The Arts Mean Business Grants

The Arts Mean Business Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Community Foundation of Central Illinois
Last Updated: January 23, 2026

Summary

The Arts Mean Business Grants, offered by the Community Foundation of Central Illinois, aim to stimulate economic growth in the Peoria region through arts tourism, fostering successful arts businesses, and increasing community engagement in the arts. These grants support projects that align with established community needs and priorities, ensuring collaboration and measurable outcomes. Eligible organizations include tax-exempt entities, local governments, and those operating under fiscal agents, emphasizing inclusivity and compliance with anti-discrimination laws.

Overview

Community Foundation of Central Illinois The Community Foundation of Central Illinois invests in our community by supporting projects that address community needs and have lasting value. Therefore, CFCI’s grantmaking is: Focused by addressing established CFCI and donor designated priorities.Strategic by supporting programs with well defined objectives and measurable outcomes that improve the quality or scope of charitable work in the community.Collaborative by leveraging resources and cultivating partnerships. The Arts Mean Business Grants The Arts Mean Business Fund was established to support the generation of economic growth in the Peoria region through arts tourism, increased successful arts businesses, greater community participation in the arts, and financial support of the arts from local governments and economic development councils.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Open to all organizations with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code, those that operate under a fiscal agent that is a 501(c)3 organization, and to local units of local, county, state or federal government.Grant funding may support new or existing programs that positively benefit central Illinois.Program must be operated and organized in such a manner that no applicable anti-discrimination laws are violated.Organization must be current on all grant evaluations. If the organization is currently being funded by a CFCI grant, and the grant evaluation is not yet due, an interim report summarizing the progress of the grant must be submitted along with the application.Please note, if the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, applications will be accepted the next business day until midnight.Grants will be made to organizations with programs serving individuals within CFCI’s service area of a 50 mile radius surrounding Peoria, IL excluding Knox and McLean Counties.

Ineligibility

CFCI does not fund:Annual / Capital campaignsIndividualsEndowmentsSectarian religious purposes: Faith based organizations and churches are eligible if program serves the community.