Arts & Culture Loan Fund
The MacArthur Foundation's Arts & Culture Loan Fund provides loans and financial management training to help Chicago arts organizations build financial stability and resilience.
Funder: MacArthur Foundation
Due Dates: May 21, 2026 (Scenario Planning clinic registration) | June 16, 2026 (Managing Cash Flow clinic registration) | September 8, 2026 (Assessing Revenue Risk and Opportunity clinic registration) | October 20, 2026 (Engaging the Board in Strategic Financial Decision-Making clinic registration)
Funding Amounts: Working capital loans typically $50,000–$150,000 (1–2 year terms); no-interest for clinics; technical assistance included.
Summary: Provides working capital loans and financial management training to small and medium-sized arts and culture organizations in Chicago to strengthen financial capacity and stability.
Key Information: Loan applications are accepted on a rolling basis; clinics have capped participation (10 orgs/clinic).
Description
The Arts & Culture Loan Fund, sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation and administered by IFF with partners Fifth Third Bank and BDO, offers small and medium-sized arts and culture organizations in Chicago access to working capital loans and targeted financial management training. The program aims to help organizations address short-term cash flow challenges, build financial resilience, and develop institutional credit histories for future financing. In addition to lines of credit, the fund provides technical assistance and a series of in-depth financial management clinics to support long-term organizational stability.
