Arts DuPage

Applications must be submitted online by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2026. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

Seed Grants – $5,000
Organizations that have had their 501(c)(3) designation for less than three years are eligible to apply for a 1:1 matching grant. These grants are intended to help new organizations raise funds from individual donors and through fundraising events. If awarded a grant, funding will be distributed when proof that the matching dollar amount has been secured. Matching funds must be raised during the grant period.

Sustain Grants – $15,000
Organizations that have had their 501(c)(3) designation for more than three years may apply for grant funding.

Applicants requesting $5,000 or less will complete a streamlined version of the application. Applicants requesting more than $5,000 will be required to provide additional financial information and will need to respond to questions about sustainability, collaboration, and specific program outcomes.

• Primarily supports programs and projects that offer broad access, outreach, and/or unique opportunities to enrich arts and cultural experiences for DuPage County residents.
• Organization is a member of Arts DuPage.
• Organization regularly posts events and programs on artsdupage.org.

Applications to the Arts DuPage grant program will be accepted from not-for-profit charitable organizations that:

• Are public charities classified as exempt from federal income taxes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
• Primarily serve DuPage County residents (50% or more of total clients); or

o Provide services in facilities physically located in DuPage County; or
o Have a demonstrated presence such as an existing track record of programming with specific DuPage-focused outcomes, a DuPage-specific budget and board members located in DuPage

Applications will not be accepted from:
• Individuals
• Organizations where participation in or exposure to religious activities is required in the program (secular activities provided by religious organizations may be eligible for grant funding)
• Organizations that have received grants from unrestricted or field-of-interest funds through the Community Impact or Arts DuPage grant programs for the past three consecutive years
• Disease-specific organizations
• Private foundations and private operating foundations
• Hospitals, including supporting foundations
• Governmental agencies, including supporting foundations
• Public, parochial, private, or charter schools (pre-k through 12th grade), including supporting foundations

Additionally, the Foundation does not award grants from the Arts DuPage grant program for:
• Endowments
• Historical societies or their related foundations to support projects that do not have a broad reach beyond a specific community
• Capital projects

Members of the Arts DuPage Advisory Committee meets several times to review and evaluate all applications received and to conduct site visits when appropriate. The Committee then makes grant recommendations to the full Board of Trustees for approval.

All applicants will be notified via email whether or not a grant has been awarded. Notification will be sent in mid-September.