Creative Capacity Grants 2027

Creative Capacity Grants 2027 is sponsored by Arizona Commission on the Arts. Provides general operating support to nonprofit organizations whose primary mission is to produce, present, teach, or serve the arts. Organizations of all sizes in Arizona with budgets between $4,000 and $399,999 are eligible.

Creative Capacity Grant | Arizona Commission on the Arts A grant is a form of financial assistance. The State of Arizona sets aside a certain amount of money to invest in projects that have strong potential for public benefit. Through Creative Capacity Grants (CCGs) the State provides general operating support to nonprofit organizations whose primary mission is to produce, present, teach, or serve the arts.

CCGs are available to organizations of all sizes, but application requirements vary. The application period for Fiscal Year 2027 funding is now closed. Applications for Fiscal Year 2028 will open in early 2027.

Organizations may apply for Creative Capacity Grants, levels 1-5, if they… are incorporated as a nonprofit organization* with tax-exempt status, or are a unit of municipal or tribal government, have a primary mission to produce, present, teach, or serve the arts, have an annual budget of at least $4,000 and up to $399. 999, and will incur eligible expenses during the funding period (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027).

* Unincorporated organizations that are otherwise eligible and whose annual budget is below $200,000 may apply through a nonprofit fiscal sponsor. These organizations should refer to the guidelines for Creative Capacity Grants, Levels 1-5.

Download/Print Grant Guidelines Descarga los Lineamientos Organizations may apply for Creative Capacity Grants, levels 6-8, if they… are incorporated as a nonprofit organization with tax-exempt status, or are a unit of municipal or tribal government, have a primary mission to produce, present, teach, or serve the arts, have a minimum annual budget of $400,000, and will incur eligible expenses during the funding period (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027) These organizations should refer to the guidelines for Creative Capacity Grants, Levels 6-8.

Download/Print Grant Guidelines Alternate Year Application Cycle The Creative Capacity Grant operates on an Alternate Year Application cycle. Organizations submit a full application once every three years. In their two “alternate” years, grantees submit only a brief status update and Funder Report and are not subject to panel review.

Download/Print Alternate Year Grant Guidelines Grant Level FY2027 FY2028 FY2029 Level 1, 2, & 3 Full Application Alt. Year Application Alt. Year Application Level 4 & 5 Alt.

Year Application Alt. Year Application Full Application Level 6, 7, & 8 Alt. Year Application Full Application Alt.

Year Application For Fiscal Year 2027 organizations will submit a full or alternate year application according to the table below: Organizations that did not apply for and/or receive a CCG in FY2026. Grant Level 1-3 organizations who were awarded in FY2026. Alternate Year Application Grant Level 4-8 organizations who were awarded in FY2026.

Additional Applicant Considerations Multidisciplinary and Multipurpose Organizations Multidisciplinary or multipurpose organizations are eligible to apply if they meet the above requirements and can demonstrate that over 51% of their public programming and budget is devoted to the arts. Multidisciplinary or multipurpose organizations should contact Arts Commission staff to discuss eligibility before applying.

Across grant programs, the Arizona Commission on the Arts limits the number of applications an organization may submit to one application per funding period. Organizations applying for a Creative Capacity Grant in Fiscal Year 2026 may not apply for any other Arts Commission grants (e.g., Festival Grants).

CCG funds are intended to support general day-to-day operating costs, such as the following: Salaries and Personnel Expenses Creative workers (i.e., artists, tradition bearers, designers, educators, curators, program administrators, service providers, and other creative contributors), production staff, administrators, teachers, contractors, consultants.

Artistic/Production Expenses Supplies, materials, equipment, venues, royalties, licensing, accessibility services. Office space and supplies, insurance, professional services like accounting or payroll, fees for banking, online services and platforms, training and education costs, marketing and promotion costs. Grant Levels & Award Amounts Organizations apply for CCGs at one of eight grant levels.

An organization’s grant level is determined by the adjusted annual revenue for their most recently completed fiscal year (e.g., Fiscal Year 2025). Adjusted annual revenue is the organization’s total annual revenue minus the monetary value of any in-kind support.

Award ranges are determined based on the Arts Commission’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year, its funding priorities, and the applicant’s panel review ranking (low, medium, or high). As the Arts Commission’s budget is not known until well after grant guidelines are published, the amounts below are only projections of what may potentially be possible. Award projections for FY2027 are as follows: How Reliable are Award Projections?

