• Application open: January 6, 2025 – January 31, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
• Notification of application results: Last week of May 2025
• Final Report for FY26 is due July 31, 2026, and FY27 is due July 31, 2027
• Funds are distributed after expenses are incurred.
  • This is a reimbursement grant. All payments will be made after funds are spent and after invoice forms have been submitted to and approved by ArtsWA.
• Two final reports due:
  • Fiscal Year 2026 Final Report due July 31, 2026
  • Fiscal Year 2027 Final Report due July 31, 2027

All applicants must have: 

• 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, or be fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3)
• At least two years of continuous operation as a non-profit arts organization or fiscally sponsored organization
• At least two years of ongoing professional development services
• At least one paid staff that works 20 paid hours per week or more
• A board of directors
• A board-approved annual year-end operating budget that reflects actuals and includes program expenses

Ineligible to Apply

• Individuals 
• For-profit organizations
• Religious organizations
• Government agencies and departments (unless designated as Local Arts Agencies)
• Universities, colleges, academic departments, and K-12 schools

Reach out to Miguel Guillen, miguel.guillen@arts.wa.gov, 360-252-9970, if you’re unsure of your eligibility.

This program can cover day-to-day general operating costs, but there are a few expenses that are ineligible, such as capital expenses (built environment costs) and food or drink. View a full list of what ArtsWA can and cannot fund as a state agency.

501(c)(3) applicants 

• IRS Letter of Determination. 
• Your organization’s board approved operating budget for your last fiscal year, that includes actuals for program expenses.
• Your organization’s board approved next fiscal year’s anticipated operating budget.  
• List of your organization’s board of directors and active staff. Include position titles and number of hours worked per week per position.
• Your organization’s most recent board approved strategic plan. 

Fiscally Sponsored groups 

• Your Fiscal Sponsor’s IRS Letter of Determination. 
• Your Fiscal Sponsor’s board approved operating budget for the last completed fiscal year.
• Your organization’s board approved Operating Budget for your last fiscal year, that includes actuals for program expenses.
• Your organization’s board approved next fiscal year’s anticipated operating budget.  
• List of your organization’s board of directors and active staff. Include position titles and number of hours worked per week per position.
• Your organization’s most recent board-approved Strategic Plan. 

Identification numbers

• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Learn more about getting your UEI here. 
• Federal Tax ID (EIN)
• Statewide Vendor (SWV) number, Learn more about the SWV number here.
• Fiscally sponsored organizations will use their fiscal sponsor’s identification numbers, except for UBI
• Washington State Unified Business Identifier (UBI) (all organizations must be registered as a WA Nonprofit/Charity with the Secretary of State)

Apply in Submittable

Submittable is the online platform where you will submit your application.  

• Log in or create an account here.
• Click here to get to the application. 
• If you need assistance with Submittable, take a look at our Submittable FAQs.

Organization Information

• Organization and relevant staff contact information
• Your organization’s Employer Identification Number (EIN), Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and Statewide Vendor (SWV) number.
• Disclose if your organization has a conflict of interest with ArtsWA. This is for transparency only. You can read our full Conflict of Interest Policy here.

Narrative Questions

• Mission Statement and Strategic Plan: Provide your organization’s published mission statement and list the goal(s) from your organization’s strategic plan that reflect commitment to professional development of arts professionals in your region or across the state. (500 words maximum)
• Management: How do you ensure the production and delivery of quality programs and services? Include financial planning, program planning, and collaborations. (500 words maximum)
• Impact: How do you evaluate the impact your programs and services have on arts professionals you serve? Provide specific methodology for assessment and actions. Regional Arts Service Organizations are encouraged to describe regional need and impact. (500 words maximum)
• Inclusion: Describe your philosophy/strategy/plan to include historically excluded communities in your professional development programs. Be specific about who you reach and include. (500 words maximum)

Financial

• Share a copy of your last completed annual operating budget.
• Share a copy of your next fiscal year’s budget.

Programs and Services

• List the professional development programs and services you provide currently. Include program name, short description, frequency (annual, monthly, etc.) location, estimated attendance, participation fee, and number of years providing the service.

Work Samples

• Share 3-5 Work Samples of your organization’s past programs. You may upload images, video, audio, or other documents in any combination. Work Sample Guidelines.

Additional uploads

• Your organization’s IRS Letter of Determination. This is the document that confirms you have 501(c)(3) status.
• List of your organization’s board of directors and active staff. Include position titles and number of hours worked per week per position.
• Your organization’s most recent board approved strategic plan.

Screening for Eligibility: Staff will screen your application for eligibility.  

Criteria: The criteria below are used to review and score your application: 

Programming and Services (40 pts) 

• Clear descriptions of professional development programs and/or services.
• Clear description of the impact on the capacity of arts professionals. 
• Effort to diversify the field by broadening access for individuals from communities historically excluded* from the Creative Economy.

*Historically excluded refers to any group of people that have historically been left out, not considered, or actively barred from opportunities and privileges by a society or organization. In the context of arts funding, governmental and private funders have historically designed grant programs for and uplifted European/European-American art for able-bodied, cis/straight groups, often in urban settings, for example. Learn more about the National Endowment for the Arts’ Equity Plan here. For a FAQ on Civil Rights for applicants and to ensure your organization complies, click here. 

Management and Impact (20 pts) 

• Evidence of sound management of programs and finances; reasonable budget in relation to programming scope; mix of income sources. 
• Evidence of sound program planning and program evaluation method. 

Distribution of Services (40 pts) 

• Regional ASO – Significant impact on, and service to, arts professionals from three or more counties in an ArtsWA designated region.

Statewide ASO – Significant impact on, and service to, arts professionals in ten or more counties statewide and/or provides an annual convening.

Scoring and Board Approval: Applications are scored by staff who make recommendations for funding to ArtsWA’s Board of Commissioners at our board meeting on May 6-7, 2025.

Notification: Notifications of application status will be sent by the last week of May 2025. If awarded a grant, you will receive a contract and further instructions in a few weeks after notification. Learn more about managing a grant here.

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.

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.

Word document version of application – for drafting purposes only

What We Can and Cannot Fund

Work Sample Guidelines

Public Benefit Examples

Submittable FAQ

Operating Budget Template