Visual Arts and Music Mini-Grant

The 2025 JCS Visual Arts and Music Mini-Grant is an initiative of the JCS Arts, Health and Education Fund (JCS Fund) aimed at enriching the cultural and artistic environment of DuPage County, Illinois. This mini-grant opportunity supports not-for-profit arts organizations and governmental agencies that are looking to implement impactful visual arts and certain types of music projects. It is administered through the DuPage Foundation, a philanthropic entity supporting various community-based programs. The mini-grant program is designed to promote arts engagement and inspire community involvement by funding projects that reflect the cultural and artistic strengths of DuPage County. Eligible projects include visual arts in any medium and general or instrumental music programs, particularly those that benefit children or involve the local senior population. Suggested project types include exhibitions, pop-up galleries, community murals, master classes, and cultural heritage projects. Applicants must be either a public charity with IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or a governmental agency based in DuPage County. Each organization is limited to one mini-grant per calendar year. However, receiving a mini-grant does not restrict an organization from applying to other DuPage Foundation grant programs, such as the Community Impact or Arts DuPage grants. Grants will be awarded in amounts ranging from $500 to $2,500. Applications must be submitted through the DuPage Foundation’s online grant portal. Key 2025 deadlines for application submission are March 14, April 30, June 30, August 31, and October 31. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all funds are allocated. To receive funding for events, applicants must submit proposals at least two months in advance of the event date. Specific deadlines correspond to allowable event dates, ensuring timely review and processing. Applications will be evaluated based on several factors, including alignment with program goals, community impact, artistic experience and skill, financial feasibility, and the level of community engagement. Preference will be given to organizations that have not previously received funding from the DuPage Foundation. For additional questions, applicants can contact Laura Ernst at laura@dupagefoundation.org or 630-598-5295.