Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc
Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc is a public charity based in Augusta, Georgia. Founded in 1968, it supports the arts and artists in the Augusta River Region and serves as the City of Augusta’s Public Art Agency.
Key facts about Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc
In short: Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc reported $72K in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). 8% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 58-6074146
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Grants paid (2025)
- $71,710 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- Total assets
- $468,904
- How to apply
- The website directs potential applicants to review the guidelines for the relevant grant and apply through the online application process. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The FY25 City Arts Grants deadline was August 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.; this cycle has passed.
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$469K
-10.4% YoY
Grants Paid (reported total)
$72K
-17.1% YoY
Revenue
$1.3M
+1.0% YoY
Is Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 12 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $6K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Council’s stated mission is to enrich quality of life for citizens and visitors by advancing cultural arts. Its 2024 filing describes work to promote arts in the CSRA through community events, a weekly radio show, and a marketing campaign; manage City arts grants and the public art master plan; and advocate for cultural institutions, arts education, and cultural facilities.
The Council’s 2024 filing describes the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival as a 2½-day event featuring artists, local ethnic organizations, performances, and a children’s area. It reported approximate attendance of 60,000 for the festival.
Grants have supported arts organizations. For example, Westobou Festival Inc. describes its mission as fostering a vibrant, culturally rich community by supporting artists and their ideas. The Morris Museum of Art describes its mission as collecting and exhibiting art of the American South, encouraging artistic inquiry, and enriching the public and Augusta.
Grantmaking
Average Grant
was approximately $7,208 in 2024 and $15,508 in 2023, based on the reported totals and counts.
Review Cycle
The FY25 City Arts Grants deadline was August 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.; this cycle has passed. The 2024 Augusta Regional Arts Grant deadline was March 10, 2024; that cycle has also passed.
How to Apply
.
Ready to take the next step with Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Council describes its service area as the Augusta River Region and CSRA. The City Arts Grants support arts organizations providing programming in Augusta-Richmond County. The 2024 regional grant listed eligible counties in Georgia and South Carolina, including Richmond County, Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $36K (2022) to $186K (2023). In 2025 it reported $72K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
39 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 39 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for 2025.
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $468,904 | $1,263,377 | $1,381,930 | 0 |
| 2024 | $523,594 | $1,251,279 | $1,206,607 | 12 grants; $86,498 |
| 2023 | $655,864 | $1,280,544 | $1,192,229 | 12 grants; $186,094 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $468,904 | $523,594 | $655,864 |
| Revenue | $1,263,377 | $1,251,279 | $1,280,544 |
| Expenses | $1,381,930 | $1,206,607 | $1,192,229 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 27, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 23, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Brenda Durant (Executive Di), Trey Allen (Chancellor A), Bennish Brown (Director), Russell Joel Brown (Director), Kigwana Cherry (President), Menia Chester (VP of Develo), Karen Gordon (Director), Leon Maben (VP of Public), Tracie Parker (Director), and Mukti Patel (Director).
Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc is led by Kigwana Cherry, President since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 20 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kigwana Cherry
President
Vice President of Development → Executive Vice President, 2023
Executive Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Gordon
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mukti Patel
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sincerai Stallings
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stacy Pulliam
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bennish Brown
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tracie Parker
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Stevenson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Russell Joel Brown
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Durant
Executive Di
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$61K (2020) → $60K (2025)
Dennis Skelley
Governance C
Director → Vice President Public Ar, 2023
Vice President Public Ar → Governance C, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paige Tom
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Trey Allen
Chancellor A
Director → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Chancellor A, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Peltier
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Sleeper
Executive Vice President
Vice President of Development → Treasurer, 2024
Treasurer → Executive Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rhian Swain
Past President
Executive Vice Pr → President, 2023
President → Past President, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leon Maben
Vice President of Public
Director → Vice President of Public, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Menia Chester
Vice President of Development
Director → Vice President of Development, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mickey Williford
City Art Grants
Director → City Art Grants, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denise Tucker
Executive Di
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (36)
- Former: Lee Little (2020–2024) — Past President
- Former: Sanjeev Singhal (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Blaine Bailey (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Jorge Cortes (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Leslie Hamrick (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Ma-Keisha Mullings (2024) — Director
- Former: Art Abdon (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Jay Markwalter (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Jonathan Davis (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Marsha Loda (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Ceretta Smith (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Joan Smith (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Christine Rhodes (2023) — Director
- Former: Natalie Bryan (2023) — Director
- Former: Christy Beckham (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: David Sulak (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Elle Prater (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jody Smith (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Josh Gaudin (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Latasha Louis (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Laverne Gold (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Lillie Morris (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Mary Schroer (2020–2022) — Past President
- Former: Rebecca Rogers (2020–2022) — Vice President of Public
- Former: Rob Foster (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Ryan Abel (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Sean Frantom (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Tamera Toogood (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Tonia Gibbons (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Wesley Stewart (2022) — Director
- Former: Alicia Cully (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Cedric Johnson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jason Craig (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Margaret Woodard (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Sheryl Jolly (2020–2021) — Imm. Past Pr
- Former: Tonia Farr (2021) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $60K, to Brenda Durant (Executive Di).
