StartUp Program Grants
StartUp Program Grants support emerging Delaware arts nonprofits with operating funds and tailored management training to build organizational capacity and strengthen long-term sustainability.
Funder: Delaware Division of the Arts
Due Dates: January 15, 2027 (Letter of Intent) | March 1, 2027, 4:30 pm (Application) | September 30, 2028 (Final report)
Funding Amounts: Up to $2,500 in operating support plus training and consulting; 1:1 cash match
Summary: Supports emerging Delaware arts nonprofits with operating funds and customized management training to strengthen organizational sustainability.
Key Information: Applicants need at least two years of continuous public arts programming and annual operating income exceeding $16,000.
Description
The Delaware Division of the Arts’ StartUp Program combines modest operating support with training and consultation for emerging arts organizations, organizations applying for an annual Division grant for the first time, and previous grantees with a lapse in General Operating Support funding. It develops management capacity and serves as a gateway to the Division’s General Operating Support program.
Through the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA), participating organizations are paired with a Standards for Excellence® Licensed Consultant who assesses their needs and provides customized training for staff and board members. Training may address mission and strategy, evaluation, board and staff leadership, legal compliance and ethics, finance, fundraising, and public engagement. DANA continues working with board and staff members to guide organizational growth.
