• Application open: March 3, 2025 – April 7, 2025, until 5:00 pm 

• Application webinar: 

• • Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 11:30 am – 12:30 pm, register here  

• • Tuesday, March 27, 2025 at 11:30 am – 12:30 pm, register here. 

• • Office hours starting Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, register here. 

• Notification of application results: by the last week of May 2025 

• Funds cover expenses for the period between July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 

• Grant Reimbursement form due June 30, 2026  

• Two final report forms due:  

• • Fiscal Year 2026 Final Report due July 31, 2026 

• • Fiscal Year 2027 Final Report due July 31, 2027 

Requirements to apply 

• A mission that centers art, culture, and/or heritage 

• Publicly accessible programming 

• At least three years of programming history 

• A physical address located in Washington State 

• An annual operating budget of over $350,000  

• 501(c)(3) nonprofit or  

• Fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) Click here for ArtsWA’s Fiscal Sponsorship Requirements 

• Local Arts Agency 

• • Must be officially designated to provide art services on behalf of the local government. 

• Tribal Government
  

Ineligible to apply 

• Individuals  

• For-profit organizations 

• Religious organizations (eligible for project support only) 

• Government agencies or departments (unless designated as a Local Arts Agency) 

• Universities, colleges, academic departments, and K-12 schools 

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

Gather your 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). 

Draft your application 

• Word document version of application – for drafting purposes only (please add the link to the uploaded document, titled “GOS General Application Word Doc” in folder) 

Apply in Submittable 

• ArtsWA uses Submittable to accept applications. Log in or create an account here. 

• Click here to apply. 

• If you need assistance with Submittable, take a look at our 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 Operating Support grants 

• 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. 

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. 

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

Grantee Responsibilities & Grantee Payments

Operating Budget Template