Arts Fund for East Tennessee Grant Program

The Arts Fund for East Tennessee Grant Program, established in 1986, supports artistic excellence and cultural diversity in East Tennessee. In 2024, it aims to sustain cultural traditions and encourage diverse artistic expressions. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and those with fiscal sponsors, focusing on outreach to underserved populations and grassroots art initiatives.

The Arts Fund for East Tennessee was established in 1986 to serve as a source of funds to support excellence in the arts, expand access to the arts, and connect artists with each other and with East Tennessee communities.
In 2024, the Arts Fund for East Tennessee will focus its grantmaking on celebrating our region’s richness in artistic expressions and cultural diversity. Grants will be awarded to sustain cultural traditions and to encourage all forms of artistic expression.
The grant term is July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026.
Amounts will range from $5,000 – $15,000.

Eligibility

Eligible organizations must have and be able to provide documentation to verify the following:Confirmation that the organization is a 501(c)(3) public charity, unit of government , or educational institutionNew or emerging groups that do not have nonprofit status may apply if they have an established nonprofit organization as a fiscal sponsorEmployee Identification Number (EIN)Legal name of organization, address and contact information (phone fax, email address)Primary contact person and titleList of staff administering the projectMost recent financial statements and/or most recent audit and/or IRS Form 990Current year operating budgetList of current board of directors or equivalent governing bodyConfirmation that the organization operates and is organized so as to not discriminate on the basis of race, color national origin, religion, gender, familial status, sexual orientation, age, disability, covered veteran status, or other characteristics as identified in the Foundation’s Non-Discrimination Policy Statement.Additional eligibility criteria specific to the Arts Fund:Professional arts organizations must be located in and serve constituents in ETF’s 25-county service areaOrganizations that are not primarily art-based but which incorporate art-related programming are eligible to apply.

Ineligibility

The following types of requests will NOT be funded:Grants to individuals. We are restricted by law and therefore unable to provide grants directly to individuals.Debt retirement or budget deficitsEndowment funds or general fundraising campaignsCapital campaignsFaith based organizations and houses of worship are welcome to apply. However their projects that have explicit religious content, express a particular religious view, limit participation based on faith affiliation, or require participation in religious activities or services will not be considered. For example, a church’s food pantry may be awarded funding if participation in the program is not limited based on faith or attendance.