Grant and Funding
OPPORTUNITIES
Many funding opportunities are available to help support the arts and arts-integrated programming in your school and community. Information on a handful of resources is available below.
YOUTH-FOCUSED
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​​Arts Partnership – Ohio Arts Council
Deadline: March 1 of odd numbered years (i.e. 2021, 2023)
Maximum Award: $4,000-$25,000
The Arts Partnership program supports arts education projects that address the needs of individual learners and their communities. Grant recipients engage in collaborative planning with partners, emphasize in-depth study of the arts, and use arts learning outcomes and standards-based arts education practices. By supporting these projects and programs, the OAC strengthens arts education locally, regionally, and statewide.
Big Yellow School Bus Program - OAC
Deadline: Accepted year-round, must be submitted 8 weeks prior to travel
Maximum Award: $500
The Ohio Arts Council’s Big Yellow School Bus program supports transportation costs for educational field trips to art galleries, museums, festivals, and exhibitions, as well as music, dance, or theatre performances. Applicants are responsible for making all transportation and destination arrangements.
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Deadline: July 1 annually
Maximum Award: $3,500
NAESP and Crayola annually award 20 schools with grants valued at $3,500 to implement arts programming.
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Chuck and Char Fowler Family Foundation
Deadline: Check website
Maximum Award: Varies
The Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation (CCFFF) is dedicated to improving people’s lives through the arts, criminal justice, AYA cancer support, and reproductive health. The foundation and its trustees have provided millions of dollars in funding for Northeast Ohio nonprofit organizations since 2001.
Deadline:
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LOI Due December 1, Full Proposal Due January 15
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LOI Due June 1, Full Proposal Due July 15
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Maximum Award: Varies
The Hershey Foundation gives special attention to unique, innovative and creative projects for children in Northeast Ohio. Priority is given to:
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early childhood education programs
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creative educational programs for children
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arts, cultural and science programs for children
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Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation
Deadline: February 1, July 1, October 1 annually
Maximum Award: Varies
Types of support considered include general operating, annual funds, and capital campaigns, as well as specific projects that fall within the Foundation's guidelines. Consideration will be given to organizations in the Northeast Ohio area, with an emphasis on University Circle institutions.
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Martha Holden Jennings Foundation
Deadline: 15th of each month except June and November
Maximum Award: $3,000
The Grants-Educators program encourages individual educators to try innovative, smaller-scale activities within their classroom, school, or district. Only one application from your school will be considered in a given month.
McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation – Academic Enrichment Grants
Deadline: Submissions accepted January 15 - April 15 annually
Maximum Award: $30,000 over three years
The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation offers Academic Enrichment Grants designed to develop in-class and extra-curricular programs that improve student learning. The Foundation considers proposals that foster understanding, deepen students’ knowledge, and provide opportunities to expand awareness of the world around them. The Academic Enrichment Grants provide funding for programs that nurture the intellectual, artistic and creative abilities of children from low-income households.
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Deadline: LOIs open mid-October and mid-March
Maximum Award: Varies
The goal of the Performing Arts program is to support the presentation, perpetuation, and propagation of performing arts events, focusing on classical music and theater. Grantee organizations include professional performers, presenters, (including broadcasters) and educators. We are currently considering grants to the Chicago area, Cleveland, Detroit, and the Mid-Atlantic Region (from Washington, D.C. north to Philadelphia, PA. Please note that we currently do not fund dance or film. We also do not fund individual commissions.
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TeachArtsOhio – Ohio Arts Council
Deadline: February 1, annually
Maximum Award: $54,000
The Ohio Arts Council’s TeachArtsOhio program brings schools and community organizations together with teaching artists to share engaging, personal, high-quality arts learning experiences. Engagements can vary from short introductory exposures lasting just a few days to in-depth immersive experiences spanning a full school year.
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ALL AGES
Chuck and Char Fowler Family Foundation
Deadline: Check website
Maximum Award: Varies
The Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation (CCFFF) is dedicated to improving people’s lives through the arts, criminal justice, AYA cancer support, and reproductive health. The foundation and its trustees have provided millions of dollars in funding for Northeast Ohio nonprofit organizations since 2001.
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Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation
Deadline: February 1, July 1, October 1 annually
Maximum Award: Varies
Types of support considered include general operating, annual funds, and capital campaigns, as well as specific projects that fall within the Foundation's guidelines. Consideration will be given to organizations in the Northeast Ohio area, with an emphasis on University Circle institutions.
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Deadline: LOIs open mid-October and mid-March
Maximum Award: Varies
The goal of the Performing Arts program is to support the presentation, perpetuation, and propagation of performing arts events, focusing on classical music and theater. Grantee organizations include professional performers, presenters, (including broadcasters) and educators. We are currently considering grants to the Chicago area, Cleveland, Detroit, and the Mid-Atlantic Region (from Washington, D.C. north to Philadelphia, PA. Please note that we currently do not fund dance or film. We also do not fund individual commissions.
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OTHER FUNDING SOURCES
Local Community Development Corporations, city council, private businesses, banks, law firms, fundraisers, and more!
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Founded in 2000 by a high school teacher in the Bronx, DonorsChoose.org empowers public school teachers from across the country to request much-needed materials and experiences for their students.
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CONTACT US
This resource is provided courtesy of Cleveland Opera Theater to aid 501c(3) organizations and educators in presenting Cleveland Opera Theater's programming. Please contact our Director of Education and Engagement at mthompson@clevelandoperatheater.org for help in pursuing grants to support bringing opera to YOU!