In the vibrant world of arts and humanities, securing funding can be the biggest hurdle between a brilliant idea and a community-enriching reality.

Whether you're a nonprofit museum, a local theater group, a researcher, or a visual artist, navigating the grant landscape is a challenge.

That's why we've done the hard work for you.

This guide cuts through the noise.

We’ve verified top-tier federal and foundation grants with active deadlines approaching in late 2025 and 2026. Forget broken links and expired opportunities—every grant here is current, confirmed, and comes with a direct link to the official application page.

Key Federal Grants for Arts & Culture Nonprofits

Federal agencies like the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) are pillars of support for the cultural sector.

Their grants are competitive but can be transformative.

Here are two major opportunities to get on your calendar now.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA): Grants for Arts Projects

  • Funding Amount: $10,000 to $100,000
  • Deadline: February 13, 2026
  • Who It's For: This is a cornerstone grant for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, units of state or local government, and federally recognized tribal communities with a three-year history of arts programming.

What It Funds: The NEA Grants for Arts Projects supports a vast range of projects across 15 different artistic disciplines, including dance, music, theater, visual arts, and literature.

The focus is on public engagement, artistic excellence, and projects that celebrate America's creativity and cultural heritage.

How to Apply: The application is a two-part process.

First, you must register and submit an initial form on Grants.gov.

The second part is completed through the NEA's applicant portal.

Start the registration process early, as it can take several weeks to get your SAM.gov and Grants.gov accounts fully approved.

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS): Museums for America

  • Funding Amount: $5,000 to $250,000
  • Deadline: November 15, 2025
  • Who It's For: Museums of all types and sizes, including art museums, history museums, science centers, zoos, and botanical gardens.

Applicants must be located in the U.S. or its territories.

What It Funds: The Museums for America program supports projects that strengthen the ability of a museum to serve its public.

Funding can be used for exhibitions, educational programming, digital initiatives, and collections management.

The program is organized into three categories: Lifelong Learning, Community Anchors & Catalysts, and Collections Stewardship & Access.

How to Apply: Like other federal grants, applications must be submitted through Grants.gov.

Carefully review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for specific requirements for your project category.

The deadline is fast approaching, so don't delay!

Major Grants for Humanities and Individual Artists

Funding isn't limited to large institutions.

The humanities field has robust support, and several prestigious foundations offer grants directly to individual creators.

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): Public Humanities Projects

  • Funding Amount: Up to $100,000 (Planning); up to $400,000 (Implementation)
  • Deadline: August 13, 2026
  • Who It's For: U.S. nonprofit organizations, state and local government agencies, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.

What It Funds: This grant supports projects that bring the ideas of the humanities to general audiences.

This can include exhibitions (permanent and traveling), interpretive websites, and public programs that explore history, literature, philosophy, and other humanities fields.

The NEH is interested in projects that are grounded in sound scholarship and designed to be engaging and accessible.

How to Apply: Applications are submitted via Grants.gov.

The NEH strongly encourages potential applicants to contact program officers to discuss their project ideas at least six weeks before the deadline.

This is a critical step that can significantly improve your proposal.

Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant

  • Funding Amount: $5,000 to $30,000
  • Deadline: Rolling (applications accepted year-round)
  • Who It's For: Individual visual artists (painters, sculptors, and artists who work on paper) who are mid-career, have an established exhibition history, and can demonstrate financial need.

What It Funds: This is a lifeline grant for working artists.

The funds can be used for professional and personal expenses, allowing artists to create new work.

This grant is not for students, commercial artists, or video/performance/installation artists.

How to Apply: The entire application is completed online through the foundation's portal.

You will need to provide a cover letter, a current resume including your exhibition record, and digital images of your recent work.

The rolling deadline means you can apply whenever you have the need and your materials are ready.

Pro Tips for a Winning Arts & Humanities Grant Application

Securing one of these grants requires more than just a great idea.

Here’s how to make your application stand out:

  1. Tell a Powerful Story: In the arts and humanities, narrative is everything.

Your proposal shouldn't just list activities; it should tell a compelling story about the community you serve, the problem you're solving, or the cultural conversation you're advancing.

Why does this project matter now?

  1. Align with Funder Priorities: Read the grant guidelines multiple times.

Use the exact language from the funder's mission and program goals in your proposal.

For federal grants, explicitly state how your project aligns with the agency's strategic plan.

  1. Get Your Federal Registrations in Order: For NEA, NEH, and IMLS grants, you must have an active SAM.gov registration.

This process can take over a month.

Don't wait until the last minute—start the registration or renewal process today.

It's the #1 reason last-minute applications fail.

  1. Showcase Your Impact: Use both qualitative and quantitative data to demonstrate your project's potential impact.

How many people will you reach? How will you measure success? Include letters of support from community partners to validate your claims.

Finding and applying for grants is a demanding process, but the right opportunity can bring your vision to life.

By targeting these verified grants and preparing a thoughtful application, you position your organization for success.

Ready to streamline your grant-seeking? Our software helps you track deadlines, manage proposals, and win more funding.