Vermont Arts Council: Arts Operating Grants

The Vermont Arts Council is offering one-year Arts Operating Grants for FY2026 to support arts organizations in providing high-quality programming that enriches local communities. These grants aim to bolster the creative economy by ensuring operational sustainability for organizations committed to accessibility and inclusion. Eligible applicants include nonprofit arts organizations and municipal agencies in Vermont. This initiative underscores the Council's dedication to fostering a vibrant arts scene that benefits all Vermonters.

Arts Operating Grants provide funds to arts organizations that offer year-round, high-quality arts programs and services that support the Council’s mission to “cultivate and advance the arts and creativity throughout Vermont.”
These grants directly advance the third goal of the Arts Council’s Strategic Plan (“Strengthening the Creative Economy”), which asserts that arts organizations are anchors of communities statewide, and supporting their operations is vital to the success of the creative economy. Grantees must demonstrate a strong and consistent presence in their community providing high quality arts programming, furthering the Council’s vision to make Vermont a place where artists thrive, where creativity is at the heart of our communities, and where everyone has access to the arts in their lives and education.
We are offering one-year operating grants in FY2026. The three-year operating grant program will reopen in FY2027. Organizations may either apply for Arts Project OR Arts Operating grants in FY26, but not both.

Eligibility

Who may apply:Arts-based nonprofit organizations with a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service legally established in the state of VermontArts-based groups without tax-exempt status applying through a fiscal agent. The fiscal agent must be a charitable nonprofit organization incorporated in Vermont as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue CodeMunicipal arts agencies with a primary stated mission to serve the artsThat meet the following criteria:has a primary mission focused on the arts, provides consistent programming, and will continue to provide regular programming for the term of the granthas completed at least one year of programming within Vermontprovides programming in facilities that are accessible and welcoming to people of all abilitiesmaintains a board that meets regularly to discuss policy, strategic direction, and resource development to ensure sustainabilityhas a valid Unique Entity ID (UEI). You cannot receive a grant without a valid UEI if applicable, has completed all final reports required by the Vermont Arts Council for previous awardshas not applied for a Vermont Arts Council Arts Project grant for FY2026
This grant can be used to support the operations of arts organizations such as:facilities costs, such as utilities salaries, wages, and fringe benefits for personnelfees for artists and contractual personnelsupply costs, such as personal protective equipment, cleaning and janitorial supplies, office supplies, art supplies, computer software/hardware, etc.marketing and promotion costsgeneral overhead/administrative costs

Ineligibility

Ineligible Expenses:debt or loan repaymentdonations and regrantingequipment purchases over $5,000construction costsfundraising eventremote office expenses projects that support or oppose a particular political party or candidate for public officeprojects that are exclusive to members of a particular religious faith group