Contact
Mailing address: 1301 Greene Street 2Nd Floor, Augusta, GA 30901
Phone: (706) 826-4702
Website: https://augustaarts.com
Frequently asked questions about Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc
How much does Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc give each year?
Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc reported $72K in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it gave $86K across 12 grants.
How large is Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc?
Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc reported $469K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.3M.
What does Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc fund?
The Council’s stated mission is to enrich quality of life for citizens and visitors by advancing cultural arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc?
The website directs potential applicants to review the guidelines for the relevant grant and apply through the online application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc make grants?
The Council describes its service area as the Augusta River Region and CSRA. The City Arts Grants support arts organizations providing programming in Augusta-Richmond County. The 2024 regional grant listed eligible counties in Georgia and South Carolina, including Richmond County, Georgia.
What is Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc's EIN?
Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-6074146. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Cleon W Mauldin Fnd Trust
Saint Louis, MO
Assets
$1.3M
Grants
8
Total Given
$65K
Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau Inc DBA Destination Augusta
Augusta, GA
The Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau funds tourism marketing and product development, including attractions, special events, and festivals that encourage visitation and local economic activity. In 2024, grants ranged from $10,000 to $627,321, with a median of $31,000, and went to recipients in Augusta, Georgia. It lists application materials for its Tourism Grant Program, indicating that applicants can apply.
Assets
$7.1M
Grants
12
Total Given
$1.0M
The Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area Inc
Augusta, GA
The Community Foundation for the CSRA funds nonprofits and community initiatives in arts, education and workforce readiness, health, and basic needs across six counties in Georgia and South Carolina. Its 2024 grants had a median of $21,250 and ranged from $5,002 to $1,434,819; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$182.6M
Grants
196
Total Given
$16.1M
The Knox Foundation
Thomson, GA
The Knox Foundation supports social services, arts, education, and cultural activities, with nearly all of its giving going to organizations in Georgia. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $800,000, with a median award of $25,000. It does not limit grants to preselected organizations; applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations and should contact the foundation for application materials and deadlines.
Assets
$102.0M
Grants
83
Total Given
$4.4M
Kirby Family Foundation Inc
Amherst, NH
The foundation supports organizations in arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services, public affairs, and religion, with an emphasis on self-reliance and strong, healthy communities. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $7,000, with a median of $2,000; giving is concentrated in Vermont and also reaches other states, including New York, Georgia, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia. It does not accept unsolicited requests and invites selected organizations to apply.
Assets
$2.5M
Grants
48
Total Given
$109K
Creel-Harison Foundation Inc
Augusta, GA
The foundation funds literacy, youth development, education, food access, human services, arts instruction, cancer support, and disaster relief, with most 2024 funding going to Georgia and some to Colorado. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,715 to $89,138, with a median of $20,000. It accepts grant applications after prospective grantees contact its director to confirm eligibility; the annual deadline is October 1.
Assets
$13.7M
Grants
54
Total Given
$1.2M
Morris Communications Foundation Trust Agreement
Augusta, GA
Assets
—
Grants
1
Total Given
$32K
George a Sancken Jr Foundation
North Augusta, SC
Assets
—
Grants
1
Total Given
$437K
Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass
Dallas, TX
To further the development and appreciation of art made from glass through informing collectors, critics and curators of current happenings; encouraging and supporting museum exhibitions, university glass departments, specialized teaching programs, regional collector
Assets
$564K
Grants
1
Total Given
$9K
Academy of Richmond County
Augusta, GA
Assets
$451K
Grants
3
Total Given
$32K
Rhodes Family Foundation Inc
Augusta, GA
To promote, manage and direct fundraising events
Assets
$3.0M
Grants
7
Total Given
$1.2M
Gary Foundation
Augusta, GA
Assets
$173K
Grants
7
Total Given
$31K
More Funders in Georgia
Greater Augusta Arts Council Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?