CA$H Dance Grant

CA$H Dance Grant is sponsored by Dancers' Group (funded by William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Fleishhacker Foundation, Grants for the Arts, Kenneth Rainin Foundation, and Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation). CA$H Dance supports a wide range of practices, artists, and organizations across the San Francisco Bay Area.

Grants may support a project, artistic process, or broader creative practice.

Skip to primary navigation Whether this is your first grant application or you’ve applied before, we’re glad you’re here. CA$H Dance supports a wide range of practices, artists, and organizations across the San Francisco Bay Area. Grants may support a project, your artistic process, or your broader creative practice.

That means your work does not have to fit one model or lead to a finished performance to be eligible. Dancers’ Group has updated the 2026 CA$H Dance requirements, registration and application process – please review the new details before registering to apply.

Application Process & Award Dates Complete one of the registration forms by Wed, Sept 2 Organization Application due by Mon, Sep 14 Artist Application due by Mon, Sept 21 Grant Award Notifications in early Nov Grant period from Nov 2026 – April 2027 The grant awards in 2026 are: $ 5,000 for Artists and Organizations. Approximately 20 grants are awarded each round.

The program is funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation with additional support from the Fleishhacker Foundation, Grants for the Arts, Kenneth Rainin Foundation, and the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation. CA$H was designed by artists for artists in 1999 through the organizational work of Dancers’ Group and Theatre Bay Area .

CA$H Dance welcomes applications from Artists and Organizations creating work in the Bay Area. Note: If you identify as a Collective , you can apply in either category. Additional details below.

Both reside and make work in one of the following counties: Submit only one application Have a project budget or annual operating budget under $75,000 Have not received a CA$H Grant in Spring 2024 or Spring 2025 Note: No applications from full-time students during the application or grant period. No applications that are fully supported through a college or university.

Apply as an Artist if you: Have presented at least one public dance work in the Bay Area (outside of a college, university, or postsecondary program). Have a project budget under $75,000.

Are 21 years of age or older You may apply as an Artist if you are working: with a mentor, teacher, or consultant with collaborators supporting your artistic vision If you direct a dance organization, only apply as an Artist if the proposed project is separate from your organization’s work. If you have fiscal sponsorship or nonprofit status, you should apply as an organization.

Apply as an Organization if you: Have presented at least two public dance works in separate years in the Bay Area. Have a project budget under $75,000. You should generally apply as an organization if: Your project is taking place under a dance company’s umbrella.

You are the director or lead artist of a fiscally sponsored project, dance school, nonprofit, or dance business. Your project has fiscal sponsorship. The grant would be awarded to a project, company, or school that carries your name (for example: Ed Mock & Dancers ).

NOTE: Collective applications can be submitted in the Artist or Organization category. A Collective may apply if: Every member meets the Artist or Organization requirements. All members share artistic and administrative responsibility for the proposed project.

If you’re still unsure whether CA$H Dance is the right fit, we encourage you to contact Dancers’ Group at [email protected] . Applicants do not need nonprofit status or a fiscal sponsor to apply. Note: Dancers’ Group may move an applicant to a different category during the review process if it is believed that this new category more closely aligns with how the applicant is working.

Complete one of the registration forms by Wed, Sept 2 . Registering ensures you are eligible to apply to CA$H Dance before taking time to start an application. Applicants who do not register by the deadline will not be eligible to apply for the 2026 CA$H Dance grant.

Dancers’ Group staff will review your registration and contact you within 2–3 business days if any additional information is needed. Once your eligibility is confirmed, you’ll receive an email with a link to the application. 3.

Submit Your Application Complete and submit your application by: Organization Application due by Mon, Sep 14 Artist Application due by Mon , Sept 21 Organization Application Preview & Tips Artist Application Preview & Tips How Applications Are Reviewed Dancers’ Group staff review applications for completeness and reassign application categories when needed.

Applications are reviewed by a panel of Bay Area artists and arts administrators.

Overall artistic impact and/or potential of the proposed activity Representation across the SF Bay Area dance community Strength of artistic history and/or potential Priority for First-time CA$H Dance grantees The panel will consider how the artist or organization describes what they plan to explore, investigate, develop, or work on during the five-month grant period.

Applicants have the opportunity to describe outcomes they hope to achieve in the months that follow, such as completing a dance film, developing material for a performance, hosting community gatherings, offering educational activities, or other objectives related to their practice like research and creative rest. You are not required to create a new work, produce a public event, or complete a specific project.

The application allows you to document your desires as an Artist or Organization during the grant period If you have questions at any stage of the application process, contact Dancers’ Group at [email protected] . Staff are available to help applicants understand requirements, application materials, and program expectations. See previous CA$H Dance grantees To learn about theatre applications, visit Theatre Bay Area .

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Welcome! How do you primarily identify in the community? Choreographer Dancer Student Teacher Small Dance Organization Large Dance Organization Presenter Arts Administrator Support Service (videographer, bodyworker, grantwriter, etc.) Dance Supporter How did you find out about Dancers' Group?

Website (dancersgroup. org) Word of Mouth (e.g. from a friend) Where do you currently reside? cIty/state/country