Arts Work Fund: Arts Capacity Grant Program
Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development
Funding Amount
Up to US $40,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grant Type
Foundation
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Geography
- In Chicago and Cook County by enhancing their operational practices
- Located in the specified regions
- Have an arts-based mission where artistic work is the primary purpose and budget focus.
- Based in and serve Chicago and Cook County
Size & budget
- With an annual budget under $2 million
Required status
- 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
- Be a 501(c)(3) public charity or have a fiscal sponsor with this status.
- Organizations with fiscal sponsors should have an independent budget and a board of directors or other formal, organized oversight team that serves a governance function and otherwise complements staff leadership.
Not eligible / not funded
- Not eligible: General operating support.
- Not eligible: Construction or renovation costs, or related expenses.
- Not eligible: Creative program development or production.
- Not eligible: Ongoing staffing or program costs.
- Not eligible: Projects based at universities and schools or involving religious proselytizationReimbursement, debt reduction, or endowment campaigns.
- Not eligible: Purchase of software, except when integral to the larger capacity-building project being proposed.
- Not eligible: Equipment or furniture.
- Not eligible: Regular website/database maintenance.
- Not eligible: Annual audits
Overview
The Arts Work Fund: Arts Capacity Grant Program supports small and mid-sized arts organizations in Chicago and Cook County by enhancing their operational practices. Established in 2006, it offers grants up to $40,000 to bolster organizational resilience, improve community engagement, and advance strategic initiatives. Eligible organizations must have an arts-focused mission, operate under a budget of $2 million, and be located in the specified regions. The program prioritizes those with clearly defined capacity-building needs.
About the Arts Work Fund
The Arts Work Fund (AWF) is a funding collaborative supporting small and mid-sized arts organizations in Chicago and Cook County.
Funding Focus
AWF's responsive grants support individual arts organizations—or collaborations among them—as they adopt or improve new organizational practices. Grants aim to:
- Strengthen organizational resilienceAdvance strategyImprove community engagement and communicationAddress other key capacity-building needs
- Examples of Eligible Projects
Operational ResilienceImproving financial systems (e.g., budgeting, cash flow, forecasting)Developing new revenue strategies (contributed and earned)Enhancing human resources practices and staff well-beingCreating crisis response or continuity plansStrengthening digital security practicesOrganizational risk assessments
Organizational Strategy
Strategic planning or organizational visioningReimagining or planning for sunsetting organizations or programsScenario or crisis management planningMergers, shared resources models, and strategic partnerships
Community Engagement & Communications
Strengthening communications strategiesDeveloping models for audience engagementBuilding digital storytelling capacityCreating community feedback systems
Grant sizes depend on the project's scope but will not exceed $40,000.
Eligibility
Have an arts-based mission where artistic work is the primary purpose and budget focusBe a 501(c)(3) public charity or have a fiscal sponsor with this status. Organizations with fiscal sponsors should have an independent budget and a board of directors or other formal, organized oversight team that serves a governance function and otherwise complements staff leadership.Operate with an annual budget under $2 million, based on the most recently completed audit or I.R.S. Form 990Be based in and serve Chicago and Cook County
Ineligibility
General operating supportConstruction or renovation costs, or related expensesCreative program development or productionOngoing staffing or program costsProjects based at universities and schools or involving religious proselytizationReimbursement, debt reduction, or endowment campaignsPurchase of software, except when integral to the larger capacity-building project being proposedEquipment or furnitureRegular website/database maintenanceAnnual audits
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Arts
- Capacity building
- Nonprofits
Categories
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