Grants for Arts Organizations

Guidelines:

Three-year Application Cycle

The Division uses a staggered, three-year application cycle for General Operating Support (GOS). Organizations seeking GOS must submit a Full Application in the “on year,” and Interim Applications in the “off years.” Grant awards for the second and third years will be determined by applying a funding formula to updated financial information submitted in the “off year” Interim Application.

A multi-year application cycle permits grantees, as well as the Division, to focus more attention on the delivery of programs and services and less on the preparation, processing, and review of grant applications. Organizations approved for GOS demonstrate a history of programming, service to their community, and management of their operations that provides confidence that a similar level of service or activity may be sustained over a three-year period without requiring a full application and review each year.

Funding awarded in the FY2025 grant cycle must be spent on projects taking place between September 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025. 

Click here for FY2025 General Operating Support Guidelines

Download Grantwriting Tips for Organizations here.

Deadline:

The next deadline for the General Operating Support (GOS) Full and Interim applications is 4:30 pm on March 1, 2025. The Fiscal Year 2025 General Operating Support application may be accessed at smARTDE on December 1, 2024.

Download the smARTDE Instructions to learn how to log in and navigate within the system.

Click on the link to view a smARTDE Demonstration Video (13 minutes long). NOTE: For GOS interim applications, log in and click on “Pending Reports.”

Notification:

All applicants will receive notification via email in July. Applicants approved for a grant will receive additional instructions from Division staff via email to receive their payments.

eSupplier:

To receive a grant payment, individuals must have an active State of Delaware eSupplier record.

We recommend that you choose to receive payments through Automated Clearing House (ACH), an electronic fund transfer, when completing or updating your eSupplier record. Electronic transfers and checks are free methods of payment. However, electronic fund transfers are faster than mailing a check.

• First-time grantees: will receive instructions on how to register electronically as an individual (not a business) in the State of Delaware’s eSupplier Portal. *If you’re an individual, your Tax Identification Number is your Social Security Number
• Past grantees: will receive instructions for checking and updating their eSupplier record.

Questions about eSupplier?

Please contact: Division of Accounting by email at FSF_Supplier_Maintenance@delaware.gov or by phone at (302) 526-5600.

Payment:

After the Division staff receives confirmation of your eSupplier registration, payments will be sent to the accounting office to process. Please see the payment schedule below.

FY2026 Grant Timeline:

Grantee Requirements:

The Statement of Assurances is the contract that all Division grantees must sign. Grant applicants must indicate that their organization’s authorizing official has read and agreed to the obligations of grant recipients, should a grant be awarded. Receipt of state and federal grants carries with it certain obligations and responsibilities. By submitting a Division of the Arts grant application, applicants are affirming that they are familiar with the requirements of the Delaware Division of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, as presented in the Division of the Arts Statement of Assurances, including but not limited to:

• Crediting the Division appropriately on all materials
• Keeping public events current on DelawareScene.com
• Notifying the Division of any significant changes to the programs, budget, or staff/board
• Providing complimentary tickets for use by on-site evaluators
• Compliance with Accessibility Requirements
• Submitting all required Final Reports (all grantees) and Mid-Year Reports (Arts Trust grantees)

Final Report:

Final Reports for General Operating Support grants must be submitted through smARTDE to the Division of the Arts by September 30 (or within 30 days after the grant period end date). Failure to submit a final report on time may result in forfeiture of the final payment (10%-15%) of the grant award and may impact future funding.

Contact:

Kathleen Dinsmore
Organization Support
302-577-8287
kathleen.dinsmore@delaware.gov

Guidelines:

The Delaware Division of the Arts has established the following goals, in accordance with the ArtCo bylaws, for Arts Stabilization grants:

• Provide funding for needed maintenance, repairs, or renovations of existing facilities owned and operated by the nonprofit arts organization.
• Provide funding for the repair, upgrade, or replacement of facility-related equipment (i.e., HVAC, electrical, seating, flooring, display, storage, etc).

Funding awarded in the FY2026 grant cycle must be spent on projects taking place between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026.

Click here for FY2026 Arts Stabilization Fund Guidelines

Download Grantwriting Tips for Organizations here.

Deadline:

The next deadline for the Arts Stabilization applications is 4:30 pm on March 1, 2025. The Fiscal Year 2025 Arts Stabilization application may be accessed at smARTDE on December 4, 2024.

