IPCF's Mirza/Arts & Culture Grants

The IPCF's Mirza/Arts & Culture Grants support programs focused on art, music, and theatre education, as well as performing and visual arts. Open to tax-exempt organizations, these grants encourage innovative projects benefiting residents of McLean, DeWitt, Livingston, and Logan counties. Applicants may request funding between $600 and $5,000, with a minimum request of $500. The grants emphasize ongoing self-sufficiency and measurable outcomes, fostering community enrichment through diverse artistic initiatives.

Illinois Prairie Community Foundation connects people who care with causes that matter by offering philanthropic leadership, organization and grant-making for the long-term enrichment of our community.
IPCF/Mirza Arts and Culture Grants
IPCF’s Mirza/Arts & Culture Grants are open to programs and projects that focus on art, music, and theatre education and enrichment, and the performing and visual arts.
If you apply for a Mirza/Arts & Culture Grant, you may not apply for the identical program to the General or Shulman Jewish Education & Life Grants, which run concurrently with the Mirza/Arts & Culture Grants. You may, however, apply in multiple grant categories if the applications are for distinctly different programs and fit the criteria listed for the particular grant category.
Funding requests should be for a minimum of $500; the range of grant awards in 2024 was $600 to $5,000 (average grant award was $2,270).

Eligibility

Program must deal specifically with art, music, and/or theatre education and enrichment, and/or the performing, visual, and literary arts; funding may support a new or existing programApplicants must have tax-exempt status under Section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code, operate under a fiscal sponsor that is a 501 (c) 3 organization, be a local unit of local, county, state or federal government or be a tax-exempt religious organization as recognized by the IRSProgram must be available to residents of McLean, DeWitt, Livingston or Logan counties; however, programs do not have to serve all four countiesProgram must be operated and organized in such a manner that no applicable anti-discrimination laws are violated; program must not proselytize for a particular religion or causeOrganizations that have received past grants from Illinois Prairie Community Foundation must be current on all grant Final ReportsExecutive Director, CEO or President of the Board of an organization applying must approve the application

Ineligibility

Program must not proselytize for a particular religion or cause.What Is Not FundedNon program-related expenses (Grant Committee prefers not to fund personnel expenses)Endowment campaignsAnnual fund raising events and expensesCapital improvements or expendituresConference or continuing education expensesScholarships