South Arts Inc
South Arts is a nonprofit regional arts organization headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. As a 501(c)(3) public charity, South Arts empowers artists, organizations, and communities while increasing access to arts and culture across the American South. The organization was established in 1975 and has been tax-exempt since July 1976.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.0M
-10.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.5M
-23.2% YoY
Grant Count
71
-31.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$35K
+12.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Advancing Southern vitality through the arts.
South Arts believes in the power of the arts crossing borders. The organization supports and celebrates the artistry of the Southern region through grants, fellowships, and programs. South Arts recognizes the region's cultural heritage—from jazz to traditional Appalachian arts—and supports innovative, boundary-pushing contemporary artists.
Primary focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Arts access and engagement across rural and urban communities
- Cross-sector partnerships impacting healthcare, aging, and education
- Support for touring Southern artists for performances, readings, exhibits, and residencies
Grantmaking
South Arts operates a diverse portfolio of grants and fellowships for artists, communities, and organizations.
Ready to take the next step with South Arts Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
South Arts operates across a nine-state region in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and State Arts Agencies of:
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
The organization prioritizes funding in both rural and isolated communities as well as major urban centers.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $16,798,337
- Total Revenues: $9,400,617
- Total Expenses: $8,743,114
- Total Liabilities: $7,470,000
Staff: 28 employees
Funding Partners: South Arts receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, State Arts Agencies, and private donors including the Doris Duke Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Mellon Foundation.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,041,398 | $16,798,337 | $13,575,500 |
| Revenue | $8,298,403 | $9,400,617 | $15,914,685 |
| Expenses | $10,383,597 | $8,743,114 | $8,140,904 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $349,936 | $209,368 | $54,460 |
| 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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
246 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
26 open opportunities from South Arts Inc
Accessibility Grants
SOUTH ARTS INC
Amount
US $500 - US $2,500
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Artist Creative Practice Grant
SOUTH ARTS INC
Amount
Up to US $3,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Arts in Rural Places Grant
SOUTH ARTS INC
Amount
US $500 - US $3,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bb King Museum & Delta Interpretive Cnt ($120,000), Ballethnic Dance Company Inc ($120,000), Colour of Music Inc ($120,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALABAMA DANCE COUNCIL INC BIRMINGHAM, AL | FY24 SA/NEA REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT | $10,500 |
| ALABAMA FOLKLIFE ASSOCIATION BIRMINGHAM, AL | FY23 SA/NEA REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT | $10,000 |
| ALABAMA JAZZ HALL OF FAME BIRMINGHAM, AL | SOUTHERN CULTURAL TREASURES GRANTS | $43,640 |
| ALABAMA SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS FOUNDATION BIRMINGHAM, AL | FY24 SA/NEA REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT | $6,250 |
| APPALACHIAN COMMUNITY FUND KNOXVILLE, TN | IN THESE MOUNTAINS - CARGILL GRANT #2 | $15,000 |
| APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY BOONE, NC | IN THESE MOUNTAINS - CARGILL GRANT #2 | $44,000 |
| APPALSHOP INC WHITESBURG, KY | IN THESE MOUNTAINS - CARGILL GRANT #2 | $20,000 |
| ART2ACTION NEW YORK, NY | SOUTHERN CULTURAL TREASURES GRANTS | $64,818 |
| ARTS CENTER OF COASTAL CAROLINA HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC | FY24 SA/NEA REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT | $8,750 |
| ASIA INSTITUTE INC LOUISVILLE, KY | SOUTHERN CULTURAL TREASURES GRANTS | $59,530 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUZETTE M SURKAMER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $235,675 |
| MICHAEL E BOSARGE | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $121,153 |
| JOY YOUNG | VP OF PROGRAMS | 40 | $140,767 |
| CHARLES PHANEUF | VP OF STRATEGY | 40 | $140,680 |
| NEIL BARCLAY | BOARD CHAIR | 1 | — |
