COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INC logo

Artists & Creatives Grants

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INC

Funding Amount

$500 - $2,500

Deadline

September 15, 2026

161 days left

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Artists & Creatives Grants

Overview
Community Engagement Inc provides financial support to independent creatives (including collectives and collaborators) making or presenting creative work relating to or encouraging community engagement. The organization is committed to helping projects that depart from the routine and present new, distinct and imaginative possibilities.

Geographic Scope

  • Spring grants (deadline March 15): Open to artists living or working anywhere in the US

  • Fall grants (deadline September 15): Open to artists living or working in California

  • Does not fund projects by artists living outside the United States
  • Award Amount
    Grants are usually limited to $500 - $2,500, but in rare circumstances may provide funding up to $5,000. Most artists are encouraged to apply for funding under $2,500 unless advised otherwise.

    Focus Areas

  • Community-engaged art projects

  • Production and/or presentation of artistic projects

  • Creation of new artworks

  • Building collaborative connections with communities

  • Project-based grants for artistically-excellent community engaged projects
  • What They Fund

  • Independent artists and artist collectives

  • Community-engaged creative projects

  • New artwork creation and presentation

  • Projects with clear community collaboration
  • What They Do NOT Fund

  • Arts festivals

  • Nonprofit and for-profit organizations

  • Student projects (undergraduate or graduate)

  • Residencies

  • Research symposia

  • Studio rent

  • Conferences

  • Theaters

  • Festivals

  • Activities affiliated with religious organizations

  • Art classes, take-home art kits, or exhibitions of studio artwork in preexisting galleries (unless centered on clear, purposeful community collaboration)
  • Eligibility & Equity Focus

  • Supports individual artists and artist collectives

  • Especially encourages applications from artists who have been historically underrepresented, including but not limited to:

  • - Black, Indigenous, People of Color artists
    - Queer, Trans artists
    - Deaf, Disabled artists
    - Immigrant or Refugee artists
    - Self-Taught artists

    Reapplication Policy
    Successful grantees are eligible to reapply every two years. Successful applicants should wait at least two years before reapplying for funding.

    Organization Background

  • Funder: Community Engagement Inc

  • Type: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

  • Location: Orange County, California

  • Contact: info@communityengagement.org

  • Website: communityengagement.org
  • Application Review
    Applications that do not adhere to guidelines will not be reviewed. If you have not heard from the organization 6 weeks after the deadline, your application was not approved for funding.

    How to Apply

    How to Apply

    Application Process

    1. Prepare four PDF documents (see PDF requirements below)
    2. Upload all four PDFs to a single online, publicly-accessible folder (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.)
    3. Submit the folder link using the application form at communityengagement.org
    4. Documents not submitted in PDF format will not be considered

    Required Documents

    #### PDF 1: Basic Information
    File naming: LastName_FirstName_Month_Year_Info.pdf

    Must include:

  • Contact Information

  • - Full Name
    - Legal Name (if different from above, for grant check if successful)
    - Mailing address
    - Email
    - Phone number
  • Project Title

  • Collaborators (if any)

  • Project Summary: A well argued, imaginative proposal for producing and/or presenting new work (maximum 400 words)

  • Community Engagement: Explain how your proposed project engages a community or communities (maximum 200 words)
  • #### PDF 2: Budget
    File naming: LastName_FirstName_Month_Year_Budget.pdf

    Must include:

  • Detailed Project Budget

  • Total amount requested from Community Engagement

  • Other funding applications made for this project (pending)

  • Any other existing funding (confirmed) for this project
  • #### PDF 3: CV (Curriculum Vitae)
    File naming: LastName_FirstName_Month_Year_CV.pdf

    Must include:

  • CV (two pages maximum)
  • #### PDF 4: Portfolio
    File naming: LastName_FirstName_Month_Year_Portfolio.pdf

    Must include:

  • Up to 8 images with short descriptions including:

  • - Year
    - Location
    - Other relevant information
  • Link to website and/or link to ONE video or audio work
  • Submission Details

  • Submit applications via the online form on communityengagement.org

  • All materials must be submitted by deadline dates at 11:59 pm PST
  • Key Guidelines to Review Before Applying

    • This grant funds community engaged art - review the organization's mission statement
    • This is a project-based grant for producing and/or presenting artistic projects
    • Grant prioritizes artistically-excellent projects that present new and imaginative possibilities
    • Organization prioritizes funding the creation of new artworks
    • Unlikely to fund art classes, take-home art kits, or exhibitions of studio artwork in preexisting galleries unless the proposal centers a clear and purposeful collaboration with a community
    • Artist collectives and collaborations are eligible

    Questions & Support
    For questions or technical support during application preparation, reach out to: info@communityengagement.org

    Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    artscommunity-development

    Categories

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