Download the smARTDE Instructions to learn how to log in and navigate within the system.

Click on the link to view a smARTDE Demonstration Video – Arts Stabilization (17 minutes long).

Notification:

All applicants will receive notification via email in July. Applicants approved for a grant will receive additional instructions from Division staff via email to receive their payments.

eSupplier:

To receive a grant payment, individuals must have an active State of Delaware eSupplier record.

We recommend that you choose to receive payments through Automated Clearing House (ACH), an electronic fund transfer, when completing or updating your eSupplier record. Electronic transfers and checks are free methods of payment. However, electronic fund transfers are faster than mailing a check.

• First-time grantees: will receive instructions on how to register electronically as an individual (not a business) in the State of Delaware’s eSupplier Portal. *If you’re an individual, your Tax Identification Number is your Social Security Number
• Past grantees: will receive instructions for checking and updating their eSupplier record.

Questions about eSupplier?

Please contact: Division of Accounting by email at FSF_Supplier_Maintenance@delaware.gov or by phone at (302) 526-5600.

Payment:

After the Division staff receives confirmation of your eSupplier registration, payments will be sent to the accounting office to process. Please see the payment schedule below.

FY2026 Grant Timeline:

Grantee Requirements:

The Statement of Assurances is the contract that all Division grantees must sign. Grant applicants must indicate that their organization’s authorizing official has read and agreed to the obligations of grant recipients, should a grant be awarded. Receipt of state and federal grants carries with it certain obligations and responsibilities. By submitting a Division of the Arts grant application, applicants are affirming that they are familiar with the requirements of the Delaware Division of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, as presented in the Division of the Arts Statement of Assurances, including but not limited to:

• Crediting the Division appropriately on all materials
• Keeping public events current on DelawareScene.com
• Notifying the Division of any significant changes to the programs, budget, or staff/board
• Providing complimentary tickets for use by on-site evaluators
• Compliance with Accessibility Requirements
• Submitting all required Final Reports

Final Report:

Final Reports for Arts Stabilization grants must be submitted through smARTDE by September 30 (or within 30 days after the grant period end date). Failure to submit a final report may jeopardize future funding.

Contact:

Jessica Ball
Director
302-577-8278
jessica.ball@delaware.gov

Guidelines:

You may contact the Program Officer for Arts in Education at the Division of the Arts to review your ideas to determine if they qualify for Education Resource support. Projects that have been supported in the past include, but have not been limited to:

• student engagement in the arts during the school day (working with an arts specialist in the classroom for hands-on programs where students are actively participating in arts activities designed to deepen and broaden learning)
• extended-time arts programs in the schools before or after the school day (curriculum- and standards-based arts programs designed to give students additional opportunities to create, produce, and learn through the arts)
• integration of the arts with other content areas and arts disciplines to provide collaborations between the arts and classroom teachers to reach mutual objectives
• development and implementation of standards-based curriculum and/or assessment models/tools

Funding awarded in the FY2026 grant cycle must be spent on projects taking place between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026.

Click here for FY2026 Education Resource Guidelines

Download Grantwriting Tips for Organizations here.

Deadline:

The next deadline for Education Resource applications is 4:30 pm on March 1, 2025. The Fiscal Year 2025 Education Resource application may be accessed at smARTDE on December 4, 2024.

Download the smARTDE Instructions to learn how to log in and navigate within the system.

Notification:

All applicants will receive notification via email in July. Applicants approved for a grant will receive additional instructions from Division staff via email to receive their payments.

eSupplier:

To receive a grant payment, individuals must have an active State of Delaware eSupplier record.

We recommend that you choose to receive payments through Automated Clearing House (ACH), an electronic fund transfer, when completing or updating your eSupplier record. Electronic transfers and checks are free methods of payment. However, electronic fund transfers are faster than mailing a check.

• First-time grantees: will receive instructions on how to register electronically as an individual (not a business) in the State of Delaware’s eSupplier Portal. *If you’re an individual, your Tax Identification Number is your Social Security Number
• Past grantees: will receive instructions for checking and updating their eSupplier record.

Questions about eSupplier?

Please contact: Division of Accounting by email at FSF_Supplier_Maintenance@delaware.gov or by phone at (302) 526-5600.

