Funder Tool Kits: NEA

Recent Grant Announcements - Information about individual grant announcements, grants made to individuals, and review panelists.

NEA Grant Search - A searchable database of all awarded NEA grants.

NEA Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Guide:

• Text of the Freedom of Information Act
• FOIA Regulations
• Privacy Act Guide
• FOIA Exemptions
• FOIA Resources
• FOIA Contacts
• Sample FOIA Request
• NEA FOIA Fee Schedule
• Agency FOIA Reports and Logs
• NEA FOIA Reading Room, Frequently Requested Records

Sample NEA Application Narratives:

• Arts Education
• Artist Communities
• Challenge America
• Dance
• Design
• Folk and Traditional Arts
• Literature
• Local Arts Agencies
• Media Arts
• Museums
• Opera
• Our Town
• Music
• Musical Theater
• Opera
• Presentations and Multidisciplinary Work
• Research
• Theater and Musical Theater
• Visual Arts 

The OR Research Development Team maintains a library of internal/external submitted proposals and can assist with securing a sample and submitting FOIA requests. Contact Research Development for more information.

• The Musician’s Journey - Chapter 8: Grant Writing 

• Writing Proposals and Grants 

• The Grants Register 2024 

• The How to Grants Manual: : Successful Grantseeking Techniques for Obtaining Public and Private Grants

This resource tab provides specific information on two NEA programs: 

• Grants for Arts (see below)
• Research: Grants in the Arts (see below)

Grants for Arts
To support the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and the strengthening of communities through the arts. Matching grants generally range from $10,000 to $100,000. A minimum cost share/match equal to the grant amount is required.

• Grant Program Description
• What We Fund/Do Not Fund
• Application Calendar
• Award Information
• Applicant Eligibility
• Review Criteria
• Award Administration
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Applicant Resources 
• Accessibility Information
  • Accessibility Checklist
  • Accessibility Questions - required form for all NEA awards
• Contacts

Research: Grants in the ArtsResearch Grants in the Arts support research studies that investigate the value and/or impact of the arts, either as individual components of the U.S. arts ecology or as they interact with each other and/or with other domains of American life.

​​Challenge America
To support projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations. Matching grants are for $10,000. A minimum cost share/match equal to the grant amount is required.

     Important Information:

• Grant Program Description
• What We Do Not Fund
• Application Calendar
• Award Information
• Applicant Eligibility
• Review Criteria
• Award Administration 
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Applicant Resources
• Program Evaluation Resources
• Sample Application Narratives
• Accessibility Information
  • Accessibility Checklist
  • Accessibility Questions - required form for all NEA awards
• Contacts

     How to Apply:

• Application Checklist
• How to Prepare and Submit an Application
• Online Tutorial: Using the Grant Application Form (GAF)

Our Town
Our Town is the National Endowment for the Arts’ creative placemaking grants program. These grants support projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes.  These projects require a partnership between a local government entity and nonprofit organization, one of which must be a cultural organization; and should engage in partnership with other sectors (such as agriculture and food, economic development, education and youth, environment and energy, health, housing, public safety, transportation, and workforce development). Cost share/matching grants range from $25,000 to $150,000, with a minimum cost share/match equal to the grant amount.