| GRETCHEN MCLENNON | VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM MCKINNEY | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| ELLIOTT KNIGHT | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| CATHY ADAMS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ALEJANDRO AGUIRRE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JEFF BELL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER CATHERS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NATALIE CHANIN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ELMORE DEMOTT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOHN T EDGE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| OLGA GARAY-ENGLISH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SONYA HALPERN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANNE B POPE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GLENDA E HOOD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SUSANNAH JOHANNSEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TINA LILLY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BILL MEDICH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KARA OLIDGE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NINA PARIKH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAVID PLATTS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ALICE RANDALL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NIGEL REDDEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DENIS SCHOLL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SANDY SHAUGHNESSY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MIKE WOODARD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
South Arts has announced grant recipients across multiple cycles in 2025 and 2026, including:
South Arts Announces 2026 Cross-Sector Impact Grant Recipients Centering2026 Cross-Sector Impact Grant Recipients (centering community health and wellness)
South Arts Announces 2026 Cross-Sector Impact Grant Recipients Centering2026 Arts in Community Grant Recipients
South Arts Announces 2026 Cross-Sector Impact Grant Recipients Centering2025 Cross-Sector Impact Grant Recipients
South Arts Announces 2026 Cross-Sector Impact Grant Recipients CenteringInaugural Literary Arts Grant Recipients and Winter Jazz Road Tours Artists
South Arts Announces 2026 Cross-Sector Impact Grant Recipients CenteringThe organization launched a new Literary Arts Program and opened new grant cycles to expand support for literary arts in the region.
South Arts Launches New Literary Arts Program, Opens New Grant Cycles | SouthContact Information
Address: 1800 Peachtree Street Northwest, Suite 808, Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Phone: 404-874-7244
Fax: 404-873-2148
Website: www.southarts.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does South Arts Inc fund?
**Mission:** Advancing Southern vitality through the arts. South Arts believes in the power of the arts crossing borders. The organization supports and celebrates the artistry of the Southern region through grants, fellowships, and programs. South Arts recognizes the region's cultural heritage—from jazz to traditional Appalachian arts—and supports innovative, boundary-pushing contemporary artists. Primary focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from South Arts Inc?
South Arts operates a diverse portfolio of grants and fellowships for artists, communities, and organizations. **Grant Programs Include:** • Accessibility Grants • Artist Creative Practice Grant • Arts in Rural Places Grant • Cross-Sector Impact Grants • Cultural Sustainability • Emerging Traditional Artists Program • In These Mountains: Infrastructure Grants • Jazz Road Creative Residencies Grant Program • Jazz Road Tours Grants • Literary Arts Grant • Southern Circuit: Call for Filmmakers • S…
Where does South Arts Inc make grants?
South Arts operates across a nine-state region in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and State Arts Agencies of: • Alabama • Florida • Georgia • Kentucky • Louisiana • Mississippi • North Carolina • South Carolina • Tennessee The organization prioritizes funding in both rural and isolated communities as well as major urban centers.
What size grants does South Arts Inc award?
In 2024, South Arts Inc awarded 71 grants totaling $2.5M — an average of about $35K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is South Arts Inc's EIN?
South Arts Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1129587. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in South Arts Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
SAINT LOUIS, MO
Assets
—
Grants
9,499
Total Given
$73.1M
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$891.5M
Grants
1,153
Total Given
$275.0M
New England Foundation for the Arts
BOSTON, MA
Assets
$42.4M
Grants
196
Total Given
$3.7M
Foundation for the Carolinas
CHARLOTTE, NC
Assets
$3.9B
Grants
1,605
Total Given
$609.1M
The Ford Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
T Rowe Price Program for Charitable
BALTIMORE, MD
Assets
$648.3M
Grants
2,900
Total Given
$132.5M
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
Network for Good
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$96.2M
Grants
4,733
Total Given
$216.2M
Alabama Power Foundation Inc
BIRMINGHAM, AL
Assets
$117.9M
Grants
1,240
Total Given
$16.2M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with South Arts Inc on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching South Arts Inc to a real strategy.