Arts & Cultural Organizations General Operating Support

From California Arts Council

Established by the State of California in 1976, the California Arts Council is a state agency with a mission of strengthening arts, culture, and creative expression as the tools to cultivate a better California for all.

Type of Support

Overview

The Arts & Cultural Organizations General Operating Support grant program aims to provide direct funding to arts and cultural organizations within California for their ongoing operations, ensuring the sustainability of a diverse and vibrant arts workforce. This grant facilitates the coverage of general operational expenses, such as rent, utilities, and staff salaries, rather than funding specific projects, enabling organizations to better focus on fulfilling their missions. Importantly, receiving this grant does not preclude organizations from applying for additional project-based grants from the California Arts Council (CAC).

Eligibility

Organization's Location

USA

Program Location

Organization Type

501(c)(3) organization as applicant or fiscal sponsor

Non-governmental applicant organizations

Local government

An arts-based unit of municipal or county government

Or a tribal government

Artist collectives using a fiscal sponsor

Guilds using a fiscal sponsor

501(c)(6) organizations using a fiscal sponsor

Organization Budget And Years

Organization's annual budget is less than 1.5M

Other

Must be California-based
No matching funds required for organizations with operating budgets less than $60,000 per year
1:1 match required for organizations with budgets of $60,000 or more per year
Must provide documentation of being a California-based nonprofit arts/cultural organization; an arts-based unit of municipal or county government; a tribal government, or nonprofit social service organization with regular ongoing arts programming and/or services
Applicants must have a minimum two-year history of consistent engagement in arts programming and/or services
Nonprofit organizations and fiscal sponsors must have “active status” with the California Secretary of State showing evidence of “good standing”
Organizations with total revenue above $250,000 can't request CAC grants exceeding 50% of their most recently completed fiscal year's total revenue, excluding Administering Organization grants applications

Ineligibility

Organizations involved in CAC’s specific grant programs

Organizations not based in California

Public and private colleges and universities

K-12 school districts

County Offices of Education

Social services or non-arts/cultural nonprofits

Organizations with TR over $1,500,000 in last fiscal year

For-profit businesses and individuals using a fiscal sponsor

State agencies

Federal agencies

Non-arts organizations not involved in arts activities

For-profit organizations

Nonprofit organizations not in good standing with California Secretary of State

Non-compliant former CAC grantees

Costs outside grant period

Expenses that replace state funding

Operational costs of academic institutions

Fundraising activities

Lobbying activities

Programs for private or restricted use

Projects with religious purposes

Trusts, endowment funds, or investments

Construction or capital expenditures

Equipment purchases

Debt repayment

Hospitality, meals, food

Out-of-state travel

up to 30k

Application deadline

Jun 6, 2025

Submission

Review Criteria

This initiative maintains its dedication to assist entities that have reported a total income of $250,000 or less in the most recent financial year, expecting to allocate at least 55% of its program funding to groups within this financial bracket.

Similar grants

15k – 500k

Local

Rolling

Walter and Elise Haas Fund Grant

The Walter and Elise Haas Fund

Educational management