General Opperating Support

The General Operating Support grant is administered by the Arkansas Arts Council, a division of Arkansas Heritage. The Council disburses both federal and state funds to support a wide array of arts initiatives across the state. Federal funds originate from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), while state funds are appropriated by the Arkansas General Assembly. These grants are aimed at bolstering the administrative and operational capacities of nonprofit arts organizations throughout Arkansas. This grant is specifically designed for established nonprofit organizations, including local arts agencies or single-discipline arts organizations, with a minimum total income of $50,000. The funding may only be used for non-programmatic, administrative expenses such as administrative staff salaries, general marketing, fundraising, facility rental, utilities, maintenance, and staff travel. The requested grant amount must fall between 7% and 12% of the organization’s last adjusted operating income. A matching fund requirement is in place, and more details can be obtained by contacting the Grants Program Manager. Eligibility for this grant is limited to organizations with arts-based programming and sufficient operational history and scale. Applications are evaluated through a structured review process involving panelists selected for their qualifications and diversity, with final funding decisions approved by the Arkansas Arts Council and confirmed during a legislative review held in July. Applications for the FY26 General Operating Support grant open on October 15, 2025. A Letter of Intent for new or newly returning applicants is due by December 4, 2025. The Year One application deadline is January 23, 2026, with a panel review scheduled for March 20, 2026. For organizations in Years Two and Three of the funding cycle, applications are due January 29, 2026, but do not undergo a panel review. All applications must be submitted online via the Arkansas Arts Council’s Grants Portal, and applicants are encouraged to speak with the appropriate grant program manager before submission. Budget forms are provided in Excel format and must be completed with all fields filled, including zeros for non-applicable items. A Unique Entity ID (UEI) is required for all applicants. Contact information for assistance includes Brazier Watts, Grants Programs Manager, at (501) 324-9781. Email inquiries can be directed to [email protected]. Application materials and further instructions are available through the Arkansas Arts Council's official website and Grants Portal.