size?
Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $8,875, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County that year got $7K on average.
Where does Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County give grants?
Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Wilmington, NC (16 grants).
Does Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Arts Support" (16 grants).
Who are Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County's largest grantees?
Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County's largest 2025 grantees include Cucalorus Film Festival ($10,000), Brooklyn Arts Academy ($10,000) and Dreams Center for Arts Education ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County?
Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County reported $225K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $482K.
What does Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County fund?
The Arts Council’s website states its mission is to support artists and arts organizations through innovative public/private partnerships that support jobs, stimulate commerce, and showcase the region as an arts destination. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County?
The Arts Council’s website describes program-specific applications and eligibility requirements. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County's EIN?
Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2277053. 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
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 25, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 20, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/arts-council-of-wilmington-and-new-hanover-county-morg_de30499a793b4116bf37ac2beaa054fe
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_562277053_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/arts-council-of-wilmington-and-new-hanover-county-morg_de30499a793b4116bf37ac2beaa054fe},
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 Wilmington and New Hanover County'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.
Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County down — hundreds of funders to go?