Impact Projects

Purpose: The purpose is to support collaborative projects that center artists and artistic practice in responding to issues experienced by historically and systemically under-resourced communities, including but not limited to, social, political, and economic inequalities. This program prioritizes California-based artists and forms of arts and cultural expression that are unique to, and/or historically rooted in, the specific communities to be served. Description: Impact Projects supports arts organizations for collaborations between California-based artist(s) and community members to address a community-defined need. Projects must use artistic practices to impact social issues affecting their communities, including but not limited to systemic marginalization, incarceration/justice systems, arts learning, poverty/economic disparity, health disparities, accessibility for people with disabilities, housing insecurity, violence, food insecurity, cultural/social justice, intergenerational/multigenerational learning, veterans’ issues, immigrant/refugee/asylum seeker/migrant issues, LGBTQIA+ issues, environmental sustainability, and climate change/natural disasters/climate refugee issues. Previous applicants to Reentry Through the Arts and Veterans in the Arts are encouraged to apply through this program. Applicants focused on arts education for youth should apply for the Arts & Youth program. Program Goals Heal, stabilize, uplift, and transform communities Fund artistic projects that foster creative social change in the areas of equity and access Provide crucial opportunities for sustaining strong, healthy, vibrant, safe, and resilient communities in a region Strengthen community collaboration Support artistic practice and the creative expression of artists Project Requirements Applicant must develop and complete a project addressing the program goals within the Grant Activity Period. Projects must be collaboratively developed between California-based artist(s) and community members to address a community-defined need. Projects must use artistic practices to positively impact social issues affecting a community. Lead artist(s) must be California-based. Project planning, implementation, and measures of success/evaluation (if applicable) must include and represent the communities to be served. All aspects of the project must be free to community participants/audiences or affordable/accessible. Rates of pay for artists and arts workers supported by this grant must be appropriate to experience and comparable to fees for other local skilled workers. Individuals to be paid by this grant may not be full-time students in a degree program if they are receiving compensation/credit for this project. All CAC-funded programs, services, information, and facilities where funded activities take place, including online spaces, must be accessible for individuals with disabilities, including but not limited to individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind, have difficulty speaking, have a physical disability, visual disability, developmental disability, learning disability, mental illness, or chronic illness. Eligibility Requirements Eligible Applicants: Nonprofit Public Agency Tribal Government Organizations eligible to apply include: Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), California organizations Units of municipal, county or Tribal governments Fiscally sponsored organizations   Eligible Geographies: Applicant organizations and fiscal sponsors must meet the requirements below: Have a principal place of business in California and a California address. Important Dates Application deadline The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker. Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight. 5/12/26 11:59 Expected award announcement The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant. 9/26/2026 Period of performance The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized. 10/01/26-09/30/27 Funding Details Total estimated available funding The total projected dollar amount of the grant. See Notes Below Expected number of awards A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display. Dependent Estimated amount per award Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display. Dependent Letter of Intent Required? Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent. No Requires Matched Funding? Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source. No Available Funding Notes: Total funding available will be determined based on passage of the state budget and Council allocation priorities. Funding Source: The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number. State Funding Method: The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee. Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly). Advance(s) Funding Method Notes: See the program guidelines for specific funding priorities. https://arts.ca.gov/2026_impactprojects_guidelines How to Apply State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying. Grant guidelines Online application Resources Grantor’s site Subscribe to grant updates For questions about this grant, contact: 1-916-322-6555, [email protected] Similar to This Grant Libraries and Arts CA Arts Council General Operating Support 1 month ago More Details about General Operating Support Education CA State Library 2025-26 Preservation & Accessibility of California's LGBTQ+ History 2 months ago More Details about 2025-26 Preservation & Accessibility of California's LGBTQ+ History Education CA State Library 2026-2027 New California Library Literacy Services Libraries Application 4 months ago More Details about 2026-2027 New California Library Literacy Services Libraries Application Disadvantaged Communities CA State Library Lunch at the Library Summer 2026 7 months ago More Details about Lunch at the Library Summer 2026

Purpose: The purpose is to support collaborative projects that center artists and artistic practice in responding to issues experienced by historically and systemically under-resourced communities, including but not limited to, social, political, and economic inequalities. This program prioritizes California-based artists and forms of arts and cultural expression that are unique to, and/or historically rooted in, the specific communities to be served. Description: Impact Projects supports arts organizations for collaborations between California-based artist(s) and community members to address a community-defined need. Projects must use artistic practices to impact social issues affecting their communities, including but not limited to systemic marginalization, incarceration/justice systems, arts learning, poverty/economic disparity, health disparities, accessibility for people with disabilities, housing insecurity, violence, food insecurity, cultural/social justice, intergenerational/multigenerational learning, veterans’ issues, immigrant/refugee/asylum seeker/migrant issues, LGBTQIA+ issues, environmental sustainability, and climate change/natural disasters/climate refugee issues. Previous applicants to Reentry Through the Arts and Veterans in the Arts are encouraged to apply through this program. Applicants focused on arts education for youth should apply for the Arts & Youth program. Program Goals Heal, stabilize, uplift, and transform communities Fund artistic projects that foster creative social change in the areas of equity and access Provide crucial opportunities for sustaining strong, healthy, vibrant, safe, and resilient communities in a region Strengthen community collaboration Support artistic practice and the creative expression of artists Project Requirements Applicant must develop and complete a project addressing the program goals within the Grant Activity Period. Projects must be collaboratively developed between California-based artist(s) and co