Eligibility Requirements

Eligible applicants groups should have a history of producing at least one project or program in the past. 

Requirements to apply 

• Project must be open to the public. 

• Project must happen between July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026. 

• Project must have arts, heritage, and/or culture as a primary component. 

• Project must take place in Washington State. 

• Applicant organization must be one of the following: 

• 501(c)(3) nonprofit; 501(c)(3)s must have current state corporate nonprofit status and current federal tax-exempt determination under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  

• Local Arts Agency; Local Arts Agencies are officially designated by a local government to provide art services to the public on behalf of the local government. 

• Tribal Government 

• Fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. More about fiscal sponsorship. 

Ineligible to apply 

• Individuals  

• For-profit organizations 

• Government agencies, universities, colleges, academic departments, and K-12 schools 

• Full list of what ArtsWA can and cannot fund as a state agency 

Required documentation 

• IRS Letter of Determination. More information on Letter of Determination here.  

• Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s IRS Letter of Determination.  

• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).   

• Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s UEI.  

• Federal Tax ID (EIN).   

• Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s EIN.  

• Statewide Vendor (SWV) number. *  

• Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s SWV. 

*If you have previously received payment from Washington State, check on the status of your SWV number here: vendor number lookup or by contacting: PayeeRegistration@ofm.wa.gov. They are good for two years. 

• Washington State Unified Business Identifier (UBI) (all organizations must be registered as a WA Nonprofit/Charity with the Secretary of State). 

Prepare in Submittable 

• Submittable is the online platform where you will submit your application. Log in or create an account here. 

• If you need assistance with Submittable, take a look at this Submittable FAQs. 

Starting with the FY26 funding cycle, we will implement priorities-based criteria to ensure our limited funds are distributed equitably. This funding structure and process is strategically designed to maximize support for our growing community while aligning with the objectives in our strategic plan. We seek to keep diverse communities engaged in the creative economy, support the creative sector statewide, and emphasize cultural equity, community diversity, and sector growth.  

Notice to applicants: We recently updated the evaluation criteria. We will not assign priority to applicants outside of King County, the City of Tacoma, and the City of Olympia.

Priorities for Project Support grants 

• Organizations with operating budgets of $0 – $50,000 (first consideration) 

• Organizations with operating budgets over $50,000 to $100,000 (second consideration) 

• Organizations in operation for 1 – 5 years  

• Businesses located in counties identified by the state as a distressed area: Clallam, Cowlitz, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Skamania, Stevens, Wahkiakum, and Yakima 

• Organizations serving constituencies consisting of 25% or more of an underserved group. “Underserved” means populations whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, historical exclusion and marginalization due to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, economics, disability, or other social or institutionally imposed barriers. 

Do income and expenses need to match on my project budget?

Make sure your income total and your expense total are as close to matching as possible when you are filling out the budget table in the application. Because we accept estimates for some amounts, if your budget is higher on the income-side that is fine. However, you should not have more expenses for your project than income.

Can organizations apply for multiple ArtsWA grants?

Allowable: Applicants for Grants to Organizations programs can apply for and receive grants from other ArtsWA programs if they support different projects, expenses, and services. Other ArtsWA program grants include:

• Creative Start
• Arts in Education
• Wellness, Arts, and the Military (WAM)
• Tribal Cultural Affairs (TCA)

Not allowable: Applying to different grants within the Grants to Organizations Program. If you applied for the Emerging Organization Grant, your organization is not eligible for the Art Project Grant.

What happens after we apply?

Priority Scoring 
Applications are reviewed for eligibility and scored by staff who make recommendations for funding to ArtsWA’s Board of Commissioners. 

Board Approval: Recommendations will go to the ArtsWA Board for approval. 

Notification: Notification of award or decline will go out the by or before the last week of May. Awarded applicants can expect their contract and instructions on how to receive funds in the next weeks after notification. Learn more about managing a grant here. 

What are my chances of receiving a grant?

This changes from year to year depending on number of applications received. ArtsWA can set aside approximately $100,000 next fiscal year for art project support, which averages 25 groups funded. Based on previous years, we predict nearly 400 applications will be submitted for this grant, meaning only the highest scoring 6% of applications can be funded.

The best thing you can do to increase your chances of receiving a grant is to submit a strong application. Although we can never guarantee you will get a grant, we encourage you to reach out to us to discuss your application, especially if this is your first time applying. We love hearing from you, learning about your goals, and providing helpful tips based on your goals. Hopefully, we will make you feel more confident pressing the submit button for this highly competitive program.

Additional Information

Accessibility

Federally funded projects must be accessible to people with disabilities. You can use this accessibility checklist when planning your programs. You do not need to check all boxes to be eligible for funding; this is simply a worksheet and resource for your organization.

ArtsWA accepts grant applications via an online form. If you require an alternate format or assistance to access the application, please reach out to us at the contact information below or Alexis Sarah, ArtsWA Accessibility Coordinator, alexis.sarah@arts.wa.gov or at 360-228-6359.

Civil Rights

All applicants for funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) are required to certify that they are following the civil rights statutes that govern nondiscrimination in Federally assisted programs. For a FAQ on Civil Rights for applicants and to ensure your organization complies, click here.

Appeals

Unsuccessful applicants can appeal in accordance with Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 30.12.036, found here.

About ArtsWA

ArtsWA is the Washington State Arts Commission. The Washington State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts fund our programs. Grants are contingent on available state and federal funding. ArtsWA complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil and human rights. For more information regarding Washington State Arts Commission’s policies on Accessibility, Diversity, and Nondiscrimination, click here.