Grants for Organizations
Grants for Organizations supports Maryland arts organizations and ongoing public arts programs with operating funds to sustain arts infrastructure, expand access, and uplift communities.
Funder: Maryland State Arts Council
Due Dates: November 15, 2026 (FY2028 application) | September 15, 2027 (New applicants: Intent to Apply) | November 15, 2027 (FY2029 application) | November 15, 2028 (FY2030 application)
Funding Amounts: Annual grants capped at $1.1 million in FY2027 and $1 million in FY2028; cash match required
Summary: Operating support for Maryland arts organizations and arts programs producing or presenting ongoing programming open to the public.
Key Information: New applicants and organizations not funded in the previous fiscal year must complete an Intent to Apply before applying.
Description
Grants for Organizations (GFO), administered by the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), provides annual operating support to strengthen and sustain Maryland’s arts infrastructure. It supports nonprofit arts organizations and ongoing arts programs within non-arts organizations, government units, and educational institutions. Funded programming must be open to the general public. The program aims to maintain access to the arts, develop future audiences, uplift communities, and stimulate economic activity across Maryland.
Equitable distribution of state arts funding is a central priority. MSAC’s funding formula groups applicants into five allowable-income tiers, giving smaller organizations a larger proportional share of support. A five-year transition began in FY2024 and runs through FY2028. Beginning in FY2027, applications are no longer scored, while earlier scores are being phased out of award calculations.