The Arts Commission’s budget is set each year by the State legislature. The amount of money available for grantmaking each year is particularly dependent on one-time legislative appropriations, which have ranged from $0- $5 million over the past 15 years. The State’s budget for Fiscal Year 2027, and by extension, the agency’s budget, has yet to be agreed upon.

In past years the State budget has been passed in late spring. The award ranges listed below represent two potential funding scenarios: a $0 legislative appropriation and a $2 million legislative appropriation. Actual awards may be significantly different.

For more info on Arts Commission funding, visit https://azarts. gov/about-us/who-we-are/budget/ . Awards are paid out over the course of the Arts Commission’s fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) on a predetermined schedule.

Grantees will be provided with a payment window alongside their award agreement. We encourage applicants to do the following prior to beginning their application: If you require accommodation in completing the application, or otherwise participating in the grant application process, please contact Hanna Spen­ce-Schehr at hspenceschehr@azarts. gov .

Obtain a Fiscal Sponsor Letter of Agreement (if applicable) Unincorporated organizations applying with a fiscal sponsor will need to upload a Fiscal Sponsor Letter of Agreement.

This official letter, signed by authorizing officials from both the applicant organization and the fiscal sponsor, must state that the fiscal sponsor agrees to receive grant funds on behalf of the applicant, deliver them to the applicant, and maintain appropriate financial records. Additionally, the applicant should be prepared to provide a fiscal sponsor contact and indicate the fiscal sponsor’s administrative fee.

(The fiscal sponsor’s administrative fee is the percentage of any potential grant funding that would be retained by the fiscal sponsor to cover administrative costs associated with their sponsorship.) If you are unable to obtain a Letter of Agreement before the application deadline, please contact Hanna Spence-Schehr at hspenceschehr@azarts. gov .

Create or Update SMU DataArts Profile DataArts’ Cultural Data Profile (CDP) is a free and secure online survey that collects financial and programmatic data from nonprofit arts, culture, and humanities organizations. Organizations can then produce a variety of reports based on this data, including the DataArts Funder Report submitted with the CCG application. Log-in or register at https://da.

culturaldata. org/ . If you are new to using DataArts, you can find a video tutorial for getting started at https://culturaldata.

org/what-we-do/for-arts-cultural-organizations/the-cultural-data-profile/ . For additional assistance, contact the DataArts Support Center: https://culturaldata. org/contact/ .

Create or Update the SurveyMonkey Apply Account for Your Organization Organization’s submit applications through an online submission platform called SurveyMonkey Apply. Prior to applying, all new applicants will need to register their organization at https://azarts. smapply.

io/ . If your organization already has an account, we encourage you to confirm all information is up to date and add or remove any team members as needed. For instructions on how to create or update your account, visit our applicant resources page: https://azarts.

gov/grants/applicant-resources/ . Prepare Narrative Responses Some applicants find it helpful to develop their responses using word processing software, outside the application platform. This allows them to draft responses with team members and monitor their word counts for each question.

Download a Word document version of the narrative questions for CCG, levels 1-5 . Download a Word document version of the narrative questions for CCG, levels 6-8 . Download a Word document version of the narrative questions for CCG, alternate year .

When you’re ready, click on the “Apply Now” button below. You do not have to complete the application in one session; at any point you can save a draft of your application and complete or submit it later. The application period for Fiscal Year 2027 funding is now closed.

Applications for Fiscal Year 2028 will open in early 2027. Your organization’s application materials will be reviewed by an independent panel according to the following criteria. Please note: need is not a criterion.

Application merit is based upon strength of response in relation to the review criteria. Application demonstrates a strong understanding of the organization’s ability to carry out its mission and describes effective strategies for achieving short and long-term goals.

What panelists will be considering: Does the organization’s programs and/or services clearly match its mission, and does it express the ability to carry out this work successfully? Does the application explain, in a clear and simple way, how the organization plans, runs, and delivers programs that reflect its mission and values?

Quality of Programs & Services Application demonstrates creative and responsive programming, strong evaluation methods, and mission-aligned engagement practices. What panelists will be considering: Does the application describe programs and engagement practices that align with the organization’s mission? Does the organization show meaningful and authentic engagement with Arizona’s creative workers and other key partners?

How does the organization engage the community(ies) it serves in the development and evaluation of its programs? Integrity & Public Benefit The application demonstrates alignment between the organization’s mission, operational practices, goals, programming, and a strong understanding of the community(ies) served. What panelists will be considering: Do the organization’s programs and day-to-day operations reflect its mission and values?

