It’s been a wild few weeks, hasn’t it? Between sweeping, but ambiguous, Executive Orders, and issuing then rescinding of the OMB pause on federal funds, we’ve all been on our toes trying to figure out every bit of new, nonsensical news. Below we share some reflections and advice in the hope to make some clarity.
There are much better resources to look to for up-to-date information about what is going on: might we suggest the National Council on Nonprofits, New York Council of Nonprofits, Alt National Park Service, and the ACLU? We’re going to focus today more broadly on trends we’re seeing in government funding outside of that chaos. With everything rapidly changing, though, please know that this post is being written from a moment in time.
Reflections
No matter when you’re applying or who you’re applying to, though, there are some common things to keep in mind:
- If you don’t receive an explicit multi-year award, do not assume you will get these funds every year. It’s best to budget conservatively, making a plan for how you will use the funds if they are received. One reason for this is…
- Most government funds are determined by panels of individuals, who could change every year. While guidelines and criteria stay the same, you never know who the readers are and what biases they bring to the table. Program officers do their best to maintain consistency, but we have seen groups get funding annually then suddenly get little or no funding due to a change in the panel.
- Speaking of program officers, they are there as guides and quality control, but most are not making final funding decisions. Be kind to them! They can be important teammates, providing strong feedback and explaining complexities. Still, please understand that their time is valuable and they are often working within frustrating government bureaucracies. Which brings me to…
- ADVOCATE! Government funds are allocated to arts agencies in budget processes that are public. YOU have a voice! Call your representatives and look to local arts advocacy groups for how you can participate in the process.
Now, onto some specific government funders.
Advice
NEA – NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
- BASICS: According to the budget request documents on their website, the NEA’s budget was about $207M in 2024, $207M in 2023, and $167.5M in 2022. While they have requested $210M in 2025, the recent pauses, EOs, and new Department of Government Efficiency do not bode well for the NEA’s goals. As of the writing of this blog, a new Chair has not been appointed and, I’m guessing, the staff are confused and overwhelmed like so many in government these days.
- WHAT TO DO: Wait and see. While we hope they can continue their good work, the NEA is under attack like so many other federal agencies. If you’ve been awarded a grant, request your funds as soon as your project allows for. Proceed as normal until you hear otherwise. If you’re applying, be conservative in your projections (i.e. don’t count on NEA money for your project) but apply as usual until the NEA says otherwise.
- TIPS ON APPLYING: While the steps to registering for government applications can be confusing, we find the NEA itself to be very approachable and supportive. Once you’ve fully registered, try to get a call with your art form’s program officer to learn more about their priorities. We find each panel (music vs. theater vs. arts ed, etc) to be a bit different, and the program officers can help guide you a bit. Also, assume you will not get it your first year! But you will get incredibly helpful feedback that you can then use moving forward.
- BASICS: The CAC’s budget in 2022/23 was a little over $107M, 2023/24 was a little under $40M, and 2024/25 has been enacted for about $33.8M.
- WHAT TO DO: These decreasing numbers are staggering and explain why we see some inconsistencies with the CAC around deadlines, programs, and responsiveness. If you are in California, check out Californians for the Arts for updates and how you should reach out to your representatives.
- TIPS ON APPLYING: Like NEA, you should still apply for CAC, but do not plan for it in your budget until it is confirmed. If you have applied in the past or tried to, start working on that application template early! It is pretty large and complicated, so waiting until they announce may be too late to start writing for some of you solo leaders!
GAARTS – GEORGIA COUNCIL ON THE ARTS
- BASICS: GAArts Budget is $610,794 for General funds and $1,635,755 in Special Projects in FY25; $625,439 General and $1,635,756 Special Projects in FY24; and $579,534 General and, again, $1,635,756 Special Projects in FY23. Considering Georgia is estimated to have over 11M residents, making it the 8th most populist state, this amount of funding – even with special projects – is lower than some of the other populous states.
- WHAT TO DO: Applicants may apply for a General Operating Support Grant ($10K request), Project Grant ($1-5K request), or an Arts Education Program Grant ($1-5K request) during a grant cycle. So unlike some other state entities like NYSCA, you may not apply for more than one of those grants during the same year, and grant amounts are lower than you might get in some other large states.
- TIPS ON APPLYING: Grant peer review panels are organized by applicant budget size so that each applicant is being evaluated against organizations with similar resources. Panels first review the application with comments then go through a process of rankings. And like NEA, GCA grants are reimbursements – GCA is expecting you to spend the money and then request funds for your expenses. Plan accordingly in your budget.
NYSCA – NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS
- BASICS: NYSCA’s budget has stayed consistent from 2023 to 2024, with a slight decrease in 2025 due to ending some one-time programs. We’ve also seen consistency in funding for smaller orgs, with clients of ours under $1M getting grants as large as $30K/year.
- WHAT TO DO: Continue showing support for NYSCA to your representatives and stay in touch with your program offices. While issues at the federal level could always trickle down to the state, we’re heartened to know that Attorney General Letitia James is defending the state!
TIPS ON APPLYING: The NYSCA grant is a great place to workshop boilerplate language, so don’t wait till it opens to start working on it! They always make tweaks year to year, but start writing early, being sure to use all the generous space they give you with detail – not adjectives. (Oh – need help on that Boilerplate? Check out our Sessions!)
PCA – PENNSYLVANIA COUNCIL ON THE ARTS
- BASICS: PCA has multiple programs of funding based on your organization and many of these are also executed through regranting partners such as Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. The most standard program for organizations is Entry Track or Arts Organizations and Programs (AOAP). Entry track is the initial step that organizations must apply to. Organizations that have successfully participated in Entry Track AND been notified that they may transition to AOAP are eligible to apply to AOAP. This varies by organization between one year to three years+ of successful entry track applications. Amounts distributed are set by PCA’s governing council and usually are based on organization size. Entry track has smaller amounts than AOAP.
- WHAT TO DO: Continue showing support for PCA to your representatives and stay in touch with your program offices. Several programs, including AOAP and Entry Track are supported by the NEA so while we hope they can continue their good work, the NEA is under attack like so many other federal agencies. So we just wait and see what will occur.
- TIPS ON APPLYING: PCA Entry Track application is longer than AOAP. When applying to either, focus on the overall goals your organization is seeking to achieve in the next year. While this includes programming, you should also highlight ideas like staff expansion, new initiatives, space upgrades, new fundraising goals, and more. PCA has not historically required an in-depth budget, but does require some financial information such as financial statements and 990’s from recent/previous years.
Thank you to Candace Tabbs and Nathan Bussard from the BA team for their guidance on Georgia and Pennsylvania state funding.
Have a state you want insight into? Email us at info@benvenutiarts.com and we’ll be sure to add info in our next government round-up!
