Arts and Belonging Grants - Community Impact Grants

Arts and Belonging Grants - Community Impact Grants is sponsored by Cambridge Community Foundation. Multi-year general operating support grants for Cambridge-serving community impact organizations focused on building belonging through the arts, fostering community engagement and social cohesion.

Arts and Belonging GrantsJenny White2025-10-16T13:42:16-04:00 ## CULTURE AND BELONGING GRANTS In Fall 2025 we announced Culture Connects Cambridge as a $1. 4 million, multiyear, multi-phased strategic initiative.

In the first phase of the initiative, CCF awarded culture and belonging grants that aim to address the needs for stable, long-term funding, support for marginalized communities, and the opportunity to grow and sustain impactful programs. Learn more below. Applications are not being accepted.

Multi-year general operating grants support ing community impact and grassroots organizations dedicated to building belonging through the arts in Cambridge, fostering community engagement and social cohesion.

_Vice President, Programs & Grantmaking_ According to research, equitable, place-based arts and culture build a sense of belonging*when they: * share power equitably and build community ownership * connect and include people identifying in many different ways * help communities come together to advance common goals * cultivate platforms for diverse forms of cultural practice Yet, despite their essential role in building belonging and promoting community well-being, arts and culture organizations are especially vulnerable to financial instability and face many barriers to growth.

_*Our definition of belonging was drafted by our consultants, **Congruence Cultural Strategies**, and edited by CCF staff and Cambridge stakeholders in a Fall 2024 planning process. Sources include**WE-Making**by Metris Arts Consulting,**Belonging Without Othering**by john a. powell and Stephen Menendian, and**Notes on a Cultural Strategy for Belonging**by Evan Bissell.

_ **Our culture and belonging grants** were the first step in Culture Connects Cambridge, a multi-phased strategic initiative developed as part of the Cambridge Community Foundation's ongoing commitment to fostering social cohesion and addressing the unique needs of our arts and culture community.

Emerging from feedback gathered during acommunity listening initiative conducted in the fall of 2024, which highlighted the challenges faced by arts and culture organizations in Cambridge, these grants aimed to address the need for stable, long-term funding, support for marginalized communities, and the opportunity to grow and sustain impactful programs.

Learn more about our culture and belonging grants awarded to 14 organizations in Fall 2025. ## Community Impact Grants $50,000 per year, multi-year general operating support grants for Cambridge-serving community impact organizations doing arts and belonging work.

### **Eligibility criteria:** * Nonprofits and fiscally sponsored entities with annual budgets of over $250,000 * Have been actively operating in Cambridge for at least one year * Strengthening agency, self-determination, and power among historically excluded communities in Cambridge * Serve individuals and groups who have been marginalized or made to feel unwelcome in other spaces * Act as a hub for diverse groups, activities, and connections * Provide consistent and regular arts and culture programming Up to $25,000 per year, multi-year general operating support grants for Cambridge-serving grassroots organizations doing arts and belonging work.

### **Eligibility criteria:** * Nonprofits and fiscally sponsored entities with annual budgets of $250,000 or less * Have been actively operating in Cambridge for at least one year * Cultivate under-supported or emerging artistic and cultural talent * Consistently serve a specific community or group through regular programming * Build agency, self-determination, and power among historically excluded communities in Cambridge ## Frequently Asked Questions Is my organization eligible to apply?

Jenny White2025-09-17T14:33:53-04:00 All orga niza ti ons must sub mit a letter of interest to determine their eligibility. It i s also helpful to read the criteria above to determine which type of application – community impact or gra ssroot s – you should express interest in. When can I apply for this grant?

Jenny White2025-09-17T14:33:35-04:00 Right now, w e're not accept ing applications directly. Instead, we are inviting community members to submit letters of interest if they believe the ir organization is doing impactful arts work around belonging in Cambridge. Once letters of interest are in, our team will reach out to eligible organizations with more information on how to apply.

When will the application open? Jenny White2025-09-17T14:33:16-04:00 We're still finalizing details for th e application launch – scheduled for June 2025. In the meantime, our focus is on gathering interest and confirming eligibilit y.

Sta y tuned — we'll share updates once the a ppli cation timeline is confirmed. Who can submit a letter of interest? Jenny White2025-09-17T14:32:58-04:00 You can submit a letter of interest for any eligible nonprofi t organization whose w ork uses the arts to build belonging and community in Cambridge.

This includes organizations working in visual arts, music, dance, theater, and other creative disciplines that help connect people and foster a sense of inclusion. What happens after I submit a letter of interest? Jenny White2025-09-17T14:32:40-04:00 After the letter of interest closes, our team will review the submissions to confirm which organizations meet the application criteria.

Those eligible will be contacted directly with details on how to apply. Can I submit a letter of interest for another organization? Jenny White2025-09-17T14:31:43-04:00 I f you know of a Community Impact or Grassroots organi zation wh ose work aligns with the goals of this grant, there is space within t he letter of interest form to submit a nomination for another organization.

It's quick and simple — you'll just need to share a few details about the organization and why you believe they should be considered. Who can I contact if I have additional questions? Jenny White2025-09-17T15:55:09-04:00 Catch our latest stories in grantmaking and programs.

### CCF Invests $1. 37M in 157 Nonprofits Through Annual Community Fund This investment in organizations working across Cambridge is possible thanks to our endowment and deep partnership with donor advised fundholders who joined as co-investors. ### Our 2025 annual report Good in the Making brings our civic leadership to life through stories and photography.

### Announcing two programs to help you make good. We’re seeking nominations and applications for our Imagined in Cambridge! Social Innovation Award, and we’re launching Making Good Minigrants.