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Frankenthaler Climate Initiative (FCI) is sponsored by Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Inc.. A grant-making program to support energy-efficiency, clean-energy, and sustainability projects in visual arts museums and arts institutions across the United States. Funding supports various stages of development including initial assessments (Scoping), technical planning (Technical Assistance), quick-turnaround projects (Catalyst), and large-scale infrastructural changes (Implementation).
Geographic focus: United States and Territories
Focus areas: Climate Action, Energy Efficiency, Clean Energy, Sustainability, Visual Arts
Official opportunity description and requirements excerpt:
How to Apply — Frankenthaler Climate Initiative Frankenthaler Climate Initiative Frankenthaler Climate Initiative Frankenthaler Climate Initiative 2026 grant cycle Jan 15, 2026: Application Portal Opens Feb 27, 5pm ET: Deadline for Application Drafts All applications received by this date will be treated as a draft. Feedback will be provided in up to three business days. Required for Implementation applicants Optional for Catalyst, Scoping, and Technical Assistance applicants Mar 27, 5pm ET: Final Applications Due May/Jun: Award Notification To access the 2026 Frankenthaler Climate Initiative application , you must set up a Submittable account . Instructions to create an account Having issues receiving the verification code? Follow these instructions. Information Session #1 (Nov 5, 2025, 2-3pm ET) Slides and Webinar Recording Information Session #2 (Jan 22, 2026, 2-3pm ET) Slides and Webinar Recording Frequently Asked Questions Grant Application Review Criteria Example Applications (click here to download all) Scoping: Cameron Art Museum Technical Assistance: SITE SANTA FE Application details, reporting requirements, and time requirements increase in complexity with each step. Catalyst grants (up to $20,000) support stand-alone projects with a quick turnaround and are perfect for small spaces or first actions at a site or institution with a total annual operating budget equal to or below $500,000. Catalyst grants are eligible for an additional award of up to five (5) hours of in-project coaching. Projects must begin June 1–August 31, 2026 and be completed by December 31, 2026, because they are “shovel ready,” requiring no more planning or assessment, or a financial match. View past Catalyst grantees here . Scoping grants (up to $25,000) support initial assessments typically performed by independent consultants to understand how to save energy. Scoping grants are designed to assist institutions that are in the initial stages of assessing and understanding their emissions footprint. Projects must begin June 1–August 31, 2026 and be completed by December 31, 2027. View past Scoping grantees here . Technical Assistance Grants Technical Assistance grants (up to $50,000) support projects that have finished initial assessments, and need procurement and financing support for an identified efficiency project. This may include providing designs, specifications, or connections to energy services companies (ESCOs) for project support. These grants also support more complex studies or analysis required for pursuing major implementation projects. At the conclusion of a Technical Assistance grant, the applicant should be well enough informed to implement a project. Projects must begin June 1–August 31, 2026 and be completed by December 31, 2027. View past Technical Assistance grantees here . Implementation grants (up to $100,000) support
Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
How to Apply — Frankenthaler Climate Initiative Frankenthaler Climate Initiative Frankenthaler Climate Initiative Frankenthaler Climate Initiative 2026 grant cycle Jan 15, 2026: Application Portal Opens Feb 27, 5pm ET: Deadline for Application Drafts All applications received by this date will be treated as a draft. Feedback will be provided in up to three business days.
Required for Implementation applicants Optional for Catalyst, Scoping, and Technical Assistance applicants Mar 27, 5pm ET: Final Applications Due May/Jun: Award Notification To access the 2026 Frankenthaler Climate Initiative application , you must set up a Submittable account . Instructions to create an account Having issues receiving the verification code? Follow these instructions.
Information Session #1 (Nov 5, 2025, 2-3pm ET) Slides and Webinar Recording Information Session #2 (Jan 22, 2026, 2-3pm ET) Slides and Webinar Recording Frequently Asked Questions Grant Application Review Criteria Example Applications (click here to download all) Scoping: Cameron Art Museum Technical Assistance: SITE SANTA FE Application details, reporting requirements, and time requirements increase in complexity with each step.
Catalyst grants (up to $20,000) support stand-alone projects with a quick turnaround and are perfect for small spaces or first actions at a site or institution with a total annual operating budget equal to or below $500,000. Catalyst grants are eligible for an additional award of up to five (5) hours of in-project coaching.
Projects must begin June 1–August 31, 2026 and be completed by December 31, 2026, because they are “shovel ready,” requiring no more planning or assessment, or a financial match. View past Catalyst grantees here . Scoping grants (up to $25,000) support initial assessments typically performed by independent consultants to understand how to save energy.
Scoping grants are designed to assist institutions that are in the initial stages of assessing and understanding their emissions footprint. Projects must begin June 1–August 31, 2026 and be completed by December 31, 2027. View past Scoping grantees here .
Technical Assistance Grants Technical Assistance grants (up to $50,000) support projects that have finished initial assessments, and need procurement and financing support for an identified efficiency project. This may include providing designs, specifications, or connections to energy services companies (ESCOs) for project support.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Nonprofit visual arts museums and arts institutions (both collecting and non-collecting), including art schools and residencies, based in the United States and its Territories. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates $20,000 - $100,000 Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is March 5, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
View foundation profile, grantmaking history, financials, and key people.
View Foundation ProfileApplication snapshot: target deadline March 5, 2026; published funding information $20,000 - $100,000; eligibility guidance Nonprofit visual arts museums and arts institutions (both collecting and non-collecting), including art schools and residencies, based in the United States and its Territories.
Use the official notice and source links for final requirements, attachment checklists, allowable costs, and submission instructions before applying.
