Impact Projects

The Impact Projects grant program, administered by the California Arts Council (CAC), is designed to support collaborative, artist-centered initiatives that address pressing social issues within historically and systemically under-resourced communities throughout California. Rooted in community engagement and cultural empowerment, this program funds projects that utilize artistic practices to generate positive outcomes around topics such as poverty, incarceration, disability access, racial justice, health disparities, and climate change, among others. Eligible applicants include nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) California organizations, municipal, county, or Tribal government units, and fiscally sponsored organizations. The maximum grant award is $25,000 for a one-year grant period, beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026. Matching funds are not required. However, eligibility is limited to organizations with total annual revenues below $3 million. Additionally, organizations with revenue above $250,000 are restricted to applying for no more than 50% of their prior fiscal year’s revenue across all CAC funding. The program prioritizes small organizations with annual revenues of $250,000 or less, first-time CAC grantees (excluding those who have only received a Cultural Pathways grant), and organizations located in communities ranked in the bottom two quartiles of the Healthy Places Index. Special encouragement is extended to applicants from rural, inland, or otherwise underfunded regions. Projects must demonstrate deep community collaboration between California-based artists and local residents, directly addressing a community-defined need through the arts. The application process opens on April 2, 2025, and closes on June 5, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Applications will be reviewed by panels in July and August 2025, with funding decisions and notifications expected in September. Grant funds are anticipated to be disbursed between January and March 2026. A final project report is due by October 30, 2026. Applicants may not simultaneously apply to both the Impact Projects and Arts & Youth programs. To support applicants, virtual office hours with Arts Program Specialist Natalie Peeples are offered on April 7, May 5, and May 27, 2025. These sessions are open format and require advance registration. Interested applicants can email impactgrant@arts.ca.gov for assistance and must apply via the CAC’s online portal at calartscouncil.smartsimple.com.