Payment:

After the Division staff receives confirmation of your eSupplier registration, payments will be sent to the accounting office to process. Please see the payment schedule below.

FY2025 Timeline:

Grantee Requirements:

The Statement of Assurances is the contract that all Division grantees must sign. Grant applicants must indicate that their organization’s authorizing official has read and agreed to the obligations of grant recipients, should a grant be awarded. Receipt of state and federal grants carries with it certain obligations and responsibilities. By submitting a Division of the Arts grant application, applicants are affirming that they are familiar with the requirements of the Delaware Division of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, as presented in the Division of the Arts Statement of Assurances, including but not limited to:

• Crediting the Division appropriately on all materials
• Keeping public events current on DelawareScene.com
• Notifying the Division of any significant changes to the programs, budget, or staff/board
• Providing opportunities for on-site evaluations
• Compliance with Accessibility Requirements
• Submitting all required Final Reports

Final Report:

Final Reports for Education Resource grants must be submitted through smARTDE by September 30 (or within 30 days after the grant period end date). Failure to submit a final report on time may result in forfeiture of the final payment (15%) of the grant award and may impact future funding.

Contact:

Sheila Dean Ross
Program Officer, Arts in Education
302-577-8286
sheila.ross@delaware.gov

Guidelines:

StartUp Program funding consists of operating support of up to $2,500 (grant may be less) and a program of training classes and consulting with Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA). The program pairs the organization with a Standards for Excellence^® Licensed Consultant to determine the needs of the organization, and then provides customized training for staff and board members to learn nationally accepted best practices for nonprofit management. Topics covered may include: Vision, Mission, Strategy, and Evaluation; Leadership: Board, Staff and Volunteers; Legal Compliance and Ethics; Finance and Operations; Resource Development and Fundraising; Public Awareness, Engagement and Advocacy. DANA will continue to work with members of the organization’s board/staff for a period of time to guide them in their growth.

Funding awarded in the FY2026 grant cycle must be spent on projects taking place between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026.

Click here for FY2026 StartUp Program Guidelines.

Download Grantwriting Tips for Organizations here.

Deadline:

A Letter of Interest is due no later than January 15, 2025. Refer to the StartUp Program guidelines for more details on what must be included with the Letter of Interest. If the Letter of Interest is approved and you are invited to apply, the deadline for StartUp Program applications is 4:30 pm on March 1, 2025. The Fiscal Year 2024 StartUp Program application may be accessed at smARTDE on December 1, 2024.

smARTDE

If your organization has never applied to the Division before, please read these instructions on how to register for smARTDE.

Once logged in, if you need help with the system, please read these instructions first.

Notification:

All applicants must submit a Letter of Intent. If approved, applicants will receive approval to apply by February. Once approved, the grant application deadline is due March 1 with full grant approval notification by July.

eSupplier:

To receive a grant payment, individuals must have an active State of Delaware eSupplier record.

We recommend that you choose to receive payments through Automated Clearing House, an electronic fund transfer, when completing or updating your eSupplier record. Electronic fund transfers are faster than mailing a check.

• First-time grantees: will receive instructions on how to register electronically as an individual (not a business) in the State of Delaware’s eSupplier Portal. *If you’re an individual, your Tax Identification Number is your Social Security Number
• Past grantees: will receive instructions for checking and updating their eSupplier record.

Questions about eSupplier?

Please contact: Division of Accounting by email at FSF_Supplier_Maintenance@delaware.gov or by phone at (302) 526-5600.

Payment:

After the Division staff receives confirmation of your eSupplier registration, payments will be sent to the accounting office to process. Please see the payment schedule below.

FY2025 Timeline:

Grantee Requirements:

The Statement of Assurances is the contract that all Division grantees must sign. Grant applicants must indicate that their organization’s authorizing official has read and agreed to the obligations of grant recipients, should a grant be awarded. Receipt of state and federal grants carries with it certain obligations and responsibilities. By submitting a Division of the Arts grant application, applicants are affirming that they are familiar with the requirements of the Delaware Division of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, as presented in the Division of the Arts Statement of Assurances, including but not limited to:

• Crediting the Division appropriately on all materials
• Keeping public events current on DelawareScene.com
• Notifying the Division of any significant changes to the programs, budget, or staff/board
• Providing complimentary tickets for use by on-site evaluators
• Compliance with Accessibility Requirements
• Submitting all required Final Reports

Final Report:

Final Reports for StartUp Program grants must be submitted through smARTDE by September 30 (or within 30 days of the grant period end date). Failure to submit a final report on time may result in forfeiture of the final payment (15%) of the grant award and may impact future funding.