How do its programs respond to the needs and experiences of the community or communities it serves? Does the organization explain how it makes its programs or services accessible by reducing barriers such as cost, disability access, language, location, or other challenges faced by the communities it serves?

Fiscal Practices & Viability The application describes sound fiscal practices and demonstrates alignment between these practices and the organization’s mission, values, and strategic goals. What panelists will be considering: Do the organization’s financial and operational practices align with its mission and values? Do these practices help ensure the organization can continue its work and realistically achieve its goals?

All eligible applications are reviewed through a public panel process. Arts Commission staff first review applications for eligibility and completeness. (Incomplete applications or those submitted after the deadline are not moved on to panel review.)

Eligible applications are then evaluated by independent review panels made up of individuals from communities across the state who work in or alongside the arts. Panelists review applications individually and then as a group using the published evaluation criteria. Panel meetings are open to the public and live-streamed online.

While applicants may not participate in the panel meeting, they are encouraged to observe the proceedings. At the conclusion of their meeting, the panel submits their funding recommendations to the Arts Commission’s board of commissioners for approval. Grant funds can only be used for the allowable expenses outlined in the guidelines.

Additionally, this program does not fund the following: Organizations not dedicated to producing, presenting, teaching, or serving the arts as their primary mission (the arts must comprise over 51% of public programming and budget to be eligible) Any division of local, state, tribal or federal government except arts and cultural organizations from Tribal Nations and Local Arts Agencies (including arts councils and arts commissions) Applications submitted by for-profit organizations Schools, including public, private, and charter Botanical gardens, parks, zoos or science centers Auxiliary/affiliate organizations Religious institutions or religious group-sponsored organizations not open to participation by non- congregants Religious institutions or religious group-sponsored organizations whose primary purpose is the religious socialization of individuals or whose arts programming exists as parts of religious sermons or services Regranting, unless permission is received Grant administration, overhead, or processing fees taken by an umbrella/parent organization as a percentage of the total award, with the exception of fiscal sponsors Expenses related to the construction of facilities Food and beverage for receptions and hospitality functions Equipment or capital expenditures (basic computer devices and other such items that cost less than $5,000 are considered supplies and are eligible expenses) This list is not comprehensive.

Fiscal Year 2027 grant funds will not be disbursed to organizations that received Arts Commission funding in Fiscal Year 2026, but fail to file their final report by Monday, September 14, 2026.

Additionally, according to the Arts Commission’s enabling statutes, “Notwithstanding any other law, no monies from the Arizona Commission on the Arts may be spent for payment to any person or entity for use in desecrating, casting contempt on, mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning, trampling, or otherwise dishonoring or causing to bring dishonor on religious objects, the flag of the United States or the flag of this state.

” Recipients of Arts Commission support are further instructed to “take into consideration general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the American public” within funded programs. Frequently Asked Questions How can I learn more or get additional support with my application?

Leading up to the application due date, the Arizona Commission on the Arts will present webinar-style information sessions and workshops to help prospective applicants in preparing competitive applications. Office hours are also available on a predetermined schedule. To see the variety of support opportunities available visit https://azarts.

gov/grants/applicant-resources/ My organization is eligible for other Arts Commission grants. Can I apply to those too? No. Across grant programs, the Arts Commission limits the number of applications that may be submitted by a given organization or unit of government to one (1) application per funding period (July 1 – June 30 of the following year).

While an organization or unit of government may be eligible for more than one grant program, they may only apply for one of them in a given funding period. As an example, an applicant who applies to the Capacity Grant program in FY2027 may not apply for a Festival Grant or a Youth Arts Engagement Grant that same year. Does this grant fund or focus on new projects or new work?

No. The production or generation of new projects is not a requirement of the CCG program. CCG provides unrestricted general operating support, meaning that organizations may use CCG funds for many different types of operating expenses. However, there are some expenses which cannot be funded with public dollars; please be sure to check the funding restrictions list before determining how you will apply the grant funds.

Are there options for funding if my multipurpose organization isn’t eligible for CCG? For additional applicant resources please visit https://azarts.

gov/grants/applicant-resources/ Applicant Information Sessions and Virtual Office Hours Leading up to the application due date, the Arizona Commission on the Arts will present webinar-style information sessions and workshops to help prospective applicants in preparing competitive applications. Recordings of each session will be posted here the following business day. Have questions about your CCG application?

