Arts & Social Cohesion Grant Program

Arts & Social Cohesion Grant Program is sponsored by Vermont Community Foundation. This program seeks Letters of Interest (LOI) for projects and events in the visual, performing, music, and literary arts that foster positive social interaction, engagement, and collaboration. Projects should strengthen belonging and community cohesion in Vermont.

Arts & Social Cohesion - Vermont Community Foundation The Arts & Social Cohesion grant program is made possible by a VCF Donor Advised Fundholder in alignment with the Health & Wellbeing impact area of Foundation’s Opportunity Gap framework. image credit: Jessica Ojala courtesy of River Arts The sense of belonging and connection that people feel in their community has a powerful influence on mental and physical health.

At a time of polarization, disruption, and disconnection, the arts can help bring people back together to work, play, create, and solve problems at the community level—which has meaningful impacts on belonging and wellbeing. What does the A&SC grant program support?

The Community Foundation is seeking Letters of Interest (LOI) for projects and events in the visual, performing, music, and literary arts that create opportunities for positive social interaction, engagement, and collaboration. Projects should strengthen belonging and community cohesion in ways that are likely to persist and grow.

Ideally, people who experience a project funded through this program will feel that they have participated in something special, had a positive encounter with their neighbors, and become more connected to their community. What type of applications does the A&SC grant program prioritize? Priority will be given to new projects but existing programs that have a track record of success are eligible for this opportunity.

Successful projects will: Reach broad and diverse audiences, including those who may feel marginalized in their community Engage people as participants, co-designers, and co-creators Feature formal and/or informal artists as leaders and facilitators Create a safe, inclusive environment for creative expression Build new connections between neighbors Foster trust, fun, and resilience What are examples of projects that will be funded?

Participatory mural projects Artist residencies that connect artists with community members for co-design and co-creation Public arts installations with community engagement elements Interactive musical or dance performances New choral collaborations Free public classes and events Funds may be used for salaries, benefits, contracted workers, project materials and equipment, reasonable overhead costs, and similar, necessary project expenses.

What does the A&SC grant program not support?

Capital costs and campaigns General operating support Performance ticket subsidies or scholarships that are not directly connected to community-building work Events and performances that do not have any components of audience or community participation Debt reduction or deficit funding Individuals (applicant should apply as part of a nonprofit organization, community group, municipality, or similar entity) Expenses that have already been incurred Programs with religious instruction Indirect expenses unrelated to the project such as fiscal sponsor fees, rent, or financing costs.

Who is eligible to apply? Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations, municipalities, or schools whose primary service area is in the state of Vermont. These might be arts organizations, libraries, museums, community centers, senior centers, youth programs, therapeutic programs, cultural organizations, or other entities.

Projects without 501c3 status who have a fiscal sponsor are eligible. We especially encourage LOIs from community-based organizations serving low-income youth, older adults, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ Vermonters, people with disabilities and other marginalized groups.

All applicants to programs at the Vermont Community Foundation must meet the guidelines outlined in the General Applicant Guidelines and Requirements found on our For Nonprofits page. What size are the grants? The program will award grants up to $12,000.

We intend to fund a range of project types and sizes in communities across the state with an average grant size of $7,500. What is the grant term timeline? Grant activities must take place one year from when the grant is awarded to be eligible for funding.

Deadline and Notification Timeline Letters of Interest (LOIs) will be accepted between April 6 and May 11, 2026. LOIs must be received by 5pm on Monday, May 11th, 2026 to be considered. Following a review of all LOIs received, a smaller number of organizations will be invited to submit a full application for funding by the end of May.

Applications will be due by June 17, 2026, and we anticipate notifying applicants of grant decisions by early August. Grant funds cannot cover activities that have already taken place. Please keep the notification timeline and grant term in mind as you prepare your application.

Notifications on approved and denied applications will be made by email to the email address used to submit the application. Notification timeline are approximate. If you have not received an email, you can check your organization’s email history in your Online Grant Manager account.

All LOIs and applications must be submitted electronically. Visit the Resources for Grantseekers section on our For Nonprofits page to learn how and to register for a new account. Or, access your existing account .

You may contact the grants and community impact team at grants@vermontcf. org or 802-388-3355 opt. 6 with any questions you have about the application process.

To help you prepare, preview a sample of the LOI form and preview a sample of the application . Please note that these are PDF samples and not the actual LOI or application. To view and begin working on the application, login to the Online Grants Manager (OGM).

With questions about the Arts & Social Cohesion grant program, please contact Andy Barker. Email: abarker@vermontcf. org Phone: 802-388-3355 ext.

382 With questions about the Arts & Social Cohesion grant program, please contact Andy Barker. Email: abarker@vermontcf. org Phone: 802-388-3355 ext.

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