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ArtsFund

Annual Giving
$12.5M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.0M
Decision Time
3mo
Success Rate
60%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $12.5 million (FY2024)
  • Success Rate: 60% (Youth Arts Opportunity Fund 2024)
  • Decision Time: 3 months (Community Accelerator Grant)
  • Grant Range: $2,500 - $38,333 (average Allocations grant)
  • Geographic Focus: Statewide Washington (emphasis on King, Pierce, Snohomish, Kitsap counties)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.artsfund.org

Phone: 206-281-9050

Email:

Physical Address: 100 West Harrison Street, Suite S150, Seattle, WA 98119

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 19780, Seattle, WA 98109

Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM PT

Overview

Founded in 1969 as the United Arts Council of Puget Sound (later Corporate Council for the Arts, renamed ArtsFund in 2003), ArtsFund is the nation's fifth largest united arts fund. Since its founding, ArtsFund has distributed nearly $130 million in grants to over 1,000 arts and culture organizations across 38 out of 39 Washington counties. In FY2024, ArtsFund achieved its largest grantmaking year in history, distributing $12.5 million to over 800 arts and culture organizations. Under the leadership of President & CEO Michael Greer (appointed June 2020), ArtsFund operates with a strategic framework focused on advancing organizational health, youth and family engagement, and equity and inclusion throughout the arts sector. In 2024, ArtsFund adopted a five-year strategic plan (2024-2028) to support the arts through leadership, advocacy, and grantmaking in order to build a healthy, equitable, and creative Washington.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Annual Allocations Grants (Invitation-only)

  • Grant amounts: Nearly $2.3 million distributed to 60 organizations in FY2024 (average $38,333 per organization)
  • Unrestricted operating support on a three-year cycle
  • Application: By invitation only to organizations in King and Pierce counties
  • Timeline: Invitations sent in January, applications due late February
  • Evaluated by expert panel of public, private, and corporate grantmaking professionals

Community Accelerator Grant (Open application when available)

  • Grant range: $2,500 - $25,000 unrestricted funding
  • Awarded $10 million to 930 organizations across all 39 Washington counties in 2025
  • Partnership with Allen Family Philanthropies (formerly Paul G. Allen Family Foundation)
  • Application: Open to eligible Washington arts/cultural nonprofits when program is active
  • Timeline: Applications typically open in spring (June deadline), decisions by September 1, funds disbursed by September 30
  • No reporting requirements

Youth Arts Opportunity Fund (YAOF) (Invitation-only for Cultural Partners Network members)

  • Grant range: $2,500 - $15,000 for general operating support
  • Awarded $208,600 to 30 organizations in FY2024 (highest distribution in program history)
  • 10-year program serving King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties
  • Success rate: 60% (30 awards from 50 applications in 2024)
  • Application: By invitation only to Cultural Partners Network members

Building for the Arts

  • Capital grants for acquisition, construction, and/or major renovation
  • Created by ArtsFund and Boeing Company in 1991
  • Administered by Washington Department of Commerce
  • Funding: $18 million available
  • Match: Up to 33% state match of eligible project costs
  • Eligible: Performing arts, art museum, and cultural organizations

Priority Areas

ArtsFund's strategic framework prioritizes:

  • Organizational Health: Unrestricted grants that enable organizations to invest funds where needed most
  • Youth and Family Engagement: Programs providing arts opportunities for underserved youth (grades K-12), particularly those with low socioeconomic status or who have historically lacked access
  • Equity and Inclusion: Organizations centering BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and rural communities
  • Structural Change: Arts and culture-based strategies addressing structural racism and building racial justice
  • Statewide Impact: Organizations serving communities with less access to mainstream funding across Washington's 39 counties

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • Private foundations
  • For-profit organizations
  • Political advocacy groups
  • Organizations outside Washington State
  • Religious activities (though religious organizations may apply if program is secular)
  • Personal expenses
  • Illegal activities

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Michael Greer (appointed June 8, 2020)

  • Former professional dancer with Ballet West (first Black dancer in company history)
  • Holds degree in economics
  • Nearly a decade in leadership roles in manufacturing, financial services, and commodities in India and China
  • Quote on arts careers: "Understand your 'why'... if you know why you're doing this, and what it means to you, I can't think of a better way to spend your life."

