Cuyahoga Arts & Culture is pleased to announce its next cycle of grantmaking: 2026-2027 General Operating Support and 2026 Project Support. Applications for both grant programs will open in early May and will be due July 31, 2025 at 4:30 pm.

As we prepare for application season, we wanted to highlight a few of the changes CAC is making to be a source of consistent and reliable funding, and to streamline and simplify our processes for grant applicants. In the coming cycle:

• CAC’s application is now a one-step process. The former eligibility check and application steps are combined and simplified, to reduce administrative burden.
• General Operating Support is open to organizations of all sizes, whose core mission is arts and culture and have completed two Project Support grants. There is also no panel review for General Operating Support.
• Project Support is streamlined, with grants up to $5,000 or $7,500, based on budget size and CAC grant history. Applicants go through a panel review and are no longer required to participate in SMU DataArts.

Across the board, CAC is working to deepen our relationships with our grantees, while setting the stage for more predictable and consistent funding over our next levy – through 2035. We hope that you will see your feedback reflected in these grant program updates – and we are excited to work with you in the year ahead!

If you are unsure if your organization is eligible or which grant you should apply for, please see the list below and plan to join us at an upcoming workshop.

I am a current General Operating Support grant recipient.

To receive funding for 2026-2027 General Operating Support, all organizations will complete an application due July 31 at 4:30 pm. For returning GOS grantees, this will look very similar to the former eligibility check and will only take a few minutes. Once your application is submitted and continued eligibility is confirmed by your grant manager, you will be automatically recommended to CAC’s Board of Trustees for funding in 2026. There is no panel review process for GOS applicants.

I am a current Cultural Heritage grant recipient.

CAC will offer Project Support and General Operating Support grants in 2026. All Cultural Heritage grantees are eligible to apply for a General Operating Support grant. Once your GOS application is submitted and eligibility is confirmed by your grant manager, you will be automatically recommended to CAC’s Board of Trustees for funding in 2026. There will be no panel review process for GOS applicants.

I am a current Project Support recipient with a core mission of arts and culture, and I have completed at least two CAC grants.

For 2026, any nonprofit with a core mission of arts and culture that has successfully completed at least two CAC grants may be eligible for General Operating Support, regardless of budget size.

The deadline for GOS applications is July 31, 2025 at 4:30 pm. If your organization is deemed eligible for General Operating Support, you will be automatically recommended to CAC’s Board of Trustees for funding in 2026.  If your organization is determined to be not eligible for GOS, you may have the opportunity to apply for a Project Support grant.

Eligible General Operating Support applicants that file a 990-N may receive up to $5,000. Eligible applicants who file a 990-EZ or 990 but do not complete an annual audit or financial review may receive up to $20,000. Eligible applicants with annual revenues of $200,000 or more, who also complete an annual audit or financial review and have at minimum one half-time paid staff member may receive $20,000 up to $1,000,000. All grant amounts are subject to available CAC funding.

I am a current Project Support recipient with a core mission of arts and culture, but I have not completed at least two CAC grants.

Applicants seeking General Operating Support funding must first successfully complete at least two Project Support grants. In the meantime, you can still apply for Project Support funding by the application deadline of July 31, 2025 at 4:30 pm. Eligible organizations that file a 990-N may receive up to $5,000, and eligible organizations that file a 990-EZ or 990 may receive up to $7,500. If your organization is eligible, your application will be reviewed by a written panel of arts and culture professionals to determine if you will be recommended to CAC’s Board of Trustees for funding in 2026.

I am a current Project Support recipient, but my core mission is not arts and culture.

Organizations without a core mission of arts and culture remain eligible for Project Support grants. Eligible organizations that file a 990-N may receive up to $5,000, and eligible organizations that file a 990-EZ or 990 may receive up to $7,500. All applicants should complete the short application form by July 31, 2025 at 4:30 pm. If your organization is eligible, your application will be reviewed by a written panel of arts and culture professionals to determine if you will be recommended to CAC’s Board of Trustees for funding in 2026.

I have never received a CAC grant.

If you are a 501(c)3 organization conducting arts and cultural programming in Cuyahoga County, you may be eligible for a Project Support grant. First-time applicants may be eligible for Project Support grants of up to $5,000. All applicants should complete the short application form by July 31, 2025 at 4:30 pm. If your organization is eligible, your application will be reviewed by a written panel of arts and culture professionals to determine if you will be recommended to CAC’s Board for funding. Try our eligibility quiz before beginning an application for additional guidance.

Again, we encourage you to join us for one of our upcoming workshops, but please reach out to a member of the grantmaking team with any questions in the meantime.