These grants also support more complex studies or analysis required for pursuing major implementation projects. At the conclusion of a Technical Assistance grant, the applicant should be well enough informed to implement a project. Projects must begin June 1–August 31, 2026 and be completed by December 31, 2027.
View past Technical Assistance grantees here . Implementation grants (up to $100,000) support ambitious, innovative, and transformative projects that directly address institutional climate impact. Implementation grants are highly competitive and involve multiple stakeholders, collaborators, and organization-wide buy-in.
They can act as seed funding for large projects, and often lead to matches for capital campaigns. Preference is given to organizations moving to electric from fossil fuels. Projects must begin June 1–August 31, 2026 and be completed by December 31, 2028 .
View past Implementation grantees here . Eligible organizations are nonprofit entities based in the United States and Territories and regard the visual arts as the primary focus of their mission and activities. The visual arts includes but is not limited to painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and installations in clay, glass, metal, wood, fiber, paper, film, and mixed media.
Take the Eligibility Quiz and review the Eligibility Criteria .
Art Museums, nonprofit galleries, archives, and visual arts-focused institutions Archive who can demonstrate that a significant portion of their mission and programming relates to visual art Fine arts conservation center Library that can demonstrate a significant portion of their mission and programming relates to visual art Noncollecting institution Nonprofit art gallery or art space Film, literary or music museum that can demonstrate a significant portion of their mission and programming relates to visual art Some historic house, historical society, or history museum that can demonstrate a significant portion of their mission and programming relates to visual art Visual Arts Education, Higher Education, and the Study of Art Art schools or departments/divisions within an accredited college, university, or other non-profit institution of higher education whose focus entails art or the study of art Artist residency programs Arts education center/Community art center that can demonstrate a significant portion of their of their mission and programming relates to visual art/displays the art of their community Center for the study of art (art history, visual studies, curatorial studies, etc.)
University museum, gallery, or arts-focused department Arts Events capable of monitoring their energy consumption or generation, including: Biennials, triennials, periodic exhibitions hosted by nonprofit entities Multi-institutional collaborations Temporary exhibitions and traveling exhibition structures Large-scale public art exhibitions Visual arts event, multi-institutional collaboration, temporary exhibition, large-scale public art exhibition, or traveling exhibition structure where the energy consumption/generation of which can be monitored and tracked.
Visual artist-endowed foundations FCI projects involve strategies intended to promote clean energy generation, energy efficiency, and sustainable practices in the art world. Through baseline reporting, benchmarking, and ongoing tracking tailored to federally-recognized standards, FCI-supported projects reduce environmental impact and lower operational costs.
Studies, Assessments, and Audits Energy assessment of existing facility, with recommendations for improvements (ASHRAE level I, or level II audit). Master planning document that includes efficiency improvement coordinated with planned facility maintenance. Life cycle analysis of mechanical equipment upgrades to electrify equipment cost effectively.
Geothermal feasibility study. Window replacement assessment. Design a new building automation system (BAS) or building management system (BMS).
Conduct a building or systems commissioning assessment. Energy efficiency improvements and building envelope upgrades Replace a chiller, install a heat pump, or more efficient HVAC. Contribute to sealing the building envelope (e.
g. , roof upgrade, purchase insulation, replace doors/windows). Purchase and install a heat pump.
Purchase and install a BAS or BMS system. Sustainability measures related to collections management and other museum or art-specific practices. Clean energy generation and reducing carbon emissions Install a solar energy system and/or backup batteries.
Transition away from fossil fuels. Change energy source(s) to renewable (e. g.
, wind, solar, geothermal). Innovative building designs and redesigns Space (re)design that lower energy demand or incorporate efficient design principles. Installation of solar and backup batteries to serve as a community resilience hub or selling excess energy to local nonprofits at a discount.
Historic building or house retrofits. Project Completion Report Portfolio Manager Progress & Goals Report reflecting calendar year 2025 energy usage.
Six-month Post-project Completion Report Portfolio Manager Progress & Goals Report of energy use in calendar year 2025 Project Mid-Point Report (only if project exceeds one year) Project Completion Report Technical Assistance Grants Portfolio Manager Progress & Goals Report of energy use in calendar year 2025 Project Mid-Point Report (only if project exceeds one year) Project Completion Report Baseline Report: submitted with application Portfolio Manager Progress & Goals Report of energy use in calendar year 2025 Mid-Point Report (for projects exceeding one year) Project Completion Report Twelve-month Post-project Completion Report Portfolio Manager Progress & Goals Report reflecting energy usage within the timeframe between the project completion and twelve (12) months after the project is completed FCI grant recipients track and report their project’s progress, financial expenditures, and energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
FCI grant recipients use Energy Star® Portfolio Manager® , an industry-standard tool created and administered by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Energy Star® program.
This supports the Initiative’s commitment to aligning cultural sector practices with federally recognized energy standards. Through benchmarking and energy monitoring, the FCI enables grantees to quantify their energy savings, while helping arts organizations generate critical data that supports a growing, cross-sector climate action movement.
Energy Star® Portfolio Manager® is a free, secure, online resource management tool that enables institutions to benchmark the energy use of any type of building. Nearly 25% of U. S.
commercial building spaces are already actively benchmarking in Portfolio Manager, making it the industry-leading benchmarking tool for energy use. The FCI provides training and support on all reporting requirements including how to use Portfolio Manager and running the required Progress & Goals Report . Required reports are listed below by Grant Type.
Additional details can be found in the Grantee Reporting section of the Eligibility Guidelines.
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