Collaborators Christie Zhao and Yuelan perform in 12 Minutes Max. Jim Coleman, December 2022. Photo courtesy of Base.
Collaborators Christie Zhao and Yuelan perform in 12 Minutes Max. Jim Coleman, December 2022. Photo courtesy of Base.

Emerging Organizations Grant

General Operating Support for the 2025 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025)

Application opens January 16, 2024 and closes February 27, 2024

View guidelines 

About this Grant

In partnership with Shunpike, ArtsWA is offering support to emerging arts organizations in the form of grants that support day-to-day operating costs. Groups wishing to start new organizations, strengthen organizations created within the last four years (2019 – 2023) and whose programming is open to the public are eligible to apply.

  • Funding provided by ArtsWA and National Endowment for the Arts
  • Fiscal Sponsorship and administrative support provided by Shunpike

Of special interest are new organizations that focus on the work of communities not fully or authentically represented in their region. We encourage new organizations that focus on communities impacted by historic and structural inequity to apply.

Funding amounts: Applicants can request between $2,000-$5,000 for general operating expenses. If awarded, grant amounts may vary depending on panel recommendations.

Partnership with ShunpikeShunpike logo

ArtsWA is pleased to partner with Shunpike to offer fiscal sponsorship to new groups wishing to apply to the Emerging grant program. Groups can apply for fiscal sponsorship within the grant application.

  • Groups that apply for fiscal sponsorship within the Emerging grant application must attend a fiscal sponsorship info session with Shunpike on Wednesday, February 15, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. online. Register here.
  • Groups that are awarded an Emerging grant and gain fiscal sponsorship under Shunpike must attend a 90-minute on-boarding session on April 1, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
  • Please read Shunpike’s Applying for Fiscal Sponsorship document if you are seeking fiscal sponsorship. This document includes important information about fiscal sponsorship, including how you will get paid. As a reminder, you must have either 501c3 status or fiscal sponsorship to be eligible for the Emerging grant; we are not able to grant funds to unincorporated groups.

Important Dates

  • Application open: January 16, 2024 – February 27, 2024 at 5pm
  • Application workshops: January 23 & February 20, 2024 at 12pm
  • Office Hours with Program Manager Miguel Guillén: Every Friday at 10am between 1/16-2/27.
  • Shunpike Fiscal Sponsorship Info Session: February 15, 2024 at 5pm.
  • Notification of application results: by May 10, 2024
  • Funds can cover expenses that incur between July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025
    • This is a reimbursement grant, meaning that payments will be made after the grant recipient expends funds, and after expense documentation and invoice forms have been submitted to and approved by ArtsWA.
  • Final report due July 31, 2025

Application information

Contact us

Linnea Ingalls, Grants to Organizations Program Coordinator, at 360-252-9969 or linnea.ingalls@arts.wa.gov

Ashley Marshall, Grants to Organizations Program Assistant, at 360-485-1524 or ashley.marshall@arts.wa.gov

Miguel Guillén, Grants to Organizations Program Manager, at miguel.guillen@arts.wa.gov