The North Carolina Arts Council (NCAC) Grassroots Grants

The North Carolina Arts Council (NCAC) Grassroots Grants aim to enhance access to quality arts experiences across the state. Administered by the Arts Council of Moore County, these grants support local organizations in Moore County to conduct diverse arts programs, including performances, festivals, and educational initiatives. Eligible nonprofits can apply for funding to strengthen community engagement through the arts, fostering creativity and cultural enrichment while prioritizing support for qualified organizations and artists.

The Arts Council of Moore County was officially founded as a charitable, nonprofit organization in 1973. We do this through our many arts programs, support to individual artists & organizations, and other special partnerships.
In 1977, the North Carolina Arts Council (NCAC) created the Grassroots Arts Program to provide all North Carolina citizens access to quality arts experiences. The program distributes funds for the arts in all 100 NC counties through partnerships with local arts councils. The Arts Council of Moore County (ACMC) serves as the NCAC’s Designated County Partner in awarding Grassroots subgrants to local organizations for arts programs throughout Moore County.
What Projects Are Fundable?
Grassroots Grants may be used for expenditures to conduct quality arts programs or operate an arts organization. Examples of arts programs that are commonly funded with Grassroots funds include:

• Performances
• Festivals
• Art Exhibitions
• After-school arts programs
• Arts camps
• Artist Residencies
• Artist fees for classes, workshops, masterclasses, clinics
• Marketing expenses
• Royalties, props, sets, & costumes for theatre performances
• Equipment rental
• Priorities of Funding this Year

The first priority of the Grassroots Arts Program is to provide operating or program support to qualified arts organizations including theaters, symphonies, galleries, art guilds, choral societies, dance companies, folk arts societies, writers groups, & arts festivals, among others. Grassroots funds are not awarded to arts organizations that receive funding directly through the NCAC’s General Support Program.
The second priority of the Grassroots Arts Program is to support arts learning & arts in education programs conducted by qualified artists. These can be artist residencies in schools, after-school programs, summer camps, or adult arts learning classes.
The third priority of the Grassroots Arts Program is to support community organizations that provide quality art experiences for the greater community. These programs must be conducted by qualified artists.

Eligibility

All organizations must have been in operation for at least one year.
Applicants must be a nonprofit organization with a 501(c)(3) Federal tax-exempt status. (School projects are covered by Moore County School’s nonprofit status.) An organization without tax-exempt status may receive indirect funding for its arts project by having another nonprofit organization serve as its fiscal agent.All organizations must operate & carry out project within Moore County.
Only one Grassroots subgrant application is allowed per organization.Municipalities (city/county governments) may receive grants for arts programs which use qualified artists to conduct programs that involve the greater community. Grants may not support internal programs, administration, or operating expenses.
Colleges, universities, & libraries may receive grants for arts programs that are community-based or generate regional arts involvement. Grants may not support internal programs, administration, or operation expenses (library books, band boosters, equipment purchases, etc.).Religious organizations or churches may not receive Grassroots funds unless the program is presented outside regular church services, engages the larger community, & does not contain religious content.Tribal organizations that receive Grassroots funds must represent state or federally recognized tribes. A list of approved tribes can be found here.

Ineligibility

Organizations that receive direct support from the NC Arts Council are not eligible for Grassroots funds.
Individual artists are not eligible to apply for Grassroots Arts funds,Grassroots funds may not be used for activities associated with a school’s internal arts programs such as in-school student performances, purchase of art supplies, school trips, student competitions (in-school or off campus), or student publications.
Grassroots funds may not be used to purchase art supplies or equipment.