Cultural Sustainability Grant

Cultural Sustainability Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: South Arts, Inc.
Amount: US $50,000 - US $150,000
Last Updated: February 10, 2026

Summary

Cultural Sustainability, a collaborative initiative by The Wallace Foundation and U.S. Regional Arts Organizations, aims to support arts organizations rooted in communities of color with annual expenses below $500,000. This program promotes equity and inclusion while studying how these organizations define their well-being. With grants totaling over $1.14 million available, the initiative seeks to empower underrepresented communities and enhance their cultural contributions, ultimately fostering a more inclusive arts landscape.

Overview

Cultural Sustainability Cultural Sustainability, an initiative of The Wallace Foundation in partnership with the six U.S. Regional Arts Organizations, is designed to provide general operating support and collaborative learning opportunities for arts organizations rooted in communities of color with annual operating expenses under $500,000. Cultural Sustainability acknowledges the invaluable contributions arts and cultural organizations of color make in our communities and the broader cultural landscape. Funded in part by the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, South Arts’ program will strive to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion within the arts sector while learning how organizations that have historically been underrepresented advance sustainability. The initiative is guided by the question: "How do arts organizations founded by, with, and/or for communities of color define and develop their well-being and that of their communities?" (Learn more about The Wallace Foundation’s Advancing Well-Being in the Arts Initiative.) Building upon our existing programs such as Southern Cultural Treasures and ArtsHERE, Cultural Sustainability continues the conversation around historically underrepresented communities within institutional systems of philanthropy. In addition to research by The Wallace Foundation and collaborations with the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations, South Arts’ criteria for Cultural Sustainability are informed by those existing programs, current research in the field of philanthropy, continuous feedback loops with current and prospective grant recipients, and an advisory group of leaders of color in the South. We believe this combination of financial support and collaborative learning will create benefits for the communities the selected organizations serve and will develop new knowledge and insights to catalyze broad impact. South Arts will award approximately twelve organizations located among the nine-state service area with general operating grants totaling more than $1.14 million. Who is this program designed for? We seek to fund a broad range of organizations encompassing the full scope of arts and culture disciplines and operational structures to help us understand: How do arts organizations founded by, with, and/or for communities of color define and develop their well-being and that of their communities? We welcome organizations to self-identify how they are rooted in communities of color, and for the purpose of addressing this program’s research question, our primary focus is to fund arts organizations that reflect one or more the following: Include a person or persons of color, either artistically or administratively, in key leadership capacities Predominantly in service of Black, Latine, Asian, Arab, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, and/or Caribbean communities, or another community of color Founded by and/or for a community of color Have a majority staff and/or board culturally reflective of the community they serve Produce culturally specific work that preserves or advances a specific art or tradition e.g. Indigenous, refugee, and/or immigrant Provide economic benefit to artists of color Have been historically underfunded Are located within communities significantly impacted by historical contexts such as redlining, gentrification, displacement, and/or limited access to essential resources for well-being (e.g. healthcare, fresh food, clean drinking water, etc.) Grant Awards Organizations may request up to 30% of their annual operating budget for two consecutive fiscal years (maximum total award is up to $150,000). South Arts will disburse up to 95% of the total award up front and will co-design the funding schedule with each organization once grant recipients are selected. Final payments will be given upon receipt of the final report at the close of the grant period in June 2026. To ensure full geographic representation of South Arts’ region, only a few organizations may receive $150,000. We expect the average award to be closer to $50,000.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible applicants include: Designated non-profit arts organizations Fiscally sponsored arts groups Arts-centered private entities (such as LLCs, Partnerships, Benefit Corporations) State or federally recognized tribal governments Eligible applicants must also be Organizations serving and located within South Art's nine-state service area (AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, or TN) Organizations with an annual revenue of less than $500,000 in their last two fiscal years (based on their last two reported IRS 990 forms or financial statements). Organizations with at least three years of arts programming experience. Years of activity need not be consecutive nor connected to date of incorporation.Eligible Expenses: Funds may be used towards general operations such as (but not limited to) rent, salaries, utilities, retiring debt, endowments/investments, retreats, sabbaticals, wellness funds, emergency preparedness, or other measures to promote organization wellness and sustainability.

Ineligibility

Lobbying organizations K12 schools, colleges, universities, and units of government. Organizations based outside of AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, or TNIneligible Expenses: Funds may not be used towards public art projects, capital projects such as new construction and purchases of land or facilities.