Board Chair: Cindy Snyder

  • Senior Vice President of Operations and Chief Operating Officer at Delta Dental of Washington

Governance Structure:

  • 35-member Board of Trustees composed of business and civic leaders
  • Advisory Council
  • ArtsFund Foundation Board of Trustees
  • Allocations Committee (reviews applications and interviews arts organizations)
  • Community Advisory Panel (for Community Accelerator Grant, representing geographic and demographic diversity)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Annual Allocations Grants: Application by invitation only. ArtsFund invites eligible organizations in King and Pierce counties based on strategic goals. Invitations are sent in January with applications due in late February. The allocations panel conducts interviews with leadership of applying organizations.

Community Accelerator Grant: When the program is open, applications are submitted through the WizeHive online portal. The application is designed to be low-barrier, with no narrative questions required. Estimated completion time is 3-10 hours (2-7 hours gathering materials, 1-3 hours completing the application). Virtual information sessions are held (typically in April) with ASL interpretation and screen reader compatibility.

Youth Arts Opportunity Fund: Application by invitation only to organizations currently in ArtsFund's Cultural Partners Network with substantial youth programming for underserved populations. Invitations sent for eligible members.

Cultural Partners Network: Membership is by invitation only, offered bi-annually (Winter and Summer). Organizations can submit a "Submission of Interest Form" on ArtsFund's website. There is no cost to join. Membership does not guarantee inclusion in grant programs.

Decision Timeline

Community Accelerator Grant:

  • Application opens: Typically spring (early May)
  • Application deadline: Early June at 5:00 PM PT
  • Decision notification: By September 1
  • Funds disbursed: By September 30

Annual Allocations Grants:

  • Invitations sent: January
  • Applications due: Late February
  • Three-year grant cycle

Youth Arts Opportunity Fund:

  • Invitations sent: Early in calendar year
  • Awards announced: Varies annually

Success Rates

Youth Arts Opportunity Fund (2024): 60% success rate (30 awards from 50 eligible applications)

Community Accelerator Grant: Highly accessible program with 930 grants awarded in 2025, reaching all 39 Washington counties. The program's ease and efficiency resulted in 93% of pilot grantees reapplying in the second year.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions found in research. The Community Accelerator Grant's 93% reapplication rate from pilot year to second year suggests unsuccessful applicants are welcome to reapply. Organizations can contact grants@artsfund.org for specific guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Community Accelerator Grant Specific Advice:

  • "The application was designed to be low-barrier, with the goal that no organization would find it too complicated, or the information requested too cumbersome"
  • All fields are required; enter "0" instead of leaving fields blank
  • Applications can be edited anytime during the application window through WizeHive login
  • After submission, applications cannot be edited; contact accelerator@artsfund.org if corrections are needed before deadline
  • Attend the virtual information session for insight into eligibility changes and application updates
  • Include demographic information (optional but encouraged) as the program prioritizes organizations centering BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disability communities, and rural areas
  • Awards are unrestricted, allowing organizations to utilize funding where they determine highest impact

General Application Advice:

  • Alignment with strategic framework is key: demonstrate how your organization advances organizational health, youth engagement, and/or equity and inclusion
  • For invitation-only programs, being part of the Cultural Partners Network increases visibility
  • ArtsFund values community-driven approaches and organizations with less access to mainstream funding
  • The organization awards grants that are unrestricted to enable maximum flexibility for recipient organizations

Examples of Funded Work: ArtsFund has supported major regional institutions (ACT Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Opera, Seattle Symphony, Seattle Rep, Seattle Art Museum) as well as over 1,000 smaller arts and culture organizations across Washington. Recent grantmaking has prioritized organizations led by BIPOC individuals, rural arts initiatives, and those serving marginalized communities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic reach matters: ArtsFund prioritizes statewide impact, with programs reaching all 39 Washington counties; demonstrate community service beyond Seattle metro area
  • Unrestricted funding philosophy: All ArtsFund grants are unrestricted, allowing organizations to invest where most needed; emphasize organizational health and strategic priorities rather than specific projects
  • Equity is central: Over $34 million awarded to 600+ organizations prioritizing BIPOC-led groups, rural arts, and marginalized communities; clearly articulate equity commitments and demographic data
  • Multiple pathways: Different programs have different access points—Community Accelerator is open application, while Allocations and YAOF are invitation-only; consider Cultural Partners Network membership for increased access
  • Low-barrier design: Community Accelerator Grant intentionally designed for accessibility with no narrative questions and 3-10 hour completion time; don't over-complicate applications
  • Three-year operating budget minimum: Most programs require average annual operating budget of $25,000+ and 3+ years existence; ensure you meet baseline eligibility
  • Community Advisory Panels: Decisions informed by diverse community voices, not just staff; applications should resonate with community values and lived experiences

References

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