Grant Programs

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Black Artist Fund is an initiative giving money directly to Black artists to combat systemic inequity in art. Nominate an artist here.

Community Foundation for Greater New Haven Small Grants of up to $15,000 to small nonprofit organizations for work that either addresses COVID-19 impacts or advances racial equity. Rolling deadline. Eligibility | Please email Denise Canning for an application.

Community Foundation for Greater New Haven Event Sponsorship is only consider one-day events that adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and State of Connecticut COVID-19 guidelines. Eligibility | Apply Here

The Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund gives small business owners access to flexible funding for capital expenditures and working capital and connects them with support services. It’s a personal, equitable approach to lending, because business owners are more than just numbers on a spreadsheet. Small businesses and nonprofits can borrow between $5,000 and $500,000 depending on eligibility and need, and can choose how they spend the money — on equipment, payroll, utilities & rent, supplies, marketing & advertising, eligible refinancing, building renovations and other expenses. Loans are not forgivable. Businesses will need to pay back the full amount of the loan with interest over a 60- or 72-month term. APPLY NOW.

The David Rockefeller Fund aims to foster and embody a more just, creative, and flourishing world. The Fund currently provides support to nonprofit organizations nationally in three program areas: Arts, Criminal Justice, and Environment. The Arts Program focuses on cultivating, showcasing and disseminating the stories of innovative art for social change; Criminal Justice supports bold new ideas and policy initiatives for transforming U.S. detention and incarceration policy; and Environment supports new ideas, initiatives and policy breakthroughs in support of bipartisan U.S. climate leadership. They will review brief 1-2 page letters of inquiry related to our program priorities on a rolling basis throughout the year. Please submit any such letters to LOI@drfund.org.

Public Art Learning Fund for artists across New England. The Public Art Learning Fund aims to strengthen the field of public art in New England by providing professional development support of $500-$2,000 directly to artists. Rolling deadline through Monday, December 19 at 11:59 PM ET. Preview application questions | Learn More | Apply

GRANT WRITING RESOURCES FOR NONPROFITS

Arts Finance Resources (AFR) helps build stronger nonprofits. With AFR’s assistance, organizations strengthen their financial footing. Budgets become more meaningful, cash flows are maximized, financial operations are stabilized, and reporting is clarified, for your Board and your staff. Check out their sample budget templates.

Crafting Grant Proposals - Best Practices & Strategies is a webinar where Katie Rotramel of the Humane Rescue Alliance and Whitney Brimfield of Spark Point Fundraising talk about Grant Writing 101. This webinar is great for folks who may be new to writing grant proposals and feel nervous or overwhelmed by the process. Katie and Whitney will tackle the foundation fundraising cycle, grant writing basics, and give tips and insight on best practices and strategies to help set your organization up for success.

Free grant writing course From Idea to Funded Project presented by Carnelian is available online https://learninghub.carnelianforchange.com. Registration required for course access and includes course documents, resources and recordings. Additional grant writing assistance with Carnelian is also available.

Grant Writing Basics is a capacity building workshop presented on March 10, 2021 by Jackie Downing, Director of Director of Grantmaking and Nonprofit Effectiveness at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.

Grant Writing for Nonprofits: REAL Application Walk-Through (Dreyfus Foundation) is a video where seasoned grant writer Amber Melanie Smith shows how she'd approach writing a grant proposal for the Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation.

Writing Effective Grant Proposals: A Nonprofit's Guide by Donorbox. Check out their sample cover letter and sample grant proposal here.

GRANT WRITING RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS

7 Simple Grant-Writing Tips by Artists network

Creative Capital is committed to sharing knowledge, resources, and opportunities that support artists of all creative disciplines. Here are a few of their resources:

• How to Write a Grant Proposal with Confidence: First Steps
• How to Write a Grant Proposal with Confidence: Translating Your Ideas on Paper
• Applying for Grants: Creating A Realistic Budget
• Applying for Grants: Choosing Work Samples
• Creating Your Artist Resume

Grant Proposal Checklist for Artists by Art Work Archive

How to Write an Better Artist Grant in 16 Easy Steps by Format

Top 5 Tips for Successful Grant Proposals by Candid

FISCAL SPONSORSHIP 

The Arts Council can help you raise funds for your artistic work by serving as your fiscal sponsor. Fiscal Sponsorship allows you to solicit tax-deductible donations and apply for grants without having a 501(c)3. This program is open to all artists and organizations in every artistic discipline within the Greater New Haven region. There is a 7% administration fee on all funds raised. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. CHECK IT OUT.