Grant Guidelines

SERVING NEW JERSEY ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE PRIMARY MISSION IS ARTS, ARTS EDUCATION, OR HISTORY

Request for Proposals and Application Information

The New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund provides financial support to stabilize and build resilience among New Jersey-based smaller nonprofit arts and culture organizations.  Funding is specifically for organizations whose primary mission is Arts, Arts Education, or History.

The New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund (NJACRF) was established in 2020 to ensure the survival and strength of the state’s arts and culture nonprofit sector during and after the pandemic. The Fund was created as a public-private partnership, capitalizing on the resources and expertise available through the government, corporate, community, and private philanthropic sectors. Strategic alignment of these partners ensures a coordinated approach to sector support and ongoing dialogue with the field and stakeholders.

New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund (NJARCF) will provide unrestricted grants to eligible nonprofit organizations.  The grant application is open to all New Jersey-based cultural nonprofit organizations who meet eligibility requirements.

Arts and culture experiences build social cohesion, enhance cross-cultural understanding, and improve the quality of life in communities.  The Renewal Fund acknowledges that cultural access and experiences have been unequally distributed, especially in historically under-resourced communities.  The Renewal Fund seeks to address this inequity through its funding such that smaller community-connected organizations will be sustained, individual artists will receive support, and cultural experiences will be available to all.  The Renewal Fund also seeks to address the underrepresentation and incomplete storytelling that has marginalized the creative, historical, and intellectual contributions of some groups including Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other People of Color (BIPOC) in New Jersey.

The New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund provides unrestricted grant support.

We anticipate the number of requests will exceed the available funds.  We will consider the following aspects of requests and give priority to:

  • Arts, Arts Education, or History organizations working in and/or for low- to moderate-income communities in South, Central, and Northern New Jersey.
  • Organizations most currently and historically affected by systemic injustice.
  • Organizations addressing the underrepresentation and incomplete storytelling that has marginalized the creative, historical, and intellectual contributions of some groups including Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other People of Color (BIPOC) in New Jersey.
  • Organizations with a demonstrated commitment to equity.
  • Organizations with clear evidence of engagement with their community.

We will accept applications from organizations that meet the following eligibility requirements. The applicant must:

  • Be incorporated in New Jersey as a 501(c)(3) and serve New Jersey communities;
  • Have primary programming in one or more New Jersey counties
  • Employ at least one year-round, part-time, paid employee or unpaid year-round part-time person (dedicated volunteer) working a minimum of 20 hours per week in an administrative or a combined administrative/leadership role.
  • Have a primary mission focused on Arts, Arts Education or History
  • Be in operation for a minimum of two years prior to the application
  • Have budget expenditures of less than $5 Million

The following are not eligible for this funding opportunity (though can be an application partner):

  • Organizations without paid staff or without a dedicated volunteer that works at least 20 hours per week on a year-round basis.
  • Local, state, or federal government agencies.
  • Organizations that offer Arts, Arts Education, or History programming but whose mission is not primarily Arts, Arts Education, or History such as social services or community development organizations, zoos, science centers, and botanical gardens.
  • Stand-alone or one-time festivals, conferences, or other events. Stand-alone publications, films/videos, or websites.
  • Religious organizations.
  • Groups that are legally, financially, or operationally part of a larger institution, e.g., the Art department of a college.
  • Colleges, universities, or Pre-K to 12 educational institutions

The NJ Arts & Culture Renewal Fund allows fiscal sponsors to apply. A Fiscal Sponsor Agreement (FSA) or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is must be submitted along with the application.

Organizations awarded grants must be registered with the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs as a charity in good standing. For more information, please visit https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/charities/Pages/FAQ.aspx.  To check your status, you may visit https://njconsumeraffairs.state.nj.us/public-charity-search-results

  • Organizations can apply for up to $25,000
  • Grants are for General Operating Support
  • Award amounts will take into consideration the organization’s total budget and capacity
  • Applicants will be required to submit an application and budget via the grant portal at njartsculture.org.
  • If proposal receives an award, grantees will be required to complete a short report outlining use of funds within twelve months of the completion of the grant period

Once submitted, applications will be assessed by a review panel with a goal of notifying applicants of the decision within 12-14 weeks of application deadline.

Grant decisions will be made by the New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund Grants Committee with input from a review panel.  Application review will be guided by a panel of community stakeholders and experts in the field.

For technical assistance contact grants@njartsculture.org

For inquiries regarding grant guidelines contact Lynne Toye at ltoye@njartsculture.org

Updated April 2025