Deadline: 12-Mar-25
The Onion Foundation is accepting applications for the Arts Program.
Strategies
- Three strategies guide of Arts Program:
- Increase Access to Arts Education in Maine
- They support programs that incorporate learning goals and are led by skilled staff and teachers working from detailed plans, rather than programs that only offer casual arts activities. The Arts Education grantmaking places priority on:
- programs for people living in rural areas with limited access to cultural programs
- organizations that demonstrate an equity-building orientation: the Onion Foundation is particularly interested in work that is by and/or for people of color, people living with disabilities, people in the LGBTQ+ community, and/or other groups that have been historically marginalized
- programs that offer curricula that are multicultural
- organizations that thoughtfully recruit and include a diverse set of students/participants and incorporate equity-based, low-barrier participation opportunities (such as sliding scale tuition or periodic free programs), rather than a limited number of scholarships to offset regular tuition
- They support programs that incorporate learning goals and are led by skilled staff and teachers working from detailed plans, rather than programs that only offer casual arts activities. The Arts Education grantmaking places priority on:
- Support Public Engagement in Maine
- They primarily support arts-mission nonprofit organizations that offer ongoing events, particularly those that provide Maine residents free or low-cost experiences. They focus on programs with strong public engagement and that show meaningful consideration of the communities in which they take place. The Public Engagement grantmaking places priority on:
- programs for people living in rural areas with limited access to cultural programs
- organizations that demonstrate an equity-building orientation: the Onion Foundation is particularly interested in work that is by and/or for people of color, people living with disabilities, people in the LGBTQ+ community, and/or other groups that have been historically marginalized
- programs that include artists from diverse identities and cultural backgrounds
- organizations that thoughtfully recruit and aim to include a diverse set of audience members and participants
- They primarily support arts-mission nonprofit organizations that offer ongoing events, particularly those that provide Maine residents free or low-cost experiences. They focus on programs with strong public engagement and that show meaningful consideration of the communities in which they take place. The Public Engagement grantmaking places priority on:
- Build the Capacity of Maine’s Arts Sector
- They recognize that strong programs come from a healthy and connected sector engaged in intersectional practices and invested in its workers. The Arts Program will work closely with organizations to identify capacity needs and priorities. These include, but are not limited to, building equitable practices, organizational development, financial stability, worker skills, governance policies and practices, communications and marketing strategies, networking and collaboration, and advocacy.
- Increase Access to Arts Education in Maine
Types of Grants
- General Operating Grants
- General operating grants offer unrestricted funds for your organization. If all of your organization’s activities align with Strategy I, Strategy II, or both, you may request general operating support.
- Project Support Grants
- Project support grants offer funding for specific activities or programs, such as an ongoing concert series or an arts education department that’s part of a larger organization. If your organization’s work extends beyond the grant making strategies, you should request project support. All fiscally sponsored grants are project grants.
Funding Information
- Both general operating proposals and project proposals may request multiyear grants of up to three years.
- For organizations or projects with budgets over $50,000
- Up to $20,000 per year
- (up to $60,000 total over three years)
- For organizations or projects with budgets over $50,000
- Up to $20,000 per year
- (up to $60,000 total over three years)
- For organizations or projects with budgets over $50,000
Eligibility Criteria
- To apply for and receive a grant, your organization must be one of the following:
- A 501(c)3 public charity as designated by the IRS
- Fiscally sponsored by a qualified 501(c)3 public charity
- A Maine governmental unit
Ineligibility Criteria
- The Arts Program generally does not support:
- Capital projects (including capital campaigns, capital improvements, land purchases, or endowments)
- Scholarship funds
- Public and private schools or school districts (they do fund nonprofit organizations that partner with schools)
- Permanent public art
- Film/media production
For more information, visit Onion Foundation.