How to apply for an organizational grant

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The Boston Cultural Council awards grants to local nonprofits that offer arts and cultural programming in Boston.

Update: The deadline to apply for a 2022-2023 Boston Cultural Council grant has passed.

Step
1

Before you get started

Our Boston Cultural Council grants are for organizations that benefit the public by offering arts programming in local neighborhoods. We give grants for general operating expenses to organizations with budgets under $2 million. The specific amount organizations are eligible for depends on their budget size. The largest amount we will award is $5,000. 

Boston cultural council Organizational Grant Categories

Organization Budget

Eligible Grant Amount

Less than $100,000

$5,000

$100,000 - $500,000

$3,500

$500,000 and $2,000,000

$2,000

If you get denied, you can only ask us to consider you again if we violated the review process. You have two weeks to submit your request in writing.

Organizations that provide programming in one or more of the following art categories are eligible:

  • music
  • film and video
  • folk and traditional art
  • visual art
  • theater
  • dance
  • humanities
  • literary arts
  • performance or time-based arts
  • social and civic practices, and
  • multi-disciplinary arts.
Step
2

Fill out your application

We prefer to have all proposals submitted online. You can also pick up a hard copy at the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture and drop off hand-written copies. 

We also have a recorded webinar that goes over the grant process.

Please note: Applications for the 2022-2023 grant program are currently closed. Applications for next year's funding will open in fall 2023.

Keep in mind

Applicants must have their vendor ID, application name, and address match the information on the City of Boston supplier portal to receive payment. Check the supplier portal help page to learn how to

  • use the portal
  • create a new vendor account
  • update an existing vendor account, or
  • create a user ID.

Using a fiscal sponsor? You must have a letter from the sponsor confirming that they will accept the funds and distribute the funds to the applicant.

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