Culture, Equity, and the Arts Grant Guidelines
Forecasted
The MacArthur Foundation's Culture, Equity, and the Arts Grant supports Chicago arts organizations advancing racial equity and inclusion through multi-year, unrestricted funding.
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Funder: MacArthur Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): February 2027: Letter of Inquiry portal opens (projected) | March 2027: Letter of Inquiry deadline (projected)
Funding Amounts: $55,000–$80,000 per year (typically for 3 years) in unrestricted general operating support
Summary: Supports Chicago-based arts organizations advancing racial equity and inclusion with flexible, multi-year operating support.
Key Information: For organizations with annual budgets of $1M+; smaller organizations should apply via the Field Foundation’s ART program.
Description
This grant program, offered by the MacArthur Foundation, provides multi-year, unrestricted general operating support to arts and culture organizations that further the Chicago Commitment’s mission to advance racial equity and foster a more inclusive city. The program recognizes the power of the arts to bridge divides, inspire empathy, and introduce diverse perspectives. It prioritizes participatory grantmaking, with funding decisions informed by a diverse panel of Chicago-area residents, and seeks to build a more equitable distribution of resources across the city’s cultural sector. Both large institutions and smaller, community-based organizations are supported, with a dedicated pathway for organizations with budgets below $1 million through a partnership with the Field Foundation.