Jump onto an open zoom call with Creative Capacity Grant Manager, Hanna Spence-Schehr. How do I register on behalf of an organization? Go to https://azarts.

smapply. io/ Choose the option to “Register as an Organization” Enter your name, email address, and a password. (The person who registers the organization in SMApply becomes the organization’s first “member” and the administrator of the organization’s account.

Additional members may be added later and/or made an account administrator.) Enter the requested information about your Organization, such as the organization’s name, mailing address, and general contact information. How do I add members to my Organization?

Once you have created your organization you can add additional members to assist with applications and account maintenance. Go to https://azarts. smapply.

io/ Click “Manage Organization” in the top right corner Click the “Add Member” button Enter the First Name, Last Name, and Email Address of the member Select whether the member will have Administrative or Non-Administrative Access For instructions on adding members in bulk, click here . How do I update my Organization’s Profile? Go to https://azarts.

smapply. io/ Click on “Manage Organization” in the top right corner Update your profile information SurveyMonkey Apply provides a comprehensive FAQ for applicants; in addition to the “how tos” above you can find more information and resources on accounts, completing an application, and managing your organization at https://help. smapply.

io/hc/en- us/articles/360032514674- General-Account-FAQ .

Grant Guidelines: Creative Capacity Grants, Levels 1-5 Lineamientos: Subvenciones para la Capacidad Creativa, Niveles 1 a 5 Word Document: Narrative Questions, Levels 1-5 Grant Guidelines: Creative Capacity Grants, Levels 6-8 Word Document: Narrative Questions, Levels 6-8 Grant Guidelines: Creative Capacity Grants, Alternate Year Lineamientos: Subvenciones para la Capacidad Creativa, año alterno Word Document: Narrative Questions, Alternate Year Creative Capacity Grant Manager May 2026 (dates and times TBA) July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 Resources posted here offer applicants general guidance related to the application process and our online application platform, SurveyMonkey Apply.

Grant Recipient Resources Resources posted here offer current grant recipients information related to managing Arizona Commission on the Arts grants.

Fiscal Year 2027 Grant Review Panel Meetings Show Arizona the Impact of a Grant Apply Now: Grants for arts Organizations, Festivals and Engagement Programs Exit Interview: Archana Gurudu, AZ Youth Arts Council Youth Coordinator Poetry Reading and Zine Workshop in Window Rock Apply Now: AZ Youth Arts Council Governor and Legislature Agree to Continue $2 million Investment in Arts and Culture Poet Laureate Offers Free Poetry Workshop in Yuma County Fiscal Year 2027 Grant Review Panel Meetings Creative Aging Workshop in Flagstaff Military Families Receive Free Admission This Summer at Participating Blue Star Museums 2026 Arizona Commission on the Arts At the conclusion of her time as Youth Coordinator, we asked Archana Gurudu about her years serving on the AZ Youth Arts Council, what first drew her to apply, and the lessons she’ll carry forward!

Applications are now open for the 2026-27 AZ Youth Arts Council. AZ Youth Arts Council Reflections Learn about the AZ Youth Arts Council from someone who's been there! Arizona Commission on the Arts is at Navajo Nation Library.

Join us in Window Rock on Saturday, July 25, for a morning of poetry and DIY publishing featuring Arizona’s Poet Laureate Laura Tohe and poet/zine maker Amber McCrary! Hosted by Navajo Nation Library!

Hosted by Navajo Nation Library and presented free of charge by Arizona Commission on the Arts and Arizona Humanities Poetry Reading and Zine Workshop in Window Rock | Arizona Commission on the Arts Join us in Window Rock on Saturday, July 25, for a morning of poetry and DIY publishing featuring Arizona's Poet Laureate Laura Tohe and poet/zine maker Amber McCrary! Hosted by Navajo Nation Library.

Arizona Commission on the Arts Spread the word: We're looking for creative young people to serve on the 2026-27 AZ Youth Arts Council! The 15-member Council will meet once a month to review issues related to arts and culture programs and services, and learn about policies related to equal access to the arts for all young people in Arizona.

Apply Now: AZ Youth Arts Council | Arizona Commission on the Arts The Arizona Commission on the Arts invites teen creatives to join the AZ Youth Arts Council to ensure that Arizona’s youth perspective is heard in arts programming and policy. We imagine an Arizona where everyone can participate in and experience the arts. The Arizona Commission on the Arts is looking for