Funder: National Endowment for the Arts
Due Dates: July 10, 2025 (Part 1 Grants.gov) | July 22, 2025 (Part 2 NEA Applicant Portal)
Funding Amounts: Awards range from $10,000 to $100,000; Local Arts Agencies may request $30,000 to $150,000 for subgranting; 1:1 cost share/match required.
Summary: Provides project-based funding to nonprofit and government arts organizations for public engagement, arts education, health integration, and capacity building across multiple arts disciplines.
Key Information: Applicants must have at least 5 years of arts programming experience; funding not available for individuals, fiscal sponsors, or for-profit entities.
Description
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) program offers project-based funding to support arts organizations in the United States. The program funds a wide range of arts disciplines including Artist Communities, Arts Education, Dance, Design, Film & Media Arts, Folk & Traditional Arts, Literary Arts, Local Arts Agencies, Museums, Music, Musical Theater, Opera, Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works, Theater, and Visual Arts.
Funded activities may include:
- Public engagement with the arts and arts education
- Integration of the arts with strategies promoting health and well-being of people and communities
- Improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the arts sector
The program welcomes applications from first-time and returning applicants, serving rural, urban, suburban, and tribal communities of all sizes, and organizations with small, medium, or large operating budgets.
Applicants must provide a 1:1 cost share/match, which can include cash and in-kind contributions.
Due Dates
- Part 1 (Grants.gov) Submission Deadline: July 10, 2025, 11:59 pm ET
- Part 2 (NEA Applicant Portal) Submission Deadline: July 22, 2025, 11:59 pm ET
The NEA Applicant Portal opens on July 15, 2025, at 9:00 am ET.
Funding Amount
- Applicants may request between $10,000 and $100,000.
- Local Arts Agencies eligible to subgrant may request between $30,000 and $150,000 for subgranting programs.
- A 1:1 cost share/match is required.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include:
- Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) U.S. organizations (excluding institutions of higher education)
- Units of state or local government
- Federally recognized tribal communities or tribes
- Private institutions of higher education
- Local Arts Agencies designated to subgrant
Additional eligibility notes:
- Applicant organizations must have completed at least 5 years of arts programming prior to the application deadline.
- Generally, applicants may submit one application per calendar year.
- Funding is not available for individuals, fiscal sponsors, commercial/for-profit enterprises, State Arts Agencies (SAA), or Regional Arts Organizations (RAO).
Application Process
The application process is two-part and involves:
Registration
- Register with Login.gov, SAM.gov, and Grants.gov.
- Registration can take several weeks; early registration is recommended.
Part 1: Grants.gov Application
- Submit the Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organization Form.
- The application package for the July cycle will be available in mid-May 2025 on Grants.gov.
- Access the July cycle application package when available; do not use the March cycle package.
Part 2: NEA Applicant Portal
- Complete the Grant Application Form (GAF) on the NEA Applicant Portal.
- The portal opens July 15, 2025, at 9:00 am ET and closes July 22, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET.
- Applicants may receive courtesy emails but should not rely on them for deadline extensions.
Time Commitment
- The NEA estimates approximately 26 hours to draft and submit the full application after registration.
Additional Information
- The program supports projects that promote arts engagement, education, health and well-being, and capacity building.
- Applicants are encouraged to review the full GAP Grant Program Details (PDF) for comprehensive information on eligibility, allowable costs, review criteria, and federal award administration.
- Detailed application instructions are available for each discipline, for example:
- The NEA provides accommodations for individuals with disabilities; requests should be made at least two weeks before the deadline.
- Notification of funding decisions for the July cycle is expected in early to mid-April 2026.
- Earliest project start date for July cycle awards is June 1, 2026.
External Links
Contact Information