Contact:

Kathleen Dinsmore
Organization Support
302-577-8287
kathleen.dinsmore@delaware.gov

Guidelines:

Arts Access provides program support to organizations that offer occasional arts programs and to organizations that do not meet the eligibility criteria for the Division’s General Operating Support and Project Support categories. Applicants are encouraged to contact program staff prior to application.

Arts Access funding is available for arts projects that accomplish one or more of the following:

• Provide experiences of artistic merit and integrity for the public
• Involve collaborations between artists or arts organizations and community and civic groups, government entities, or social service agencies
• Provide opportunities for expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion in arts programming and participation
• Reach audiences and participants with limited access to the arts or to a particular art form
• Provide lifelong learning opportunities in the arts beyond the school setting
• Offer opportunities for the creation of new works of art
• Support arts programs in new or non-traditional venues
• Provide opportunities for artistic expression of a community’s unique history, culture, or circumstances
• Provide opportunities for conservation, documentation, and appreciation of the artistic traditions of diverse cultures and communities

Download the full Arts Access guidelines here.

Download Grantwriting Tips for Organizations here.

Deadline:

Arts Access Grant applications are accepted on an ongoing basis but must be received at least six (6) weeks prior to the start of the project. Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, beginning in July of each year. When the funds allocated to this program are depleted, the application will be closed for the remainder of the fiscal year (ending June 30). Early applications (starting in July) are recommended, whenever possible.

smARTDE

If your organization has never applied to the Division before, please read these instructions on how to register for smARTDE.

Once logged in, if you need help with the system, please read these instructions first.

Notification:

Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, beginning in July of each year. Applicants approved for a grant will receive additional instructions from Division staff via email to receive their payments.

eSupplier:

To receive a grant payment, individuals must have an active State of Delaware eSupplier record.

We recommend that you choose to receive payments through Automated Clearing House, an electronic fund transfer, when completing or updating your eSupplier record. Electronic fund transfers and checks are free methods of payment. However, electronic fund transfers are faster than mailing a check.

• First-time grantees: will receive instructions on how to register electronically as an individual (not a business) in the State of Delaware’s eSupplier Portal. *If you’re an individual, your Tax Identification Number is your Social Security Number
• Past grantees: will receive instructions for checking and updating their eSupplier record.

Questions about eSupplier?

Please contact: Division of Accounting by email at FSF_Supplier_Maintenance@delaware.gov or by phone at (302) 526-5600.

Payment:

After the Division staff receives confirmation of your eSupplier registration, payments will be sent to the accounting office to process.

You can expect to receive your grant payment approximately two weeks after contacting Division staff with your eSupplier information.

Timeline:

Rolling Deadline: Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis but must be received at least 6 weeks prior to the start of the project.

Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, beginning in July of each year. When the funds allocated to this program are depleted, the application will be closed for the remainder of the fiscal year (ending June 30).

Generally, organizations may receive a maximum of two Arts Access Grants each fiscal year (July 1- June 30).

Grantee Requirements:

The Statement of Assurances is the contract that all Division grantees must sign. Grant applicants must indicate that their organization’s authorizing official has read and agreed to the obligations of grant recipients, should a grant be awarded. Receipt of state and federal grants carries with it certain obligations and responsibilities. By submitting a Division of the Arts grant application, applicants are affirming that they are familiar with the requirements of the Delaware Division of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, as presented in the Division of the Arts Statement of Assurances, including but not limited to:

• Crediting the Division appropriately on all materials
• Keeping public events current on DelawareScene.com
• Notifying the Division of any significant changes to the programs, budget, or staff/board
• Providing complimentary tickets for use by on-site evaluators
• Compliance with Accessibility Requirements
• Submitting all required Final Reports

Final Report:

Final Reports for Arts Access Grants must be submitted through smARTDE and are due within 30 days following the end date of the project. Failure to submit a final report may preclude future funding.

Contact:

Kathleen Dinsmore
Organization Support
302-577-8287
kathleen.dinsmore@delaware.gov